Why You Should Hire an Accident Attorney An experienced attorney for accidents can handle all legal details of your claim and handle the work you are unable do yourself. This includes gathering the evidence in the first place, preparing the paperwork and negotiations with insurance companies. Top car accident lawyers have a lot of experience in preparing for trials and trying multi-million dollar cases. This means they are less likely to resolve a case for less than what you are entitled to. Legal Advice Car accidents can be traumatic and disrupt your life. You could be injured or property damage and may lose your income. Helping someone navigate the legal process can provide you with peace of mind and let you concentrate on healing. A NYC car accident lawyer is not required, however hiring one can make the difference in ensuring that you get compensated for your losses. The first time you speak to an attorney they will give you suggestions on whether it's the best option for you to submit a claim to the at-fault driver's insurance company or your own through your personal injury protection, or PIP, provision. The law offices of Anidjar & Levine can also advise you on common pitfalls that ensnare people when filing an insurance claim. They'll guide you through the procedure. An experienced attorney will examine your evidence and determine the value of your case in terms of damages. This is based upon the facts of the accident including who was at fault the injuries you sustained, how long they are likely to last, the damage to your property or lost wages among other elements. They will also determine if you're eligible for punitive damages, which are meant to punish defendants for problematic or malicious behavior. Your attorney will then gather evidence to back up your claim, which could include witness contact information, photos of the scene, photos of your injuries, and anything else they may require. They will also be aware of the experts to engage, what documents to seek from the at-fault party and how to work with insurers to maximize your compensation. Your lawyer is your advocate and will fight for you throughout the process. They will defend your rights, negotiate with the insurance companies, and present your case before a jury or a judge. They have the education and experience to secure higher amounts of money than you get if you were to handle the claims process on your own. Your decision to hire an lawyer will ultimately be based on how comfortable you feel managing the legal process by yourself. Gathering Evidence In any legal dispute the evidence is crucial to establishing the facts of an incident and showing that you are responsible for the losses. Car accident cases are no exception. Evidence may include witnesses' testimony, physical evidence such as documents, evidence, and more. Evidence is anything that makes it more likely to allow your version of the story to be accepted as truth. Other factors, such as weather, can cause evidence to be destroyed or altered if it is not preserved immediately after an accident. It is crucial to return to the site of the crash and take photographs if possible. Photographs can record many details, such as damage to vehicles and objects, location of stop signs and traffic signals roads weather conditions, skid marks. Note everything you remember about the incident. This includes details about how it happened and who was responsible. This narrative will be important if you find it difficult to recall details later on, and will aid your lawyer in understanding the full circumstances of the accident. If you have witnesses, you should obtain their names and contact information at the scene. Find out if they were present at the crash and if they would be willing to testify during trial. If you have a mobile phone, you may also capture any video footage of the accident or its aftermath. Based on the severity of your injuries, you must document in detail any visible bruising or physical indications of pain. This is especially important if your injuries appear to be serious, and can aid in proving the severity of your accident and the extent of your losses. You should also seek medical records from your doctor or hospital as quickly as possible following your accident. These are documents that provide the full severity of your physical and mental suffering as well as your medical expenses. These records will be required in any future claims you make related to your medical expenses, lost wages, or vehicle repair. They will also be used by your insurance company to determine the amount of compensation you should receive. Negotiating with Insurance Companies Insurance companies have their own interests in mind and will do anything to cut down on the amount they pay to an accident victim. This is why hiring a personal injury attorney is crucial. Your lawyer is your advocate and must take your best interests into consideration throughout the legal process. They will gather evidence, such as photos and police reports, and witness statements. In addition, they'll collaborate with experts like accident recreation teams and forensic specialists to determine the reason for your accident. Moreover they will scrutinize any and all responsible parties such as the car manufacturer and the city that is responsible for road maintenance or even the bar that served an intoxicated driver. Once your lawyer has assembled all the evidence relevant to the case the lawyer will then prepare the demand package and present it to the insurance company. The package will contain your medical records and bills, property damage expenses, lost wages and future earnings, and any other costs you've had to pay due to the accident. The insurance company will look over the evidence, and calculate your losses. They will then offer you an amount of money, and you'll be able to choose whether you want to accept or negotiate further. In the event that you aren't satisfied with the initial settlement offer, your attorney will assist you in deciding on what to do next. They will review your requests, examine the evidence and your injuries to determine if they are entitled to a higher amount of compensation. They will then negotiate with the insurance provider to negotiate a fair and fair settlement. It is important to know that your lawyer will not settle for less than you deserve. Your attorney will inform the insurance company that they are working for you and will do everything they can to stop paying more than you are entitled to. A common tactic employed by the insurance companies is to make you feel pressured into accepting a low-ball price. They do this because they are aware that they'll be required to pay more if you employ an attorney later on. Filing an action Attorneys who specialize in car accidents know how to collect and organize evidence that will support your claim. They have also negotiated with insurance adjusters for many hours and aren't afraid take them to court if needed. https://vimeo.com/709600511 will make sure you receive sufficient money from the insurance company to cover your medical costs for ongoing treatment and lost wages. An experienced lawyer can assist you in determining the amount of compensation you are entitled to according to the severity of your injuries and how they affected your life. This involves calculating the future medical expenses along with past and potential lost earnings, emotional trauma, physical pain and any permanent impairments you've suffered. The law stipulates that you are entitled to seek the costs of these losses from the person at fault. If you attempt to take on an insurance company on your own you're likely to receive much less than you require. Engaging an attorney to negotiate with the insurance provider on your behalf is the most effective way to avoid such a situation. If you've been injured in an accident you must seek medical treatment as soon as you can. Even if you don't have any obvious injuries visiting an expert will establish a link between the crash and your injury. This is essential to establish the basis of your claim and could uncover other damages you may be entitled to. In many cases, car accidents are caused by the negligence of another driver. In such cases you may be eligible to file an injury claim against the driver who is at fault's insurance company or the insurer of your vehicle. A lawyer is well-versed in these claims as well as the statutes of limitation (time limitations for filing lawsuits) which could impede your claim if you do not make a claim on time. A seasoned New York car accident attorney will provide you with the facts you need to make a sound decision about the next steps. Contact Davis, Saperstein & Salomon for a no-obligation, free case review. We can also assist you to get the amount of compensation you need to get.