If you or a loved one have been involved in an auto accident in Michigan, hiring a car accident lawyer is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself from the potentially crippling expenses that accompany an accident, even if you are not at fault.
With all the bills you already have piling up due to the accident, you may be understandably hesitant to hire a car accident attorney. However, choosing to settle your claim on your own without the expert advice of an auto accident lawyer can end up costing you more than just financially in the end.
Here are the top four ways a car accident lawyer can help you after an automobile accident and ensure you receive your due compensation.
1# Communicate with the other driver’s insurance adjuster
In Michigan, there were nearly 312,800 vehicle accidents reported statewide in 2018, with the majority of those resulting in personal injury. In an accident that results in personal injury to any of the parties involved, it is your lawyer’s job to initiate a dialogue with the other party’s insurance adjuster.
This is a crucial point in obtaining the compensation you require to cover the cost of your injury, as the insurance adjuster is responsible for assessing injury-related damages and proposing a budget to cover the costs. This makes developing a good working relationship with the insurance adjuster imperative.
Without an attorney, many individuals do not know to contact the insurance adjuster until too late in the process, if they do at all.
2# Obtain liability and damages evidence
Your car accident attorney is an expert in their field and knows exactly what evidence to look for and obtain to prove your liability in a car accident claim. This can include photographs and accident reports as well as in-depth yet to-the-point questioning of any witnesses or police officers involved.
While you may obviously think to do all these things as well, your lawyer is not just taking a shot in the dark: They know what to look for, and where to find it.
In addition, for cases that lead to personal injury, your auto, truck, or motorcycle accident attorney can arrange to obtain often difficult to procure, but entirely necessary medical reports. They also know exactly how these reports must be worded to work on your behalf.
For example, though a doctor’s report of your injury may profile the injury itself, doctors don’t always include the causation or extent of your injury or disability in this report, two vital factors in negotiating for damage compensation in Michigan.
3# Negotiate a fair settlement
Negotiating a settlement – let alone a fair settlement – requires an incredible amount of time, expertise, and patience. Luckily, it’s exactly the type of work that your top personal injury lawyer excels at.
A good attorney can tell at a glance how much a case is worth and how much compensation you can expect to obtain from certain insurers. In addition, they know how to work a case according to the insurers they are negotiating with to ensure you are adequately compensated.
4# Explain the laws that apply to your claim
Deciphering the details of an insurance contract is an incredibly complicated endeavor that requires a fair amount of familiarity with contract jargon.
A car accident attorney can examine these contracts on your behalf and determine whether your insurer is upholding their requirements. If not, they can explain, in layman’s terms, the options you have for holding your insurer accountable.
The takeaway
When it comes to hiring a car accident lawyer in Michigan, you should typically always do so as soon as the accident takes place. However, if you have put off doing so until now, it’s not too late!
If your liability is contested, your insurance company is refusing to pay, you have been asked to provide medical records, or the insurance company is offering a low settlement deal, do not hesitate to contact a car accident attorney in Michigan and make sure you receive the compensation you deserve.
