Car accidents can occur for a number of reasons. It may be a driver’s negligence behind the wheel or a municipality’s dangerous road conditions. A manufacturer defect could also be to blame.
Car Wreck Lawyer Ogden can help you identify and claim all your losses. That includes past and future medical treatment, lost income, and emotional impacts.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, it’s likely that your costs will exceed your auto insurance policy limits. In that case, you’ll need to file a third-party claim. You may also need to file an uninsured motorist (UM) claim with your insurer if the at-fault driver did not have insurance. An experienced lawyer can help you navigate the local laws and processes to resolve matters involving determining fault.
In some cases, the other driver may be a business or other entity with a commercial policy, and in those cases, you’ll need to file a commercial claim against that party. The process is similar but more complicated and requires a different set of skills. A lawyer with experience dealing with these types of claims can help you file your claim and maximize the amount of money you recover.
Insurance companies will do everything they can to reduce the value of your claim or even deny it altogether. As a former insurance defense attorney, Jay Knispel understands these tactics and knows how to fight them. He can ensure that your rights are protected and that you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries, damages, losses, and other expenses related to your car accident.
Filing a claim doesn’t necessarily mean that you are at fault for the accident, but it does mean that the other parties and their insurance company will be trying to shift blame to you and minimize your recovery. You’ll need to be firm and stand your ground.
It is also possible that you could be assigned a percentage of the blame for the accident, and that will impact your recovery in proportion to the percentage of fault that you are assigned. For example, if you are found to be 30 percent responsible for the accident, your damages will be reduced by 30 percent.
It is important to understand that if you file multiple claims, your rates will go up. You’ll need to decide whether the small payouts you’ll get will be worth it versus paying higher premiums in the future.
Settlements
Streets are busy places, and there is always a risk of car accidents. Whether you are in a head-on collision or just a fender-bender, it is possible to suffer serious injuries and expensive property damage. If you are in a car accident, it is important to get an attorney immediately. The statute of limitations is strict in car accident cases, and missing a deadline will prevent you from being awarded any compensation for your losses. An attorney can help you file a claim within the deadline and collect evidence on your behalf before it is too late.
A personal injury lawyer can also help you recover compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and other financial losses related to the accident. The total value of your losses will depend on your physical and emotional trauma as well as the extent of your medical expenses. You can count on a car accident lawyer to determine what your damages are worth and to negotiate with insurance companies for the maximum amount of compensation to which you are entitled.
In addition to the monetary costs associated with your losses, you may be entitled to non-monetary compensation as well. These damages are harder to quantify and can be quite substantial. Some examples of these include pain and suffering, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. These can be very high-value claims, especially in cases of serious injuries.
If you decide to settle your case with an insurance company, it is important not to accept the first check offered. Many times, the initial settlement offer will be lowball and not cover all of your losses. An experienced car accident lawyer will know how much your case is really worth and will fight for every cent of the compensation that you are owed.
An attorney can provide valuable experience in dealing with insurance companies and other legal professionals who are representing the at-fault party in the case. This will give you an advantage as you prepare for trial and negotiate with the insurance company for a fair settlement.
Trials
After a car accident, it is normal for injured victims to feel overwhelmed by the process of dealing with insurance companies and the other parties involved. Hiring a qualified car crash lawyer can help ease that burden. Whether negotiating with the insurance company or filing a lawsuit, an attorney can protect your rights and ensure that you receive every dollar that is rightfully owed to you.
Car accident injuries are eligible for both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are those that can be quantified, such as medical expenses and lost wages. Non-economic damages are those that cannot be quantified, such as pain and suffering. The amount of damage that you may be awarded is highly dependent on the severity of your injuries and how they have impacted your life. For example, a brain injury can lead to a variety of consequences that are difficult to quantify.
When you are in an accident, it is important to report the incident to the police as soon as possible. This can help preserve important evidence that could be used to prove your case down the road. It is also important to seek medical attention promptly after the accident. A doctor can assess your condition and determine the severity of your injuries. This will be crucial in determining how much you should be compensated for your personal injury claim.
Other parties and insurance adjusters will undoubtedly try to shift as much blame onto you as they possibly can. This will negatively impact your ability to recover the compensation that you deserve. Luckily, in many cases, you can have your case evaluated by a jury to decide how much you should be paid for your injuries and losses.
Finally, never give an oral or written statement to a representative of the defendants’ insurance company. This can be used against you later in court and may harm your chances of a successful car accident claim. It is best to avoid speaking to any insurance representatives after a car accident unless you are accompanied by your attorney.
Appeals
Most car accident cases do not see the inside of a courtroom—most are settled before trial. However, when the at-fault driver’s insurance company refuses to accept responsibility or offers a settlement that is nowhere near enough to cover your damages, you may need to take the matter to trial. Having a car accident lawyer on your side throughout the trial process can be extremely beneficial. The attorneys at Car Wreck Lawyer have extensive experience handling trials, and they will ensure that the trial is fair and conducted according to all state laws. They will weed out potential jurors who might have opinions that could keep them from reaching a reasonable decision during the jury selection process. They will also enlist expert witnesses to help present your case and strengthen your claims of injury and loss.
Once the trial is over, a judge or jury will determine if the at-fault party is responsible and award compensation. However, in many cases, the insurance company is unhappy with the amount of compensation a jury awards, and they will appeal the jury’s decision. The insurance company will argue that the trial judges made errors during the course of the trial, such as giving incorrect legal instruction to the jury or telling them about laws that did not apply to the case.
Having a lawyer handle the appeals process can be very beneficial as well. An attorney can make sure that all legal documents are properly filled out and submitted to the appellate court. They can also review trial transcripts to be certain that all evidence was presented in the case. An attorney can also prepare and submit a brief to the appellate court to explain why the verdict should be overturned or upheld.
A car wreck lawyer can help you navigate all aspects of the post-collision claim process, from filing an initial report with the police to arguing for fair compensation in trial. An attorney can level the playing field against powerful insurance companies that are looking out for their own profits rather than your best interests.
