How to Evaluate, Hire, and Work with a Car Accident Lawyer

For most people, legal issues only come up several times in a lifetime. If you have been in a car accident, you may be seeking legal help for one of the first times in your life. Due to the importance of legal representation in car accident cases, knowing what to look for as you hire a lawyer is vital to the outcome of your case.

Read on for a few tips you can incorporate as you evaluate, hire, and ultimately, work with a car accident lawyer.

Evaluate

A quick Google search will show you that it isn’t hard to find a personal injury attorney online. Knowing which firm is capable of leading your case toward a successful income is the difficult part. In evaluating a potential attorney, try the following tips

Use the free consultation

 Many car accident attorneys offer a free consultation to discuss the details of your case and recommend potential next steps. These can be a good way to evaluate a potential attorney.

Look for listening skills

The best attorneys understand that no two cases are exactly alike. They listen to their clients’ concerns and address them through all stages of the legal process.

Ask About Experience

Though the majority of car accident cases are settled out of court, many do go to litigation. You need to ensure that your attorney has the experience to defend your interests through all stages of the legal process.

Beyond your consultation, the Internet can be a good place to learn more about a potential attorney. Look to social media profiles and online review sites to get a better sense for their style and work history.

Hire

In hiring an attorney, it is important to know the terms going in. Personal injury attorneys make their income as a percentage of your settlement or judgement. You will want to know what the terms of that arrangement will be before retaining an attorney. Additionally, you may want to get a sense for the level of direct communication with your attorney that you can expect throughout your case. Different law firms will have differing styles in this regard.

Work

When working with an attorney, communication is vital. Important information that is not conveyed from client to attorney–or vice versa–can damage the prospects for a positive outcome in your case. Make sure that you are providing your attorney with all appropriate medical records, testimony, photographic evidence, and any other items that may be useful in your case. At the same time, you want to be sure that your attorney is keeping you up to date on the latest developments. Only if you are informed can you make wise decisions about the progress of your case. If you have just been in a car accident, you need trusted legal advice. 

The General Rule About Who Pays Medical Bills During Car Accident Cases

If you have been injured in a car accident, you should be able to focus entirely on your recovery. Unfortunately, the high medical expenses you may have incurred can put financial considerations at the top of your mind. Logistical issues such as who owes what to whom and when they will pay can take top priority.

 we understand the critical importance of knowing how your medical expenses will be covered during this critical time. To help you better understand your own situation, we have provided this quick guide to who pays medical expenses after a car accident.

The At-Fault Driver is Ultimately Responsible for the Bills

That means that the driver who caused an accident is liable for any medical or property damage costs incurred by all involved parties. This contrasts with “no-fault” insurance states, where claimants must exhaust their own insurance payments before seeking compensation from other involved parties.

If you have been injured in a car accident, law gives you a number of options to seek compensation from the responsible party. First, you may file a claim with your own insurance company. The insurance company will then attempt to seek compensation from the other driver. In other cases, it can make more sense to directly pursue your claim with the other driver’s insurance company. Finally, you can work with a lawyer to file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible driver.

The best options will differ from case to case and depend upon a range of factors, such as your ability to obtain a timely settlement and the relative evidence proving your claim. It can help to consult with an attorney about the best course to take to get your medical bills covered.

You May Need to Pay While Your Case Works through the System

If you lack sufficient medical coverage in your car insurance and medical insurance policies, you may be liable for immediate medical costs incurred. Though the at-fault driver is ultimately responsible for compensating you for medical expenses, you must settle your case or obtain court ordered payment before you will be compensated. In the meantime, you may still need to bear any ongoing expenses on your own.

With multiple insurance companies and third parties involved, sorting through these details can become very complicated. Working with an attorney, you can analyze the terms of your own insurance policies and the likelihood that you will obtain an efficient resolution to your case. This will, in turn, help you adequately plan for your own medical expenses. Injured car accident victims are sometimes able to work out manageable payment plans with hospitals while they pursue their cases.

Seek Help From an Experienced  Car Accident Attorney

Medical expenses resulting from a car accident can impact your life and finances for a lifetime. To obtain the timely compensation you deserve, contact the  car accident attorneys  for a free consultation.

How Long Will My Car Accident Take?

