When should I hire a car accident attorney? – A Detailed Guide

After an accident, car accident victims are often forced to deal with serious injuries and high medical bills on their own. Insurance companies often offer accident victims cheap compensation that is a fraction of what they need to recover. These insurance companies don’t have your best interests at heart: the only people they care about are your shareholders and reducing your liabilities. Accident victims can be pressured into signing a settlement too quickly, and you could end up with less than they need to cover your injuries.

The moment his accident happened, a clock started ticking. It’s a countdown to the first financial hit you’ll face as a result of your injuries. For most people, that first hit is a missed paycheck. Then the first medical bill comes, and there won’t be one. Very soon, you find yourself with a financial problem that you don’t know how to solve.

That’s why it’s important that you consult one of our experienced car accident attorneys as soon as possible after your accident. This ensures our team can gather vital evidence and testimonies that may be lost over time. It also allows our legal team to get to work quickly to build a strong case for you. The sooner you call, the sooner you’ll get the compensation you deserve for your accident.

Measures after a car accident

Immediately after you’ve been injured in a car accident, there are steps you can take to get the compensation you need.

• Call 911: Calling 911 and reporting your accident will alert both law enforcement officers and emergency medical teams to the scene of the accident. Your police report and medical report are invaluable in determining guilt and liability. Without her, it’s just your word against hers.
• Collect Evidence: Evidence collection can be done easily now that we have smartphones. Take photos of license plates, eyewitness information, damage to the vehicle, traffic patterns, intersections, and other important information that can help your attorney determine an error.
• Consult a Lawyer: Insurance companies will always try to reduce their liability by offering accident victims a cheap settlement offer. This is usually a fraction of what you need to recover.

Contact an experienced auto accident attorney immediately to start preparing your case. Remember that contacting an attorney is not the same as filing a lawsuit.

What not to do after a car accident

While it’s important to know what to do after a car accident, it’s just as important to know what NOT to do. Immediately after your accident, avoid these serious car crash mistakes.

• Failure to report your accident: Sometimes, it can be tempting to just swap notes with the other driver and keep driving, especially if you don’t think you were injured. Unfortunately, some car accident injuries can take days and even weeks to fully manifest. Always report your accident and get a police report.
• Admitting guilt: It’s human nature to apologize, even when we’re not wrong. However, after a car accident, saying “I’m sorry” can be used to show that you admitted to the blame for the accident. Even if you think you were partly to blame, don’t admit guilt.
• Take the settlement: The insurance company often uses a “take it or leave it” approach to pressure injured accident victims to make a settlement that falls far short of what they actually need to recover. Don’t sign anything without first talking to a lawyer.

What is the statute of limitations?

In the state of Arkansas, auto accident victims have only three years from the date of the accident to make a claim. While this may seem like a long time, three years after an accident can go by quickly. You could be seriously hurt and focused on recovery and improving your life. You may be struggling to make ends meet and trying to help your family avoid bankruptcy after an accident. During this time, valuable evidence may be lost or even destroyed. Contact an experienced auto accident attorney right away to start preparing your case and avoid missing important deadlines.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, don’t wait to get the legal help you need. Call our auto accident attorneys today for a free consultation. We are ready to help you get the maximum compensation for your damage claim.

When to call an attorney

Not everyone who has been involved in a car accident needs to be represented by a lawyer. However, if your accident is serious or complex, you must consult an attorney as soon as possible so that they can begin handling your case. If any of the following apply to your situation, contact an attorney immediately:

• Any accident that seriously injures you or someone else
• Any accident where fault cannot be clearly established.
• Any accident involving another motorist, e.g. B., a pedestrian, other cars, trucks, or cyclists
• Any collision in a school area
• Any accident in a construction site or work zone
• Every time you disagree with the police report
• Any accident involving an underinsured or uninsured driver
• Whenever insurance companies send mixed messages or give confusing answers to liability questions

Minor car accidents often do not require the assistance of an attorney. However, there are special circumstances where the services of an attorney can be invaluable following a minor accident. These include:

• Minor collisions with a significant vehicle or property damage
• Any injury to a passenger in your own vehicle or person
• Any important work that you or your passengers missed
• Issues related to car repairs and insurance limits

The sooner you contact an attorney, the better. In the state of Arkansas, you only have three years to file a personal injury claim. While this may seem like a long time, valuable evidence can be lost or destroyed in just a few weeks. Victims of accidents should therefore consult a lawyer as quickly as possible, even if they are not sure whether they want to file a lawsuit.

Our lawyers offer a free consultation and review of your case, and we can help you choose the legal process that is best for you and your family. Call us today at (800) 434-4800 for more information.

What to give your lawyer

Ensure your meeting goes smoothly by providing your attorney with the following information:

• contact information
• Important facts about your case
• police report
• medical records
• Financial records or medical records
• Photos of the accident or damaged site
• contact details and witness statements

When to make a claim

Once you meet, your attorney will review all aspects of your case and begin negotiations with the insurance company. Keep in mind that a personal injury lawsuit is different from a personal injury lawsuit. A personal injury claim is between you and the at-fault driver’s insurance company and requires a number of negotiations. At Rainwater, Holt Sexton, our Arkansas personal injury attorneys are experienced negotiators who seek the maximum compensation for our injured clients.

However, if the insurance company plays hard, you may have to file a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent party to seek damages. This often occurs when the insurance claims adjuster disputes who was responsible for the accident or when you disagree with the severity of your injuries. When negotiations stall, and an agreement cannot be reached, the next step is a personal injury lawsuit.

Benefits of Hiring a Lawyer

It may seem easier to deal with the aftermath of a car accident on your own. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Hiring an attorney can make your life and recovery process easier and prevent unscrupulous adjusters from taking advantage of you. Some of the benefits of hiring a lawyer are:

Dealing with the insurance company: Insurance companies don’t always play fair. That’s why you need an experienced Arkansas auto accident attorney to fight for you during this time. Your lawyer can take over the insurance company and make sure you are not acting in bad faith.

Filing the Required Paperwork: Filing a car accident claim and filing a personal injury lawsuit involve paperwork and forms. These forms must be submitted correctly and in a timely manner to ensure that your case proceeds appropriately and that you achieve a favorable outcome. Incorrectly filed forms or failure to submit the required documentation can protractedly delay your case and prevent you from receiving the money you need.

Don’t miss any deadlines: A car accident lawyer will make sure you don’t miss important deadlines such as B. miss the statute of limitations. In some cases, accident victims only have a short window of opportunity to make a claim, so your attorney will act quickly to meet these deadlines and protect your right to compensation.

Higher Compensation: Those who call a lawyer receive higher compensation than those who don’t. Lawyers know how to create a case to show the insurance company how much money you need to recover. They are not afraid to break ground with the big insurance companies and will fight to ensure ALL of your medical expenses are covered now and in the future.

Contingency Basis: Most auto accident attorneys work on a contingency basis. That means you don’t owe them anything unless they win or settle your case. Any injured accident victim can seek justice after an accident, not just those who can afford it.

Thorough Investigation: Attorneys have extensive experience investigating car accidents. They often use accident reconstruction teams, forensic scientists, and experts to uncover everyone responsibly, even those not listed on the police report, such as the car manufacturer, the city in charge of road maintenance, or the bar that served you, drivers.