Why You Should Hire an Accident Attorney An experienced accident attorney can handle all the legal aspects of your claim and will take on the tasks that you can't do on your own. This includes gathering evidence, filing the appropriate paperwork, and the negotiation with insurance companies. Top car accident lawyers have a lot of experience in preparing for trials and trying cases that are worth millions of dollars. This makes them less likely to settle an injury case without adequate compensation for your losses and injuries. Legal Advice Car accidents are devastating events that can disrupt your life and can put you at risk of suffering from injuries or property damage, as well as loss of income. Having someone help you through the legal process can provide you with peace of mind and allow you to focus on healing. It's not necessary to engage a NYC lawyer for car accidents but it can make a big difference in getting you compensated for your losses. When you first meet with an attorney, you will be advised on whether it is in your interest to file a claim with the insurance company of the driver who is at fault or under your own personal injury protection (PIP) provision. The law firm of Anidjar & Levine will also guide you through the process of filing an insurance claim and inform you of typical pitfalls. https://vimeo.com/709406922 will review your evidence and estimate the value of your case in terms or damages. This is based upon the facts of the accident which include who was at fault your injuries, how long they are expected to last, the damage to your property, lost wages and other elements. They also will consider whether you qualify for punitive damages, which are used to penalize defendants for dangerous or obscene behavior. Your attorney will then collect evidence to back up your claim. This could include witnesses' contact details, photos from the scene, pictures of your injuries, or any other information they might require. They will also know what experts to engage, which documents to request from the party responsible, and how to deal directly with the insurance companies to maximize your compensation. Your attorney is your advocate and will defend you throughout the process. They will protect your legal rights, negotiate directly with insurance companies and present your case before a judge or jury. They have the education and experience to secure more than you receive if you handled the claims process on your own. The decision to engage a lawyer will ultimately come down to how comfortable you are handling the legal process on your own. Gathering Evidence The evidence is essential in any legal dispute to prove the circumstances of an accident, and to establish that you are responsible for your losses. Car accident cases are no exception. Evidence may include witness testimony, physical evidence documents, and more. Evidence is anything that makes it more likely to have your side to be taken seriously. The evidence that is not preserved promptly after an accident may be lost, destroyed, or altered by weather or other factors. It is important to go back and take pictures of the scene of the accident if you are able. Photographs can capture a wide variety of information, including the extent of damage to vehicles as well as other objects, the locations of stop signs and traffic signals, weather and road conditions, skid marks and much more. You should also record all the details you can recall about the incident, including details of how it occurred and who was responsible. The written account can be useful if you lose details later and assist your lawyer understand all the details surrounding the accident. If there are witnesses, make sure to get their names and contact details at the scene. Ask them if any of them witnessed the accident and if they would be willing to testify in court. If you own a mobile phone, you could capture any video footage of the accident or its aftermath. Based on the nature of the injuries you sustained, capture detailed photographs of any visible bruising or other physical symptoms of discomfort. This is particularly important if your injuries appear to be serious, and could aid in proving the severity of your accident as well as the severity of your losses. You should also request medical records from your doctor or hospital as soon as possible after your accident. These are documents that will provide the full severity of your physical and mental suffering, as well as your medical expenses. These records will be required in any future claims related to your medical expenses, lost wages, or vehicle repairs. Your insurance company may also make use of them to determine the amount of reimbursement you'll get. Negotiating with Insurance Companies Insurance companies have their own interests at heart and will do whatever it takes to lower the amount they pay to an accident victim. It is for this reason that hiring a personal injuries attorney is essential. Your lawyer will be your advocate and are legally bound to act with your best interests in mind throughout the legal process. They will look into the details of your case, and this includes gathering evidence such as police reports, photos witness testimony, police reports and more. In addition, they'll also collaborate with experts such as accident recreation teams and forensic specialists to determine the reason for your crash. In addition they will examine any and every responsible party including the car maker as well as the city that is responsible for road maintenance or even the bar that served an alcoholic driver. Once your lawyer has assembled all the evidence relevant to the case and evidence, they will draft an order package and then submit it to the insurance company. This package will include your medical statements and bills, property damages along with lost wages and future earnings, as well as any other costs you've incurred as a result of the accident. The insurance company will review the evidence and determine your losses. They will then offer an offer of settlement, and you will be able to decide whether to accept it or negotiate further. If you don't agree with the first settlement offer, you may ask your lawyer to help you decide what you should do next. They will evaluate your demands review your injuries, and analyze the evidence to determine if you are entitled to more compensation. They will then discuss with the insurance company to reach a fair and equitable settlement. It is important to know that your lawyer will not accept less than what you deserve. The insurance company will be aware that your attorney is working on your behalf and will do everything to make sure you don't pay more than you owe. A common tactic employed by insurance companies is to make you feel pressured to accept a low-ball offer. They do this because they know they'll be required to pay more if you choose to hire an attorney in the end. Filing a Lawsuit Attorneys who specialize in car accidents are able to gather and organize evidence to prove your claim. They also have years in their hands negotiating with insurance adjusters and aren't unwilling to challenge them in court if necessary. They will ensure that you receive enough funds from the insurance company to cover medical expenses in addition to ongoing treatment costs as well as lost wages. An experienced attorney can also assist you in determining the amount of compensation you are entitled to based on the extent of your injuries and how they affected your life. This includes calculating your expected medical expenses as well as your future and past loss of earnings, and the physical pain and emotional trauma you have suffered as well as any permanent impairments you've suffered. The law says that you are entitled to seek compensation for these losses from the at-fault party. If you decide to fight an insurance company alone, you are likely to receive much less than you need. The best way to avoid this is hiring an attorney who will deal with the insurance company on your behalf. If you have been injured in a car crash you must seek medical assistance as soon as you can. Even if it is not the case that you suffer from any obvious injuries an appointment with medical professionals will establish a link between the crash and your injury. This is crucial to establish the foundation for your claim and could provide additional damages that you are entitled to. Many car accidents are the result of another driver's negligence. In these cases you may be able make a claim for injuries against the insurance company of the driver who was at fault or your own insurance company. A lawyer is familiar with these claims and the statutes of limitation (time limits for filing lawsuits) that may bar your claim if you do not file your claim within the timeframe. A New York car accident lawyer can provide you with the information that you require to take the next steps. Contact Davis, Saperstein & Salomon today to schedule a free consultation, no-obligation and to find out more about how we can assist you to receive the compensation you require to recover.