Car accident lawyers work hard to help accident victims file personal injury claims to work for financial recovery. After a collision, you might be dealing with serious injuries, medical expenses, and lost wages, but experienced car accident lawyers can guide you through these challenges.
A personal injury lawyer can help you communicate with the insurance company and assist in settlement negotiations. If your case needs to go to court, your auto accident lawyer will also gather the evidence and documentation to build a strong case.
In addition to recovering compensation, car accident attorneys assist car crash victims in other ways.
Responsibilities of a Car Accident Lawyer
Whether you would like to settle your car accident case out of court or not, having a car accident lawyer by your side throughout the legal process will be very beneficial. The following are steps your lawyer can take to maximize your compensation.
Your car accident lawyer will investigate your accident
Experienced car accident lawyers know that solid evidence is crucial to the success of a car accident case. After a crash, car accident attorneys investigate to assess the extent of damages. They may gather evidence, visit the scene of the accident, and interview eyewitnesses all as part of the process.
There are specific tasks your car accident lawyer may carry out and others that require the expertise of auto accident investigators.
Car accident lawyers may hire investigators to:
- Gather video and photo evidence of the car wreck
- Photograph your injuries and the property damage
- Obtain witness accounts of the car accident
To add to the evidence obtained by the investigator, your car accident lawyer may:
- Consult medical records and experts to understand the extent of your injuries
- Gather medical bills and documents that prove the financial impact of the accident
- Acquire invoices for repairing or replacing the property
- Secure witness testimonies that validate your losses
- Review police reports
It is important to note that a police report cannot usually be admitted as evidence in an Arkansas personal injury case. Even so, the information in the report can be useful to your lawyer during the investigation phase.
Car accident lawyers can offer legal advice
Car accident victims may be overwhelmed after an accident and not know where to turn to get help. You might get differing opinions and advice from well-meaning people; however, the most accurate advice usually comes from car accident attorneys. The insurance claims process will be much easier for injured victims who consult a car accident lawyer.
Personal injury claims can be complicated. Experienced lawyers can help you navigate the process. After reviewing the facts, the lawyer will suggest the most appropriate course of action.
An Arkansas car accident attorney can help you file claims and lawsuits
Filing an injury claim or lawsuit in Arkansas is quite an arduous process. It involves filing multiple documents for injury claims, pleadings, petitions and summons in the event of a lawsuit.
An auto accident case involves many important aspects, all of which need to be handled carefully. Auto accident lawyers have knowledge and years of experience with accident details and the judicial system. They understand the legal process of filing a car accident lawsuit or claim and can ensure your case is filed properly.
A car accident lawyer will act as your representative in the car accident case
After a car accident, having a car accident lawyer advocate for you is reassuring. Your lawyer will investigate the accident, build your case, and communicate with the other parties for you.
Saying the wrong thing to insurance adjusters or opposing lawyers can jeopardize your case, so leave the communications and negotiations to legal professionals like us. Lawyers have ample experience communicating with opposing parties, so we know what to say and how to say it.
Your car accident attorney will also handle paperwork and court filings, making sure to meet all deadlines.
A car accident attorney can guide you through your case and prepare you
The most important reason to hire a car accident lawyer is that he or she will be your ally. Facing the lawyers of the other party on your own is never ideal, but an experienced car accident lawyer can guide you through the legal proceedings to ensure financial recovery.
Oftentimes, car accident cases involve determining who is responsible for the crash. Arkansas follows a comparative negligence rule, which means both parties could share a percentage of fault. Your lawyer will review the evidence in your case and explain how this rule applies to you.
A car accident lawyer can also guide you by reviewing the insurance policies of both parties. He will review your insurance policy and the at-fault driver’s policy. With this information, your lawyer can determine the amount of coverage available.
Having reliable representation can help you make sense of all the legal terms and processes related to your personal injury claim. The personal injury lawyers of Minton Law Firm have experience in supporting accident victims through Arkansas’s legal procedures for injury cases.
A lawyer can help you understand your legal rights
Your car accident attorney will protect and explain your rights so you can make informed decisions regarding your case. Many people are not familiar with the details of auto accident laws in Arkansas.
If you are one of those people, the insurance company’s legal team could take advantage of that, unfortunately. Insurance companies deal with car accident claims often, and their legal teams are skilled in settlement negotiations with car accident victims. They are capable of undermining your insurance claim to give you an unfair settlement.
But it is not just the insurance company you want to be wary of. The Arkansas car accident law states that you cannot receive compensation if you are at least 50 percent at fault. The opposing party’s lawyer is aware of this and may try to increase your percentage of fault and rob you of your maximum compensation amount.
During your initial consultation, your car accident attorney will review the circumstances of your case and explain what you are entitled to, what opposition you might face, and how your attorney may fight for you.
A car accident attorney will protect you from the insurance companies
Attorney Justin Minton, founder of Minton Law, has seen many people settle for unjust insurance settlements during his time as an insurance adjuster. That’s why he decided to switch sides and start fighting for car accident victims.
