We are all aware that car accidents happen all the time, but is it really necessary to hire an attorney when these minor car accidents transpire? In many instances, individuals who have gotten into minor car accidents access their car, exchange insurance information and quickly depart from the scene of the accident.
However, it isn’t a rarity that minor car accidents can turn into huge legal battles. It’s all dependent on the damage of the vehicles and injuries sustained. So, if you’ve been in a minor accident, how do you know whether to call an attorney or not?
We’ve listed a few of our recommendations below to keep you informed:
Lawyer up
If you had a minor car accident, immediately file an insurance claim with either the other driver’s insurance company or your own. This is the quickest way to repair any damage on your vehicle and pay for medical expenses if you’ve incurred any.
If the other driver’s insurance company doesn’t want to cover the damages or potential injuries, or if the other driver wasn’t insured, then you can take your claim to small claims court. For this, you don’t have to have an attorney’s assistance.
On the other hand, there are situations when you should definitely consider hiring an experienced attorney:
- If there’s a dispute regarding who is at fault after the accident
- If the accident resulted in a serious injury which needs ongoing medical treatment
- If there’s a dispute about how much you have to pay or how much you’ll receive
- If the other driver or his/her insurance company takes you to court
- If you just don’t want to handle your claim on your own
If there are disputes over compensation or liability, then that might need to be settled in a courtroom. You may also face the potential of being sued after a car accident, so an attorney in this case is strongly suggested.
If you hire an experienced lawyer, he/she will know how to proceed in this distressing time. Even minor car accidents can take months and years to be resolved, so this is why having an attorney at your side – who knows what evidence you need, how to gather the right evidence and how to negotiate a fair settlement, is a plus.
If you or anyone else you might know have sustained injuries due to the negligence of others, the Law Office of Dan Zohar is here to help. Don’t delay, call today at 800-963-3311. Our phones are answered 24/7.