Getting through the aftermath of a car accident can be challenging to say the least. You might struggle to cope with the physical and emotional pain and suffering that has been unfairly thrust upon you, and the financial damages, usually in the form of medical expenses and lost wages, and be ruinous. But you don’t have to let a car accident dictate your life. Instead, you can choose to take legal action in hopes of finding accountability and recovering the compensation that you’re owed.
The question, then, becomes whether or not you need legal assistance. Many people think that they can save money by foregoing an attorney and simply working with an insurance company on their own. Yet, there are some real advantages to having a personal injury attorney on your side. Here are some of them.
- Save you money: It might sound counter intuitive, but working with an attorney can save you money. This is because those who try to negotiate with insurance companies often end up wasting a lot of time and don’t end up securing the recovery that they had hoped for. An attorney will know how to negotiate your claim so that you have the best chance possible of reaching a fair and favorable outcome. So, in the end, skipping on legal representation can actually end up costing you more.
- Gathering evidence: Your car accident case might seem pretty straightforward on its face, but the truth of the matter is that it’s probably complicated by a number of legal issues. Plus, even the simplest personal injury cases can only be proven with strong evidence supporting the victim’s claim. And gathering that evidence can be challenging, too. That’s where an attorney can help you. He or she can help you identify and subpoena witnesses, develop testimony, secure relevant documentary evidence, prep expert witnesses, and utilize the trial rules and the rules of evidence to your advantage. You need to be adept in this area if you hope to build the strong case that you need to succeed.
- Engaging in discovery: Part of gathering evidence is figuring out what the other side knows. This means taking depositions, subpoenaing records, and knowing how to use discovered documents in litigation preparation. Discovery can be an arduous process, but one that an attorney can help you successfully navigate.
- Dealing with pleadings: The legal process is pretty formal, and all requests must be made in writing. This means that you have to know what pleadings to file, when you need to file them, and how to argue persuasively in writing in light of applicable law. One seemingly minor mishap here could have profound ramifications for your case.
- Arguing in court: If the idea of stepping into court makes you nervous, then you could probably benefit from having an advocate on your side who can argue on your behalf. A zealous advocate can ensure that your legal arguments are well-formulated with a strong foundation on statutory and case law, as well as the facts at hand. You need to be persuasive in your arguments and be able to anticipate the other side’s arguments. An experienced attorney can help you do this successfully.
Make the decision that is right for you
In the end, whether you secure the assistance of a legal professional is up to you. However, there are some very real benefits to obtaining legal assistance in a car accident case. In the end, we don’t want to see anyone cut themselves short, which far too often is the case for those who choose to work with insurance companies on their own. So, if you want to maximize your chances of recovering the compensation you deserve so that you can focus on your recovery, then you may want to start researching your legal representation options.