Insurers often unfairly undermine claims and try to convince accident victims that a quick, lowball settlement is the best possible offer. Thus, they increase their profit margins.
You need someone in your corner to negotiate with the insurance companies and recover fair financial compensation. Experienced accident lawyers know how to negotiate with insurance companies who use bad faith practices.
A car accident lawyer will negotiate a fair settlement
Insurance companies often look for reasons to reduce your settlement amount. The insurance company may offer a lowball settlement because:
- They consider you partially or entirely responsible for the accident
- You have requested insurance coverage that exceeds your maximum coverage
- You may have waited too long to inform the insurance company
- They aim to prevent a lawsuit by quickly settling the case, since signing a release form and accepting the settlement means you can’t sue the insurance company
Experienced accident lawyers can help you negotiate a fair settlement and avoid such bad faith practices.
Your lawyer understands the cost of the significant injuries you have sustained and the losses you are facing. He will fight to defend your rights and ensure you receive maximum compensation for your car accident.
If negotiations fail with the insurance company, your lawyer may push for a pre-trial settlement. When all else fails, you and your accident attorney can file a personal injury lawsuit and go to court to recover whatever is owed you.
A car accident attorney is prepared to represent you in court
Sometimes a car accident claim cannot be settled out of court. As a result, your attorney will file a lawsuit on your behalf to recover compensation. Court proceedings follow strict rules and require many negotiations.
Experienced lawyers will oversee every aspect of the pre-trial process and represent you in court if your case goes to trial.
If you have been injured in a car accident, representing yourself in a lawsuit will be difficult and disadvantageous. It’s better for you to leave your case in trusted hands while you focus on your physical and emotional recovery.
A good auto accident lawyer is not intimidated by the insurance company or opposing representation. After all, experienced lawyers are familiar with the arguments the insurance agent or opposing legal team may make and will know how to counter them.
What Compensation Can a Car Accident Lawyer Get for You?
After an accident, victims can claim monetary compensation for the losses they have faced. The main goal of a car accident lawyer is to fight for the rightful financial compensation of injured victims.
An auto accident lawyer can help you seek financial compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Medications
- Follow-up medical treatment
- Vehicle repair costs
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning potential
- Permanent disability
- Loss of a loved one
- Pain and suffering
Auto accident lawyers may also determine whether you can file a property damage claim. A property damage claim allows accident victims to receive monetary compensation for damage to their personal property.
You could claim the following damaged property:
- Vehicle repairs
- Car replacement
- Towing expenses
- Rental car expenses
- Laptops, cellphones, or iPads
- A car seat
- Prescription glasses
The combined costs for injured victims can amount to a large sum. According to the National Safety Council, the total economic cost of collisions can range from approximately $5,700 to $1,778,000.
Auto accident attorneys will work hard to ensure you are fairly compensated for your losses and can cover these costs financially.
How Can I Choose the Right Accident Lawyer?
You should contact a car accident lawyer as soon as possible after a car crash, and make sure to choose the right law firm for you. The accident lawyer who takes on your case can help you navigate the legal process.
Above all, it is essential to hire a lawyer with the right qualifications and your best interests at heart. Here are some factors to consider when looking for an accident attorney:
- Knowledge of national and state transportation laws: Your Arkansas accident lawyer should understand the national laws and legal processes of the Arkansas judicial system.
- Experience and litigation skills: It is essential to find a lawyer with vast experience handling cases similar to yours. A skilled lawyer will have a track record of success in representing car accident victims. You could examine testimonials from the attorney’s former clients to check their level of satisfaction with the representation they received. The lawyer’s experience negotiating settlements with insurance companies is essential.
- Contingency fees: Most accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means you will not pay them unless they recover damages for you. The fee is typically a percentage of the settlement amount. This payment arrangement makes it easier for victims to access legal representation without worrying about upfront legal costs and fees.
- Referrals: Another way to find a reliable car accident attorney is to ask for referrals from friends, relatives, and business acquaintances who have had similar experiences. You could also look for reviews on the internet from previous clients for an unbiased view of that particular lawyer.
Excellent communication skills: Effective communication ensures that clients are well-informed and enables lawyers to advocate successfully on their behalf.
Injured in a Car Accident in Arkansas? Our Law Firm Can Help
If you’ve been involved in a crash, the car accident injuries may greatly impact your finances and day-to-day activities. Not to mention that you could be bombarded with the stress of communicating with the other driver’s insurance company or your insurer.
Our dedicated attorneys are ready to relieve your burden and guide you through it all. At the Justin Minton Law Firm, we are committed to helping you seek the compensation needed to fully recover after an accident.
Our law firm takes personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means we do not charge upfront costs or fees, but we only get paid if you are awarded a settlement.
Call us 24/7 at 855-Xadjuster or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation with a member of our legal team today.
