When to Consult a Car Accident Lawyer
Car accidents come out of nowhere, happen in a split-second, and can shatter your life. Victims of a car accident must grapple with the financial, physical, and emotional repercussions of the event, plus protect their legal rights to assert a claim for injuries. During such times, victims need an experienced lawyer to guide them through the complex process.
Impact of An Auto Accident
After a car accident, there are many issues to address: recovering from the injuries and pain suffered in the accident, paying for medical bills, addressing requests from the other driver’s insurance companies as well as the routine life demands that existed before the accident.
Insurance companies know that car accident victims are under pressure to quickly get back to their daily life, and offer minimal settlement amounts hoping to dispose of any claim quickly.
Although tempting, these initial offers are always well below the true value of the claim and can occur well before an injured victim fully understands the extent of their injuries and the medical treatment they may need.
To get started on your case or discuss the steps you should take, consult Lerner and Rowe – leading Las Vegas car accident lawyers.
Even if the vehicle or the others involved in the accident were not totaled, the damage to the driver and passengers – both physical and psychological – can be substantial. A “fender bender” can also lead to significant injuries, some of which become evident only after some time has gone by.
Steps to Take Following An Accident
It is very important to gather names, addresses, and other information from the other people with personal knowledge regarding the accident and how it occurred – not just the other driver and passengers, but any witnesses to the incident.
Witness testimony is often the most important part of an automobile accident claim when there is a dispute as to the cause of the accident. It is crucial to gather this evidence before individuals disappear from the scene or their memories start to fade.
The more facts available, the greater the chance of winning a claim. What were the weather conditions like? Were there other motorists or pedestrians who played a role in the accident, even if they could drive or walk away? What traffic signs were posted and also, was there anything in the roadway that did not belong there? Also, what damage did the vehicle receive in the accident, and was the damage photographed? Was the other driver working or what did the other driver say after the accident? Were the vehicles moved after the accident but before the police arrived?
Medical Exams
A thorough physical examination by a medical professional immediately after the accident is also very important. Sometimes the full extent of the injuries suffered in the accident is not realized until months later. It is common that the pain experienced from soft tissue injuries suffered in an accident to get worse over time.
An assessment of all injuries by a medical professional is the best way for a victim to heal. Especially when coupled with the development of a treatment plan unique to the individual. That usually includes all medically necessary treatments. Ignoring pain and injuries will only make the injuries worse and make it more difficult to resolve the claim with the adverse insurance company.