Car Accident Lawyer

Though most states require drivers to have automobile liability insurance, some people avoid this law and drive despite being uninsured. According to the Insurance Information Institute, about 13% of drivers are uninsured in the United States. Some states have far more uninsured drivers than others, such as Florida with 27% uninsured drivers.

If you’re in an accident in a no-fault state with an uninsured driver, your insurance will cover certain damages even if the accident is not your fault. If you’re in any other state, your options for seeking financial restitution may be limited. While seeking legal help is always a good idea after a car accident, a driver without insurance is unlikely to have a lot of assets to target when going into a lawsuit. On top of that, your insurance may not cover you if the accident is not your fault. For these reasons, you should consider buying additional insurance that covers accidents with uninsured drivers, referred to as uninsured/under-insured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage.

Insurance companies can take days or even weeks to offer a payout after an accident, depending on a variety of factors. In some cases, they will want to work directly with medical care providers to pay for your care, and in others, they will simply cut you a check to reimburse you for your expenses. Be careful about accepting a settlement from an insurance company too quickly, however! They know you’re trying to pay medical bills in a timely manner, and they may attempt to get you to settle for less than you need to fully recover. No car accident lawyer can tell you exactly how long it will take to receive a settlement from the insurance company, but it’s usually better to consult with legal representation before signing a release and losing out on a higher potential payout down the line.

There are a lot of factors that go into whether or not a lawyer is necessary in your car accident case. As a rule of thumb, you’re usually more likely to get a higher settlement offer with legal representation than without, so utilizing the free consultation most law offices offer is a good start when determining if an attorney is worth it in your case. One thing to consider is that insurance companies all have big legal teams that help them save as much money — by denying you as much money — as possible. As soon as an insurance company gets involved and starts sending you releases to sign, it’s a good indication that a lawyer can help you determine if a larger settlement is possible, particularly if your injuries and damages are severe. Even in minor cases, an attorney can advise you on rejecting or accepting the initial offer from insurance companies.

Driving uninsured is against the law in nearly every state. Usually, uninsured motorists will prefer not to report accidents, even when they are not at fault. Despite this, if the accident is your fault, you are still liable for damages caused in an accident in at-fault states. An uninsured driver may file a claim, but your insurance company would likely report the other driver’s lack of insurance to the state in retaliation. They may also report the accident to the police, but that too will likely result in punishment for their lack of insurance. Though it’s unlikely, an uninsured driver may attempt to take legal action after an accident you caused. In this case, a good move would be to get in touch with a lawyer to help you prepare a possible legal defense against liability for the accident’s damages.

If you’re in an accident with another vehicle resulting in any damages, you may be required by law to report the accident to your insurance company, depending on your state. Even if this isn’t the case in your state, it’s still a good idea to report accidents to your insurance company, especially if there is anything more than superficial damage. Otherwise, your insurer may consider dropping you from their policy, and in extreme cases, they could even take legal action.

If only your property was damaged or no other drivers were involved in your accident, contacting your insurance company may not be as much of a necessity. In any other case, contacting law enforcement and informing your insurance company after an accident is always the safest route to take.

Depending on the severity of the accident, the fault will be examined closely by the insurance companies and legal parties representing the drivers. A common source for these investigations is the police report, which should be created by law enforcement arriving at the scene of the accident after you request an emergency dispatch. The officer should interview both drivers and any witnesses, as well as document the scene of the accident. From there, it will be determined if either driver was breaking any traffic violations or breaking any other laws. If either driver openly admits fault after an accident, this will also be used as evidence.

Most states use comparative negligence rules when determining fault in accidents, meaning each party will be assigned a percentage of the blame for an accident, anywhere from 0% to 100%. Some states bar recovery for individuals who share a threshold of blame, which can be anywhere from 50% to just 1%. Other states, like Florida, allow for recovery in proportion to the other party’s percentage of fault, even if the injured plaintiff assumes 99% of the blame for the accident’s cause.

If you have medical or vehicle expenses due to an accident that you’re not responsible for, the other driver’s insurance will usually cover those expenses based on your state laws and insurance obligations. Usually, an adjuster or mechanic will determine the amount the repairs or replacement of your vehicle will cost and your medical care provider will determine the costs of any health services or therapies.

From there, the insurance company will likely offer a settlement that you can choose to accept or deny. In some cases, the insurance carrier will offer to pay the repair shop and/or care provider directly. Should you choose to accept, you will not be able to seek damages beyond the initial settlement. For this reason, it’s a good idea to consult with a lawyer before signing anything the insurance company sends you. This way, you can make sure you’re being adequately compensated by the insurance company for the damages suffered after a car accident.

If you’re ever in a car accident, one of the first things you should do is contact the police and request an officer at the scene. They should send an officer who will interview both drivers and write a report on the accident. Though this is only legally required in most states when there’s an injury or vehicle damage is expensive enough (usually $1,000), it’s a good idea to make sure the scene of the accident is adequately recorded in case there are unknown injuries or damages that are discovered later. When you try to file a claim down the line, your chances of receiving the maximum possible settlement go down significantly if the police were not called to the scene. Some insurers may even deny coverage if there was no formal police investigation.

If you’ve recently been in a car accident, you know that they are some of the scariest experiences people go through every day. On top of the pain and suffering you may be dealing with due to an accident, you may have unpaid medical bills and property damage weighing on your mind. A car accident lawyer will help you fight for the maximum amount of compensation possible when looking to cover medical expenses, lost wages and future work, pain and suffering, and vehicle expenses.

An experienced car accident lawyer will be able to provide you peace of mind during this difficult time. They should be able to answer any questions you’ve got with confidence and understanding while advising you each step of the way towards the settlement you need.

If you’re not taken to the emergency room after your car accident, one of the first things you should do is see your primary care physician. If you don’t regularly see a doctor, you should still schedule an appointment at an urgent care facility or another medical professional within one day of your accident. From there, you should follow all of your doctor’s advice and go to any followup appointments they recommend with a specialist. It’s important for you to see a doctor early so you can document any injuries sustained in your accident, as well as learn how to maximize your chances at a speedy recovery.