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Most of us will be in an auto accident at some point in our lives. If it’s a minor accident with no injuries then it may be something you can handle on your own, without the help of an attorney. But even if you only have damage to your vehicle, don’t forget that you may be entitled to diminished value!
If there are injuries then there are several issues to consider that can complicate a claim. A person can quickly get overwhelmed trying to handle an injury case on his or her own. Instead, it may be best to focus on recovering physically from your injuries, and let a lawyer handle your claim, advocating on your behalf to get you maximum recovery.
What I have to do after a Car Wreck
You may find that you:
- Have to deal with the liability insurance companies about the claim
- Have to deal with your own insurance company on an uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM) claim
- Have to try to coordinate your medical payments coverage, health insurance and Medicare or Medicaid
- Have mounting medical bills, which may be difficult to get paid
- Have lost wages because you were unable to work
- Have pain and suffering
- Have to prove who was at fault in the accident
- Have to comply with all deadlines, including statutes of limitation, ante-litem statutes, notice deadlines, and others
A good personal injury lawyer can do all of this for you. They gather police reports, pictures, medical records and bills, information about lost wages, insurance information for the other driver and you, locate and interview witnesses, reconstruct the accident if necessary, and talk to the insurance company about the claim so that you don’t have to.
It has been our experience that we usually negotiate a higher settlement for your claim, including recovery for medical expenses, pain and suffering and lost wages.
If a reasonable settlement cannot be made then an experienced injury lawyer can take your case to trial to fight for a fair recovery.
It never hurts to at least talk to a lawyer if you’ve been injured in an accident. The lawyers at Gautreaux & Sizemore work on a contingency fee basis, which means that we only charge a fee when we win your case. It cost you nothing to talk to us, and we will not take your case unless we think we can negotiate a higher settlement than you could recover on your own.
If you have been injured in an auto or truck wreck then contact our office for a free consultation.