4 Signs You Need a Lawyer After an Accident

Approximately 4.4 million Americans are seriously injured in road accidents every year and require medical attention. Unfortunately, not many seek legal action to avoid looking greedy, selfish, or frivolous.

While not all road accidents require legal litigation, some scenarios require legal counsel and representation. Read about the four signs that warrant you to hire a personal injury attorney.

1. When You're Seriously Injured

Severe injuries like spinal cord injuries, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and amputations may occur in an accident. In such a scenario, you ought to consult with a personal injury lawyer to claim compensation. 

With such severe injuries, it would be too much to deal with by yourself because you may experience emotional damage. For example, in the case of amputations, you may never walk again. Moreover, most of these injuries attract high medical charges and extended medical treatments, which you should receive payment or cover to shoulder these expenses.

Hiring an attorney will help you navigate such an unfortunate situation by informing you of your best strategies for pursuing the case or protecting your interests. 

Additionally, with such injuries, you're probably looking at missed/lost wages as you take time from work to recuperate. Your attorney can advise on the way forward as you seek compensation for the lost time. 

2. When the Cause of Accident is Unclear

Liability for an accident isn't always cut and dry; sometimes, there may be a shared liability or other factors to consider. If you find yourself in such a messy situation, an accident attorney can help protect you against liability and also help you gather evidence pointing to the liable party. 

3. When Either Insurer Gives You the Runaround

Dealing with insurance can be difficult sometimes, and so many things could end up frustrating you. For example, the insurer can deny your claims for compensation on the grounds that you caused the accident, or another party should pay for liabilities. 

Other scenarios are when the insurer offers a low settlement that doesn't cover the costs from the accident, such as medical expenses or car repairs; the insurance company delays or holds up payment by giving you excuses, and eventually, your communication tapers off, leaving you stranded. You may also face a situation when the insurance adjusters refuse to negotiate with you because the company believes you can receive coverage from another company or insurer. 

Any of these scenarios warrant you to seek legal aid because you deserve your rightful compensation. Your lawyer can negotiate fair legal settlements for you and also gather substantial evidence to maximize your bargain power against insurance companies.

4. When Other Liabilities are Present

We spoke about unclear liabilities, but there are scenarios where liability can extend past both parties, such as the case of product liabilities. Suppose a defective product or mechanical issues played a role in the accident. In that case, you need a lawyer because the case is now extended, complicated, and requires proper handling and documentation.

Product liability doesn't always blame you or the other party because depending on the type of product liability, the manufacturer or the car company can easily be responsible for the accident for designing a defective or inherently dangerous product.

If you or a loved one have been involved in a serious auto accident, consider hiring a personal injury lawyer in order to get the help you deserve.

Hiring a personal injury lawyer can help investigate your product liability claim and work out something that's in your best interest. If you’ve experienced any of the four scenarios above, it's prudent to seek legal aid. Please contact Jarve Kaplan Granato Starr LLC Attorneys at Law today, and let's discuss your potential case.