You should hire an auto accident attorney, especially if the other driver causes an accident that involves your car. In this case, working with a reputable attorney is crucial as it increases your chances of securing compensation for repairs and injuries to minimize liability associated with the crash. Various scenarios would necessitate hiring a car accident lawyer if you weren’t at fault.
The Fault Is in the Dispute
You can be confident that the other driver’s actions led to the accident. If the other party’s story contradicts yours, insurance companies from both sides will investigate the accident comprehensively. Your accident may end up in litigation primarily if a significant amount is at stake. An auto accident lawyer is necessary if there’s a lot at stake or neither side accepts liability.
The Insurance Company Bothers You
You must know various ways to handle an insurance company that acts in bad faith or is hard to deal with. Company officials may sometimes employ delay tactics requiring clients to navigate multiple hurdles to secure a settlement. According to research, about 13 percent of Wisconsin drivers don’t carry auto insurance, which lengthens the compensation process. Insurers sometimes downplay the plaintiff’s evidence and make lowball offers while implicating their clients. If you encounter such circumstances, it’s always crucial to hire a reputable car accident lawyer to help you navigate the process effectively.
The Accident Leads to Significant Losses
You should consider working with an auto accident lawyer if the incident leads to severe injuries or property damage. It’s always essential to protect your rights whenever the other person or insurance company has the potential of being liable for a significant amount of money. The at-fault driver’s insurance company will try as much as possible to dispute liability and deny the extent of your losses when making a justifiable and sizeable claim. Hiring a seasoned auto accident lawyer helps you collect adequate evidence to achieve the desired outcomes.
Your State Complicates Things
Negligence helps in liability determination in most auto accident cases. However, not all negligence lies with a particular party. The court apportions liability based on state fault rules if the auto accident claim proceeds to trial. The jury, in this case, uses contributory or comparative negligence theories.
Contributory negligence allows you to recover damages from at-fault drivers who are 100% responsible for the accident. You’ll recover nothing if the court finds you liable by even 1%. Comparative negligence, on the other hand, can be modified or pure. In pure comparative negligence, clients recover damages even if their fault percentage exceeds that of the at-fault driver. Modified comparative negligence lays up guidelines regarding the threshold for the degree of responsibility.
Why Filing a Report After an Auto Accident That Wasn’t Your Fault Is Important
It’s always in your best interest to allow the police to file an accident report at the accident scene, even if you don’t suffer from apparent injuries. Some injuries may manifest later, which improves your chances of securing compensation. You can report an auto accident to the police when:
- The at-fault driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- A car accident leads to death or injury
- The crash damaged the vehicle so badly
- The accident involved a commercial vehicle such as a truck
Damages You Are Eligible for After an Auto Accident
You can file for multiple damages depending on the severity of the accident. An auto accident attorney can help you secure the following compensation:
- Lost wages: Time you miss from work while receiving medical careor recovering from injuries
- Reduced earning capacity: The injury may be long-term or short-term, impacting your ability to make a living
- Punitive damages: If you prove the at-fault driver’s liability, you can secure this compensation
If the car accident wasn’t your fault, you should consider hiring a car accident attorney to secure compensation. Seeking legal representation, in this case, is essential as it helps prove that you aren’t liable for the accident.
