A car crash can come with enough complications to cover you for the rest of your life. Unfortunately, it can be made even more complicated when a personal injury is involved. When you’re hurt at the scene of the accident, a lot of factors can contribute to your potential future insurance claim. Not only do you need to collect evidence from the scene, like a copy of the police report, witness statements and photos, but you need to get checked out by a doctor quickly. Once you know the extent of your injuries, you might be wondering if it’s worth investing in a lawyer to get proper compensation. Here are occasions when hiring a lawyer can be worth the time and money, as a personal injury lawyer in Washington, DC, like from Cohen & Cohen, P.C., can explain.
Confusion Over Fault
In an accident, someone is usually at fault for causing it in the first place. Usually that person’s insurance is who you would file a claim with to get compensated for your injuries. Sometimes laws surrounding negligence and liability are complicated and unclear. Who is at fault can depend on the state you live in and what laws they have pertaining to negligence. Do you live in a no-fault state where you can only file a claim with your personal insurance, or were you partially responsible for the accident in a comparative negligence state? To avoid confusion and losing out on a needed claim, talking to a lawyer can help get you on the exact right path.
Insurance Trouble
Insurance agencies don’t always want to give you the right compensation. They’ll send a claims adjuster to get your side of the story, oftentimes looking for tricky wordplay that can get them out of paying a claim. If this happens to you, you should consult with a lawyer to get the proper compensation from them.
Serious Injuries
An insurance company may try to settle as quickly as possible with you after you’ve been hurt in order to pay the least amount necessary. This is because you may have injuries that don’t occur until later, and you may need important documents and proof that the crash caused them. A lawyer can help you gather this crucial evidence and battle for your rights with the insurance company.
Other factors can help determine whether you want to hire a lawyer, including if multiple people were involved in the crash, if a death occurred or if it took place in a construction zone. Even if you think your case is clean-cut, it doesn’t hurt to discuss it with a lawyer to make sure you’re getting the most out of your claim.