If you have ever been injured in a car accident, you know it is a stressful situation. You face the inconvenience of dealing with damage to your car and having to reorganize your schedule for that day and possibly beyond. Many car accidents result in serious injuries, which may require treatment at a hospital or an emergency facility to say nothing of ongoing medical care. A serious injury can be painful both physically and emotionally. If you find yourself facing such a situation, it is important to think about the next steps.
We have a natural inclination to get angry after a car accident. This is often the case, even if the car accident is minor. It is not uncommon to see people get out of their cars and start screaming at each other. While you may get rid of some nervous energy in this manner, it is not doing you any good in the long-run. It makes a lot more sense to act calmly and rationally after an accident. Take the time to assess your own physical condition as well as that of your vehicle to see if any major damage occurred. Take pictures if necessary. If you or someone else is hurt, call an ambulance.
It is often not immediately clear whether you need to hire an attorney. The hiring of an attorney usually means your case is complicated. If you have injuries of any kind, let alone serious injuries, this in itself will make your case more complicated. If you have any inclination that your car accident may result in complexities when you ask for compensation from the insurance company, call an accident attorney today. Experienced car accident lawyers have an expertise in how to deal with insurance companies. They know all the insurance companies’ tricks, which makes it more likely that they will be able to get you a substantial settlement.
If you call the insurance company and the adjuster is hostile or dismissive in relation to your claims, you should call your attorney and tell them to take over. Even if the insurance company shows a willingness to work with you, it does not mean that they will offer a fair settlement. Only an experienced personal injury lawyer can assess the fairness of a settlement offer.
If the insurance provider, or the other party involved in the accident, is showing no signs of providing you with adequate compensation, it is time to get your lawyer involved. If you have written down all the facts of the case, and taken pictures from the scene of the accident, you will have no problem giving your lawyer all the facts. This will allow your lawyer to assess the situation and determine the value of your damage claim. If your attorney believes that you have a valid claim and that there are substantial damages, he or she will represent you on a contingent fee basis and will negotiate with the insurance company and/or prepare the case for trial.
This article was submitted by the Boise Car Accident Attorneys at the Hansen Injury Law.
