In the internet age, everyone can read our state laws and understand their rights and obligations. But this is not enough to help you file and win an insurance claim after a car crash. You need to rely on an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer, if you want to get fair compensation for your damages.
You only have one chance to demand damages and get them, so here are some of the main benefits of letting an attorney do this for you:
1. Proving the Other Driver’s Liability
After a car crash, both drivers usually start pointing fingers at each other. And, when the police arrive to investigate, each of them will blame the other for the accident. So, how do you make truth stand out in this “he said, she said” scenario?
The answer is: with a lawyer’s help. Attorneys with experience in this legal field know how to:
- Investigate the circumstances of the crash
- Get relevant statements from eyewitnesses
- Analyze the evidence you collected
- Obtain other types of evidence
- Enlist expert witnesses to support your claim.
After thoroughly combining all the evidence with knowledge of the law, the attorney will present a clear narrative that establishes the other driver’s fault. This is a basic prerequisite in our state, which uses a comparative negligence principle.
2. Evaluating Your Damages
The negotiations with the other driver’s insurance start after you send the demand letter, which contains the total amount you seek in damages. Once this letter is sent, you cannot increase the amount.
Thus, it must contain all your eligible economic and non-economic damages:
- Ambulance ride cost
- Hospital bills
- Costs with treatments, prescription medication and physical therapy
- Property damage
- Lost wages – which includes all types of financial benefits your employer offers
- Loss of earning capacity
- Future nursing or medical care costs
- Pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
On your own, you would probably not know about all these types of damages or evaluate them correctly. And no, it is not a good idea to demand a very large amount, just to make sure you’ve covered everything. It is the surest way of getting your claim denied.
3. Negotiating with the Insurance Adjuster
Supposing you manage to get everything together properly up to this phase, you should not face an insurance adjuster without a Philadelphia car accident attorney. Adjusters are trained professionals, who know the law and how to interpret it against you.
They will also perform a thorough investigation of the crash and bring their own evidence. Only a skilled attorney can discern when they are exaggerating your role in the crash or downplaying the meaning of a piece of evidence.
The result of the negotiation is crucial for your claim. A skilled lawyer will get a fair settlement and close your claim. However, there are cases when the attorney has to stand firm, refuse a lowball offer and threaten with a lawsuit.
4. Representing You in a Car Accident Lawsuit
Although most accident claims settle out of court, some of them go to trial. This happens when the evidence is not conclusive, or there are other circumstances that make the insurer certain they can win in court.
However, sometimes the insurer will refuse to settle as intimidation tactics – they don’t believe you will actually sue. This is why having a skilled attorney by your side is a great advantage. A seasoned lawyer is not intimidated by the perspective of a lawsuit. They will start preparing your case, while continuing to push towards an out of court resolution of your claim.
5. Providing Certainty in a Confusing Time
You should not ignore how secure and at peace you feel knowing that an experienced professional is handling your case. Stress and worry can delay your recovery and cause you a lot of emotional anguish.
Plus, you will have to face the adjuster without anyone to advise you and prevent you from contradicting yourself or inadvertently admitting fault. With a lawyer by your side, you will know how to give the correct answers and avoid getting tricked by misleading questions.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer!
Filing an accident claim is complex and fraught with dangers. From missing deadlines to making errors in documents and statements, any little thing will be exploited by an insurance adjuster to deny your claim.
This will not happen if you have an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer by your side. We offer each new client a free case evaluation, so bring all your evidence and find out how much your case is worth: 267-314-8024!