The US Department of transportation’s statistical results indicated that annually, there are more than 6 million car accidents. If not a single person is hurt from the accident, then the insurance company can pretty much handle this. But the same accident statistics also show there will be a related injury every 14 seconds and a death will occur every 12 minutes.
If ever there is a serious injury involved or if someone died in the accident, then legal action may be considered. What most drivers would do whenever they meet an accident is to deal with the problem immediately without the help of a personal injury lawyer. If you happen to come across an accident like this, immediately take the names, address and insurance information of the people involved. Next, you should contact the police and report everything that had happened. To complete the accident report, wait for the police to come.
It gets more complicated to deal with an accident once people are injured. You need to visit a physician immediately to know if you are suffering from some kind of pain after the accident. A lawyer might not be needed if the injury involves only bumps or bruises.
Your medical records will be included in the accident report once the results of the tests show that the injuries you acquired are serious. Do not delay treatment for your injuries because once you do, it would be a lot difficult to prove the injuries and the accident. Getting a personal injury lawyer is needed if the injuries happen to be as whiplash, broken bones, paralysis, or death.
Once you file an injury claim to your insurance company, expect to see them cringe. Don’t count on the company to ensure that what you would be receiving is something that is worth it. What they want is to save their company by maximizing the profits that they could get out of your insurance plans. Whenever you visit the company about your claim, bring someone with you to somehow minimize the chance of having your claim reduced. Keep in mind that you are not at all different from the number of people that the company deals with you every day.
When you work with a personal injury lawyer, the lawyer will advise you on the value of your claim, handle negotiations with the insurer, and protect your rights. With the presence of a lawyer, it is no doubt that you will receive the right amount that you are entitled to from the insurance company. Personal injury lawyers are paid on a contingency basis wherein they receive their pay once you are paid by the insurance company. It is a sad fact but you still have to pay the lawyer even if you lost the case. However, the lawyer still has an incentive to win because he gets a certain percentage from what you will be getting.
Statistics show that more people are badly hurt in car accidents. It is important to know what to do when you are faced with accidents like these. By hiring a personal injury lawyer, you would be able to get the rightful compensation for damages and your rights will be protected as well.