Vital Tips Regarding The Timeline After a Car Accident

Settlement of a car accident case can span from one month to several years. As the injured party, you are already receiving medical bills in the mail, you have been out of work due to your injuries, and you have spent countless dollars on miscellaneous expenses that came about as a result of the accident.

It’s understandable that you have a sense of urgency when it comes to how the case will be disposed. Information must be exchanged between the parties, negotiations must be made, costs pertaining to medical expenses and property damaged must be accounted for, and the best interests of both parties must be considered.

In the event that you have retained a vigilant attorney who is not likely to take the first offer or cave at the first sign of difficulty, prepare yourself for the “long haul” where litigation can take several months. Statute of Limitations must be considered when one looks to determine how long their litigation will be carried out. Additionally, keep in mind that the Statute of Limitations laws vary from state to state.

In Georgia, you have:

2 years from the date of the car accident to file a lawsuit for personal injury (Ga. Code Ann. § 9-3-33)

4 years from the date of the car accident to file a lawsuit for property damage (i.e. damage to a vehicle) (Ga. Code Ann. § 9-3-32)

Georgia Specific Rules

Georgia is a “fault” insurance state, which allows them to file a personal injury lawsuit against the other motorist who is determined to be “at fault.”

The minimum car insurance coverage requirements for drivers in Georgia are:

-$25,000 for the injury or death of one person. This would encompass you, any passenger present in the vehicle, another driver, or even a pedestrian who received damage as a result of the accident.

-$50,000 for the injury or death of more than one person in a single accident

-$25,000 for property damage

Unlike several other states, Georgia motorists are not required to carry uninsured motorist coverage.

In the case that the opposing insurance company is taking full responsibility for the injuries incurred, it may be unnecessary to retain counsel. However, if there are attempts to attribute fault on your end or the injuries that you suffered was extensive, contact an attorney quickly. Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, meaning they will only get paid if you prevail in the lawsuit.

If you need further assistance in determining whether you have a plausible claim and representation is needed when dealing with overbearing insurance companies, call car accident lawyer.

Guilty Until Proven Innocent: Liability and Presumptions In Cases Where A Car Is Rear-Ended

You’ve always been a cautious driver, driving the speed limit, using your signals properly, and even being the eyes and ears for other drivers. Let’s just say this, one would most definitely describe you as a reasonably prudent motorist. Imagine this, Friday afternoon at approximately 4:15 p.m., you find yourself in bumper to bumper traffic after a long day at work. 

You prudently check your rearview mirror and notice a bright red sports car that is weaving in and out of traffic at an alarming rate. You try your best to avoid this negligent driver, but you notice they are quickly approaching the upcoming exit that you plan to take as well. It happens so fast, the red sports car dashes in front of you at the last minute, you don’t have enough time to brake and avoid the collision. Just before you know it you have rear ended the red sports car. It is common knowledge that the person who rear ended the other vehicle is automatically liable or is it?

Generally all motorists owe a duty to operate their vehicle in safe and prudent manner. 

A breach of this duty would be any of the following:

-Failure to pay attention to the road and look out for hazards

-Failure to apply brakes when appropriate

-Failure to adhere to posted speed limit

-Failure to control vehicle

-Failure to yield when a pedestrian or vehicle has the right of way

-Failure to use proper signals and operation of vehicle with malfunctioning signal s

-Most important and relevant, failure to follow at a safe distance.

However, the apportioning of liability is not always as cut and dry or black and white as this. Those motorists who have been rear ended owe a duty of care to other drivers as well. One may argue that had you maintained a safe distance behind the other car you would have adequate enough time to avoid the collision. In opposition, these motorists must not engage in behavior that could possibly bring about harm to those around them. Thus, all aspects of the case and the events leading up to the accident must always been taken into consideration. 

Negligence is when one’s conduct falls below the standard of care determined by law to protect others against unreasonable risk of harm. Therefore, one who swerves in and out of traffic, exceeds the posted speed, or even fails to signal, has in engaged in negligent conduct and may be held liable although they were the victims in the accident and/or suffered damage.

Maneuvering through the nuances of personal injury claims, dealing with the insurance companies of both parties, and ensuring that your rights are asserted can be a complex process. call car accident lawyer, before you deal with the insurance adjuster.

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