Does Hiring An Accident Attorney Mean Going To Court?
Posted on: 14 September 2021
There's no getting around it: car accidents are expensive. Even minor car accidents can cause significant inconvenience and suffering, and major ones are often life-altering events. Unfortunately, the consequences of an accident can sometimes spiral out of control, especially if you suddenly find that the other party's insurance company is refusing to pay enough to cover your costs.
While a lawyer can help in these circumstances, many people may delay contacting one because they fear a long, drawn-out process that ends in a lengthy court battle. In reality, the Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that less than 5% of injury cases ever go to trial. Instead, it's critical to contact a lawyer to help you with many of the non-trial aspects of your case.
The Role of Accident Attorneys
When you hire an auto accident attorney, you're hiring someone to act as your representative in a potentially contentious battle with the insurance company and other involved parties. It's essential to understand that this battle began as soon as you filed your claim. Even well-meaning insurance companies still have an interest in minimizing their costs and thus paying as little as possible.
As a result, many companies will use various tactics to reduce their settlement payout or delay settling at all. Experienced accident attorneys understand these strategies and can help you work around them. Still, they can provide the most effective help when they start working on your case as early as possible. The longer you wait to hire an attorney, the more challenging your situation will become.
Additionally, accident attorneys can give you a leg up on the insurance company by acting as investigators. The insurance company will usually try to gather as much information about an accident as possible, so you must do the same. Your attorney will take on this role so they can counter any arguments the insurance company may use to deny your claim or reduce your settlement.
How Attorneys Help You Avoid Court
It should be clear that your attorney will do far more than just represent you in court. However, these activities can also help keep you out of court. One of the reasons few personal injury claims go to trial is the ability of attorneys to bolster their clients' negotiating power. By researching your case and creating a solid suit, your attorney will usually be able to negotiate an out-of-court settlement on your behalf.
While it's always possible that your injury claim will go to trial, you shouldn't expect this outcome just because you hire a lawyer. Instead, hiring an auto accident attorney is often one of the best ways to resolve your insurance claim quickly, efficiently, and with a payout that's sufficient to help you get your life back on track.
Contact a law firm like the Hensley Law Office to learn more.
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