When Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?

Car Accidents On Wednesday, February 22, 2023

If you get injured in a car accident, you may not know what steps to take to protect your rights. You may be dealing with serious injuries and medical treatments, as well as missing time from work and losing wages. You have enough on your plate as a car accident victim. Hiring a car accident lawyer can benefit you in many ways during the recovery process – especially if you have a complicated or high-value claim.

Moderate to Severe Injuries 

Not every car accident case in Connecticut needs an attorney. Generally speaking, the car accident and personal injury cases that warrant hiring a lawyer are those that involve moderate to severe injuries. A car accident victim with serious physical injuries may need an attorney to go up against an insurance company and negotiate a fair settlement. This is due to the fact that insurance companies often attempt to minimize client payouts.

An insurance company may resist paying you the amount that you deserve for a severe, catastrophic or life-changing injury. This includes brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. In these cases, the insurance adjuster may try to downplay your injuries and offer a lowball settlement for your high-value claim. It may require hiring an attorney to force the insurance company to treat you fairly and offer the amount that you need for your past and future losses.  

A car accident attorney can aggressively negotiate with an insurance provider to increase the amount they are willing to pay. If the car insurance company refuses to offer a reasonable settlement for the full extent of your injuries and losses, your car accident attorney can take your case to trial. If you only suffered minor or no physical injuries, however, you can most likely handle a car accident claim on your own.

The Wrongful Death of a Loved One

If you tragically lost a loved one in a fatal car accident in Connecticut, it is important to hire an attorney to handle your family’s wrongful death claim. These lawsuits can be complicated and difficult to win. Your family will need to navigate Connecticut’s wrongful death laws and prove that someone else is responsible for causing your loved one’s fatal injuries. This may require a court trial, depending on the case. Hiring an attorney can allow your family to focus on grieving, mourning and what matters most instead of the confusing legal process.

A Liability Dispute

Complicated car accident cases often require attorneys. One example is a case that involves a liability dispute. If the other driver’s car insurance company is denying liability for the crash or trying to blame you, you might need an attorney to help you prove your case. A law firm will have the resources to thoroughly investigate the car accident and collect evidence of another party’s fault. This can help you win your car accident case and recover the financial compensation that you need to move forward.

Within Your Statute of Limitations

Most car accident cases in Connecticut reach settlements, or agreements between the crash victim and a car insurance company to resolve the legal dispute for a certain amount of money. However, it is sometimes necessary to go to court with a car accident case. If you need to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, you are given no more than two years from the date of your car accident to file under Connecticut law.

You must act quickly to avoid missing your deadline. With only a few exceptions, the courts will not hear a car accident case that is brought after the statute of limitations has passed. If you need to file a lawsuit, hire an attorney to represent you well before your deadline. This gives your lawyer more time to put together the strongest possible case on your behalf, while evidence is still available. To find out if your car accident case needs a lawyer, request a free consultation at Loughlin & FitzGerald, P.C.

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