What Happens When You Hire A Car Accident Attorney

Car Accident Attorneys

You might be wondering what happens when you first have an accident (other than the terrible injuries and trauma you sustained). I mean, if you contact an auto accident attorney, what would they do first, before filing a lawsuit? There are several important things that should happen as part of any auto accident settlement process.

First Questions Relevant to Your Auto Accident Settlement: Who? When? Where? What Happened? How Bad?
To best evaluate your auto accident settlement, most attorneys would first want to hear a detailed explanation of everything that happened during your accident: who, where, when, where is a good starting point. Where was the accident? What happened exactly? Time of day? Passengers in either vehicle? Injuries? Medical treatment? Was anyone transported to the ER by ambulance? They will want to determine who caused the accident. A ticket by a police officer can be helpful information but is not definitive. What type of vehicles were involved in the crash? Commercial vehicles, as a very general rule, often have more insurance coverage than non-commercial vehicles. More on this website

The Three Most Critical Aspects of Auto Accident Settlements

The three most critical facts that related to your auto accident settlement are: (1) who caused the accident; (2) how serious are the injuries; and (3) what is the likely insurance coverage (this is the amount that you might possibly recover, if you have a “good” case (not good from the standpoint of the way you might be feeling physically, but good in terms of potential monetary recovery). Most of the questions from a diligent and truly concerned attorney will be geared toward learning this information. (As an aside, my personal view is that if you are not speaking with an attorney at length in short order, then you should call another auto accident law firm.)

car accident lawyers
Personal Injury

The Next Critical Steps Regarding Your Auto Accident Settlement Primarily Involve Your Medical Treatment
Just today, I was speaking with some auto accident victims just before we traveled to the scene to take some photos and learn more about exactly what happened during the crash. One thing that I always have to make clear from the outset is this important message: insurance companies are not readily and quickly handing out large checks to everyone who has an accident. My client today had serious pain, but he had only been to the ER, and was sent on his way with pain pills. Without lots of work by the auto accident attorney, and some work and cooperation by the client, this type of case will not lead to much more than few thousand dollar offer from just about any insurance company (despite what I believe were genuine level 8 to 10 out of 10 pain complaints).

So How Can This Man Increase His Auto Accident Settlement?

For ethical attorneys, auto accident settlements are not artificial or gaming processes. There are no lottery winners. Continuing with the example regarding my client earlier today, this man truly needs follow up treatment from a physician to determine what can be done to reduce his pain levels. Does he need surgery? Would injections help more than narcotics? And what does the physician say this man’s x-ray and MRI results show about exactly what happened inside his body during the accident? A strong supporting statement from a physician that the films show significant injury consistent with this man’s pain complaints can go a long way toward helping him get the coverage that he really deserves from the insurance company. Complying with treatment suggestions is another important step in your auto accident settlement (or discussing your concerns with your attorney if you do not want the suggested treatment).

The Insurance Company Could Be Watching You
Another thing to remember during the pre-trial and even trial phases of any auto accident case is that there is a common practice among insurance companies to use surveillance video to prove that clients are lying about their complaints. This means that if you say you can’t walk without a cane, but they find you running a marathon, your case will go from hero to zero in no time flat. They can watch for things like your ability to work, walk, dance, lift, and any manner of other things. So you first have to be truthful and second have to realize that if you push yourself to do things despite the fact that they are causing severe pain, then the jury could see a video where you look like you are completely fine and you will be forced to explain that you were in terrible pain while doing those things, which they may or may not believe (and the insurance company definitely will not believe during any potential settlement negotiations). This was true with my client earlier today–his pain was very severe but he was pushing through the pain by continuing to drive on his job with heavy narcotics–a BAD idea for a variety of reasons.

Attempted Auto Accident Settlement Before A Lawsuit is Filed

After you have visited your doctor and heard his or her opinion about what treatment would most likely help you, and you’ve tried that treatment for whatever period of time suggested by the doctor (typically at least a couple of months and sometimes many months), then you and your attorney hopefully will have a better idea of exactly what your injuries were, and the likelihood that those injuries are either going to resolve or be permanent (and to what degree if permanent). At that stage of the process, your attorney will prepare a demand package to send to the insurance company. All demand letters are NOT created equal. These can vary from simple form letters without much thought to elaborate and extensive packages with all sorts of evidence (like photographs, medical records and witness statements, for example). These more elaborate demand packages are critical in serious injury cases, and can and should tell a compelling story about your case. They will give the insurance company an opportunity to settle the case before you file any suit. Sometimes negotiations will ensue and you and your attorney will have to decide if you want to accept whatever they have offered or proceed to filing a lawsuit (accepting or rejecting settlements is always your decision).accident - injury lawyers

Other Strategies During Auto Accident Settlement Negotiations
Please understand that I cannot divulge all steps that I would take to help you during any lawsuit because opposing counsel has equal access to this website. Just know that there are many things that you can do to strengthen your case–and you need an attorney who will listen carefully to your side of the story then work hard to convincingly tell your story to either the insurance company or a jury.

