When Do You Need a Lawyer for Your Car Accident Claim?

February 10, 2017

At Hensley Legal Group, we’re big believers in giving people the tools to do things on their own. That’s one reason why we offer our eBook, Consumer’s Guide for Injured Victims, as a free download for anyone who wants to learn more about the personal injury process.

So it’s no surprise that we’ll be the first to admit that sometimes you don’t need a car accident lawyer. Sometimes, you can handle it on your own.

But other times, it’s best to trust the people who make a living negotiating with insurance companies and winning cases both in and out of the courtroom. Here are the scenarios in which it’s probably best for you to hire an Indiana car accident attorney to handle your case:

Disputed Fault

Sometimes, it’s clear who’s at fault for a car accident. If it was 100 percent the other driver’s fault, you may be able to handle your claim on your own.

But it’s rarely so simple. Fault may be disputed, or you may be at least partially at fault. If the insurance company is claiming you’re partially to blame for the accident, you probably need an attorney to prove that you aren’t at fault.

You’ve Been Seriously Injured

If you’ve been in a car accident and all you’ve sustained were minor soft tissue bruises, you might be able to handle your claim on your own. But if you’ve been severely injured, you’ll want an experienced car accident attorney on your side so you can focus on healing while we handle your claim.

Serious injuries include:

• Severe bruising
• Fractured or broken bones
• Head or neck injury
• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Open wounds
• Mental injury (i.e. anxiety or depression caused by the accident)

It’s important to hire an attorney to calculate how much your injury, pain and suffering, and any continuing medical costs are worth. You don’t want to accept a settlement that only covers your current medical bills in case you develop complications or new medical conditions as a result of your accident.

You’re Going to Court

If your case is going to court, you’ll need a car accident lawyer who knows how to win cases at trial. It’s important to hire an experienced trial attorney to increase your chances of winning a fair settlement. A skilled attorney may be able to negotiate a settlement before you ever have to set foot in a courtroom.

You’re Running out of Time

If your accident occurred a few weeks or months ago and you’re just now starting to discover that you may have lasting injuries or damage to your vehicle, it’s important to hire an attorney to make sure you file a claim within the time allotted and to make sure you can prove that your injuries are the result of your accident and not some other incident that has occurred since the accident. An experienced attorney can collect the necessary evidence to build your case in time.

Help from an Indiana Car Accident Attorney

If you haven’t been injured and you’ve only suffered minor damage to your vehicle, you may be able to handle your car accident claim on your own. But in most other circumstances, it’s probably best to hire an experienced Indiana car accident attorney to handle your case and make sure you get the compensation you deserve. Call Hensley Legal Group today for a free consultation.