You might not need a lawyer to handle your car accident case. After all, the at-fault driver’s insurance company seems to offer a reasonable settlement offer.
However, if you’re not getting enough compensation, it might be time to hire an attorney. Auto Accident Lawyer Maryland can help you recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering.
Getting involved in an accident is traumatizing. Whether the crash is minor or severe, victims are often in shock and may not notice any physical injuries until days after the incident. This is why it is important for car accident victims to visit a doctor or urgent care center immediately after an accident, regardless of how minor the symptoms seem. This will help ensure that any potential injuries are identified and treated, reducing the risk of long-term health complications.
It is also important to visit the doctor for documentation purposes, as detailed medical records are critical evidence in personal injury cases and legal claims. If you do not visit a doctor, insurance companies might argue that your injuries are not serious or related to the accident, jeopardizing your chances of securing compensation. Visiting a medical professional immediately after an accident will provide the needed documentation to prove that your injuries are directly linked to the incident, which in turn increases your chances of receiving fair compensation.
When choosing a healthcare provider, opt for an emergency room or a clinic that is experienced in handling car accident injuries. Make sure that the facility accepts your health insurance, and that the healthcare professionals are certified. You should also keep a copy of your medical documents, as they will be necessary to file a car accident claim and receive compensation from stakeholders.
Internal injuries, such as whiplash or soft tissue damage, can be difficult to diagnose based on initial physical observations. These injuries typically take days or even weeks to manifest as symptoms. If they are not diagnosed and treated promptly, these injuries could cause lasting physical and emotional problems, including chronic pain, mobility issues, and other long-term health issues. Visiting the doctor immediately after a car accident will allow healthcare professionals to perform a thorough examination of your body and identify any hidden injuries, ensuring that they are promptly treated.
If you’re experiencing any symptoms after a car accident, don’t wait to get checked out. Make an appointment at a local hospital or urgent care center, and do not leave the scene of the accident until the police arrive. This will ensure that you are properly assessed and treated for any injuries, which can prevent future complications and improve your chance of receiving compensation from the at-fault parties.
Documentation
Car accidents are a common occurrence, and often, the victim’s injuries can be serious and debilitating. As such, they can be expensive to treat. Furthermore, the injuries can also impede on a person’s ability to work and may require modifications to their home or car in order to accommodate their physical limitations. It is for this reason that car accident victims must seek medical attention immediately following a crash in order to not only treat their injuries but to build a strong personal injury claim.
Medical documentation provides irrefutable evidence that supports your case. It shows the extent of your injuries and when they occurred, allowing you to demonstrate that the injuries you have suffered are directly related to the accident. Likewise, medical documentation demonstrates the need for continued treatment and supports your claim for past and future medical expenses.
The documentation compiled by your physician can also serve as expert testimony, relating the severity of your injuries and how they affect your life. This can help increase the compensation you receive. Additionally, your attorney can use medical documents to calculate the cost of your damages and establish the amount you should be compensated for. This includes your monetary losses, such as medical bills and loss of income. It can also include your non-monetary losses, such as pain and suffering.
In some cases, the defense can argue that your injuries are not connected to the accident and were pre-existing. In other words, they can assert that the injuries you claim were sustained in the car accident are not as severe as you make them out to be. Robust medical records that support the extent of your injuries will help sway the insurance company to settle on your behalf rather than fighting the claim in court.
In addition to medical records, your lawyer will need invoices and receipts for prescription medications and other healthcare costs that you have incurred in the course of your recovery. This will allow your lawyer to calculate the total amount of financial and non-economic damages you are entitled to under the law.
Contact the Police
A police report serves as a verifiable record of the accident, improving your chances of successfully proving negligence in an insurance claim. Even if the damage to your vehicle and personal injuries seem minor, you should still request that a law enforcement officer respond to the scene. Officers can facilitate the exchange of information between parties, including the name, driver’s license number, registration and policy numbers for both vehicles and insureds. The responding officer can also run a record check to protect against fraudulent claims.
Police reports are designed to be unbiased descriptions of the accident. Officers don’t have a vested interest in who was at fault for the crash, which allows them to capture important details that can strengthen your legal claim. The report may include observations regarding how the accident occurred, witness statements and conclusions about what caused the collision.
Your lawyer will use this information to build your case for compensation. This includes determining your medical needs, the extent of any property damage and other damages that you may have sustained. Your attorney can then work with the insurer on your behalf to secure a favorable settlement.
In some cases, a negligent driver will attempt to decrease his or her liability by changing the facts of the accident. If this happens, your attorney can review the police report and identify any inaccuracies that can be corrected through proper channels.
It is important to remember that you should never speak to the other party’s insurance company before speaking with a representative from your own insurer. Anything you say to the other party’s insurance agent can be used against your car accident claim later on. Even the smallest inconsistency can impact your case, so it is always best to have an attorney on your side. An experienced auto accident lawyer will know what to look for in a police report and how to correct any inaccuracies that can affect your claim. Inaccuracies in a police report can significantly delay or derail your auto accident claim. You should contact a skilled car accident attorney as soon as possible to help ensure that your rights are protected.
Contact an Attorney
While many people assume they do not need an attorney after a minor car accident, it is vital to contact one as soon as possible. A lawyer can explain how the laws in your state apply to your case and protect you from making any statements that could be used against you. It is also crucial to have a legal professional document your injuries and their impact on you. This will help establish causation and is a key component of most negligence cases.
An attorney can also ensure you get full compensation for your losses. This includes past and future medical bills, rehabilitative care, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Attorneys are trained to calculate these costs and are skilled at negotiating with insurance companies to secure fair settlements.
A lawyer will know the most effective methods for gathering evidence, including witness testimony and photographic and video footage. They can also assist with determining fault and liability through an analysis of the law of torts. The law of torts is a set of principles that dictate how parties are responsible for causing and suffering injury or death to another party. Negligence is the basis for most tort claims in car accidents. This involves failure to act with the ordinary care that a reasonable person would use in similar circumstances.
It is also important to have an experienced lawyer handle all communications with the defendant’s insurance company. This includes oral or written statements as well as the submission of documents. It is important to remember that the insurance representatives are not your friends and will do everything in their power to reduce their responsibility and limit your compensation. An experienced lawyer will be able to guide you through this process and protect you from giving statements that could harm your case.
When choosing an attorney you should consider their level of experience and the resources they have. You should also find out if they work on a contingency fee basis. This means that they will only be paid if they win your case, which aligns their interests with yours and encourages them to work hard to maximize the recovery of your damages.