If you’re in a car wreck, that might traumatize you. You might also walk away unharmed if another vehicle tapped you, or vice versa. Car accident severity varies.
If you’re in any car accident, you can hire a lawyer, but in some situations, you may not feel like you need one. Several factors usually go into the decision-making process.
Let’s talk about pros and cons of hiring a car accident lawyer.
A Car Accident Lawyer Knows the Law
First, let’s discuss some reasons why you may want to hire a lawyer. There’s one obvious reason why hiring one might appeal. An attorney should know the ins and outs of car accident law, especially if they specialize in it.
For instance, a lawyer can tell you how long you have after the wreck to file a claim. In several states, you’re looking at a three-year deadline for filing a claim after an accident, but it varies. Some states give you less time. You can also get more time in some instances, such as if you’re in a coma following a car wreck and can’t make any decisions during that time.
A car accident lawyer can answer any question you have, and you might have several. You can use their expertise as you figure out the best path forward after a car wreck that might have changed your life significantly or even permanently.
They Have Investigators Working for Them
On the plus side, you also get an investigator, if not a whole team of them, if you hire a lawyer after a car wreck. Maybe you need more evidence to prove your version of events if you say a car accident happened a certain way, but another driver says differently. The more prestigious law firms have investigators who will look into your case.
They will interview witnesses if they can find any. They might look at store camera or traffic camera footage if any exists. They can scour social media platforms and see whether anyone caught the accident live on their smartphone as it happened. It’s always possible with how many cell phones exist in the modern world.
If you don’t hire a lawyer, you don’t have investigators working on your behalf. If you don’t, you might have a much tougher time convincing an insurance company they should pay out your claim if it’s not entirely clear how the accident occurred.
They Can Negotiate with the Other Driver or an Insurance Company
A skilled car accident attorney can also negotiate with the other driver, their insurance company, or your insurance company. Sometimes, that’s overwhelming. If you do it on your own, you don’t know what to say and what to avoid saying on the phone or in person. You might mention something about the accident that your insurance company or the other driver uses against you later, such as admitting partial responsibility for what happened.
If you hire a capable lawyer, they can speak for you in any situation having to do with the wreck. They can talk to the other driver or either insurance company on the phone or in person. They might say you should let them handle everything and not say a word.
You will probably feel tremendous relief if someone takes over and speaks for you, especially if you’re dealing with injuries and pain after a car accident. That’s part of why you’re paying this lawyer or law firm. You’re trusting them to handle this situation for you and get you the best possible outcome.
They Might Prove Incompetent
However, you might consider certain reasons why getting a lawyer can backfire. For one thing, they can always prove incompetent. They might make a mistake, even if they claim they know what they’re doing.
That’s why you should look into a lawyer or law firm’s background before you hire them. When you meet with the lawyer for the first time, you can ask them several pointed questions.
For instance, you might ask whether they’ve handled many car accident cases like yours. If they have, ask them about the outcome. Did they win those cases? What’s their win percentage in cases like yours?
You can also go online and look at feedback from former clients. If you see many one-star reviews and complaints, you’ll know to go with someone else.
Even if you hire a lawyer with positive feedback, though, there’s always a chance they’ll make a mistake. This obviously can’t happen if you never hire them. Just remember, though, if you decide not to hire a lawyer, you’re facing the other driver, their insurance company, and your insurance company on your own.
You Must Pay Them
There’s also one more obvious reason why you might avoid hiring a lawyer after a car wreck. If you hire them, then you must also pay them.
Usually, if you hire a lawyer following a car wreck, they’ll want money on a contingency basis. That means if they don’t win your case, you’ll pay them nothing. That’s helpful, but if they win your lawsuit, they might want 30% of your winning or even as much as 40%.
That probably seems like a lot. If you have many medical bills and you’ve lost wages since you can’t work after the accident, you’ll feel sad when you see that money go to someone else instead of into your pocket.
You must weigh all of the pros and cons in these situations. Usually, when car accident cases enter complicated legal territory, such as when you and the other driver dispute what actually happened, that’s when you should get a lawyer who can represent your interests. You’ll know about some potential drawbacks, including their eventual bill, but if you don’t hire an attorney, you’re on your own.
If that happens, you’d better hit the books and study car accident law in your state. You’re representing yourself, and any mistake will probably cost you dearly.