If All Else Fails, Your Auto Accident Attorney May Advise You To File A Lawsuit

As I said when I started this article, insurance companies do not easily write checks. If the damages are serious and clear, then they might be persuaded more easily. But far more often there is a LOT of work involved in prosecuting serious injury cases, which very often includes filing a lawsuit if the insurance company refused to settle during any pre-trial negotiations. They usually get a lot more serious about settlement after the lose a few critical motions in court and realize that they are going to have to roll the dice in front of a jury (hint: not all cases reach a jury; sometimes judges throw cases out of court after defense attorneys file motions to dismiss cases). Please visit this website

If you have been injured, please call my office to schedule a free consultation.

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Aug, 2019

Municipal Law Attorneys Offer Counsel

Municipal law, which governs the operation of cities and towns and regulates the delivery of essential services, is the body of law that has the most immediate impact on everyday citizens. By controlling police, fire departments, public schools and garbage pickup, municipal law significantly affects a community’s quality of life. Municipal law is also the place where theoretical Constitutional protections are put to the test, as zoning decisions clash with private property rights, parking restrictions aid or impede commerce, and elections preserve or subvert democratic rule. Municipal lawyers at this firm have more than 65 years of combined experience in municipal law. They represent local governing bodies and individual citizens in cases related to:

  • Boundary changes
  • Building and construction
  • Economic development
  • Elected officials
  • Elections
  • Eminent domain
  • Employment law, including union and nonunion public employees
  • Environmental law
  • Ethics
  • Financial affairs
  • Freedom of Information Act
  • Governing bodies
  • Land use, annexation, zoning and condemnation
  • Legal issues incidental to managing city services
  • Litigation
  • Municipal court prosecution and operations
  • Open meeting and records laws compliance
  • Ordinance drafting
  • Utilities and water
  • Litigation on behalf of local government

Too often, economic development that would benefit an overwhelming majority is hindered by a small, non-representative group. Red tape on the state or federal level can also stymie progress. When a city ordinance, practice or development stirs up conflict with state and federal agencies, community groups or individual residents, this firm provides robust representation to protect the interests of the city in service of the people it represents.

Counseling city officers and elected officials on compliance issues
Newly elected officials often need to be educated on the differences between standard operating procedures in the public and private sectors. This can also be true for veteran city managers. firm has the knowledge, experience and resources to inform responsible officers about the requirements of open meeting and open records law, the code of ethics and numerous other problems frequently faced by local entities. They can even assist in drafting ordinances to avoid conflict with existing precedent.

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May, 2019

More than 65 years of experience handling insurance cases

Insurance attorneys at this firm know insurance law. With more than 65 years of combined experience trying insurance cases in state and federal courts, they understand the arguments that juries want to hear and the strategies that produce results. Whether your issue involves life, property, casualty, automotive or disability insurance, this firm. has the knowledge and the skill to help you successfully resolve the problem and move forward with your life.

  • Leveling the playing field for our clients
  • We focuses its insurance practice in the following areas:
  • Insurance litigation and appeals
  • First-party claims
  • Third-party claims
  • Claim management consulting
  • Motor vehicle claims
  • Construction claims
  • Analysis and interpretation of insurance policies

They are highly trained professionals who work to educate their clients and protect their rights. For example, knowing the difference between a first-party claim and a third-party claim can be critical in choosing the proper insurance coverage for yourself or your business. A first-party claim involves the insurance company’s refusal to pay benefits on a claim submitted by a policyholder. Third-party claims arise when an insurance company either fails to defend a suit brought by a third party against an insured or fails to pay on a claim asserted by a third party against the insured.

Knowing your rights is the first step to finding a solution to your legal problems, and we are dedicated to guiding you through the process to make sure you receive the coverage you bought.

Know your rights and demand what you deserve.
Insurance companies often claim your policy lacks the coverage necessary to provide you with the benefits you seek. If the insurance companies refuse to honor your claim, we analyzes every detail of your policy to prove them wrong. If litigation becomes necessary, you can rest assured that they vigorously defend your rights in court to get you the best possible results.

They have a proven record of successful settlements and jury verdicts, and are comfortable with handling even the most complex cases.