Most accident victims expect the insurance company to do the right thing. After a car accident, the driver that caused that accident is liable for your damages. If they are insured, their insurance owes you money for medical expenses, your wrecked vehicle, lost wages, and much more. However, there can come a time a few days or weeks after an accident when victims realize that things are not going as expected. That is when they begin to consider speaking to a personal injury lawyer.
The Insurers Are Not Helpful
While your own insurance company will do what they can to assist you, the at-fault driver's insurance company is interested in primarily helping their client, the other driver. Once it's been determined that their client is at fault for the accident, they may attempt to contact you. They are keen to speak to you about the accident. They may also want to offer you a settlement for the accident. The amount they offer is not likely to be in your best interest, though. That is why you should contact a personal injury lawyer about your accident. Then, you can be sure that the lawyer working with you has your best interests in mind and not that of the other driver.
Liability is in Question
Sometimes, the fault in an accident is clear. For instance, the driver that causes a rear-end collision is usually at fault for the accident. At times, though, the fault may be uncertain. If the fault is not agreed upon, an investigation may be called for. The insurance companies will usually collect evidence and make a ruling of fault. Evidence usually consists of but is not limited to:
- The accident reports
- Photographs of the vehicles
- Photographs of the accident scene
- Eyewitness testimony
If the fault is not clear, speak to a lawyer. Your accident lawyer will also investigate, sometimes using reconstruction experts to find out what happened. You don't have to automatically accept what the insurer is saying about the fault. Speak to an auto accident lawyer and find out more.
You Have Damages
As mentioned above, you may be entitled to several types of damages. However, most insurers won't pay you for pain and suffering or for lost wages. To get paid for those damages, you may need to demand that the other side pay you what you are owed. Your personal injury lawyer will prepare a demand letter informing the other side of what you are owed. This letter usually starts the negotiation process.
Having a lawyer on your side means that you won't settle for less than you are owed.
