5 Signs You Need An Attorney After a Car Wreck

You are unsure about the severity of your injuries

Following a car accident, some injuries can take anywhere from a few hours to several days to appear. In certain cases, you might not immediately realize that you’ve been injured at all. Injuries also have the potential to worsen in the days following a car accident.

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For these reasons, it’s important to receive medical documentation for any and all injuries resulting from a car accident. Otherwise, without proper documentation, your injuries could be dismissed by the responsible party’s insurance company. 

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Additionally, depending on how severe your injuries are, having a legal professional who is knowledgeable in personal injury and car accidents can help you estimate the size of your claim and provide the evidence necessary to support it.

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The insurance company is lowballing you

Every insurance company’s goal is to reduce their payouts by minimizing or denying claims altogether, no matter how strong the evidence may be to support your case. This is just as true of your own insurance company as it is of the other driver’s, so be aware that your insurance provider is unlikely to advocate for your claim if you look to them for help in dealing with the responsible party’s insurance. 

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The other driver’s insurance company will probably try to contact you early in the process because they’re highly motivated to settle your claim quickly, and for far less than it’s worth. If you have an attorney, however, you can avoid their high-pressure tactics and allow your attorney to handle all communication with them. This prevents you from being bullied into accepting a lowball offer from an insurance company that could jeopardize your health and financial stability.

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The best way to ensure that you receive full compensation for your claim is by working with a legal professional who understands the severity of your case and knows how to deal with insurance companies.

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The insurance company doesn’t seem to take your injuries seriously

As we’ve discussed, an insurance company’s goal is to try to invalidate or reduce your claim as much as possible. In order to ensure that the insurance company does not dismiss your injuries, we recommend that you:

• Consult a doctor and receive documentation for your injury, no matter how minor it may seem.
• Listen to your doctor and continue medical treatment for as long as your doctor recommends.
• Speak with a lawyer as soon as you can following your injury.

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Without proper documentation, the insurance company might dismiss your injury altogether, or, if you cease medical treatment prior to your doctor’s recommendation, the insurance company might claim that your injury is not that serious. Discussing your injury with a lawyer after an accident can make sure that the insurance company doesn’t try to minimize your injuries later on.

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You feel overwhelmed

Let’s face it––being in a car accident can be a traumatic and jarring event, especially if you’ve been injured. In the moments following a car accident, it can be difficult to keep track of all the facts and know how to handle the situation while also trying to report your accident and communicate with your insurance company.

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Understandably, you’ll probably feel overwhelmed in the aftermath of a wreck and may be ready to put the whole situation behind you. Many people in this situation feel pressured to accept some responsibility for the accident or settle for less compensation from an insurance company just to speed up the process.

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However, allowing a lawyer to gather the details of your case and communicate with the insurance company can give you the time you need to recover from the accident and prevent you from being intimidated or harassed while you’re on the mend.

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You want to settle, but are unsure of the extent of your damages

You should never settle your claim until you’re certain that you’re being properly compensated for the full extent of your damages/losses. If you’re not fully informed, then you might be unaware that you’re entitled to full compensation for:

• All medical expenses
• All lost earnings
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage to belongings
• Emotional distress

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Speaking with an attorney can help determine whether you’re being fairly compensated for the entirety of your personal losses following a car accident. Otherwise, you might miss out on additional compensation that could be helpful as you progress through your recovery.

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Anderson Traylor Edwards is here for you

If you become injured in an accident due to another driver's negligence, know that the experienced injury attorneys at Anderson Traylor Edwards are here to help. Contact us today for a free consultation. 

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