Do I Need an Attorney for an Auto Accident that Wasn’t my Fault?
To answer your question, yes, you should have a personal injury lawyer for a car accident that wasn’t your fault. Even if you are not at fault in a car accident, it is often beneficial to hire an attorney. This is because insurance companies may try to minimize the amount they pay out, and an attoreny can help ensure you receive the full compensation you are entitled to. Furthermore, an attorney can help you navigate the complex legal process, gather evidence, and represent your interests in court if necessary.
Key Takeaways
Should I Get a Lawyer for a Car Accident That Wasn’t My Fault?
Not every accident requires an attorney, but several situations make legal help worth considering. Here’s what to know.
- Serious Injuries Warrant Legal Help:
Any injury that causes you to miss work is a strong reason to speak with an attorney. - Insurance Companies Aren’t on Your Side:
Even when fault is clear, insurers often try to minimize what they pay. - Full Compensation Matters:
A lawyer can help you pursue lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering, not just repair costs. - Minor Accidents May Not Need One:
If there’s only minor vehicle damage and no injuries, you may be able to handle the claim yourself.
We’re Here to Help
Getting Hit by Someone Else’s Mistake Shouldn’t Cost You
Being in a wreck that wasn’t your fault is stressful enough without having to fight the insurance company for what you’re owed. Our team at Harris Law Firm will handle the back-and-forth so you can focus on recovering.
Navigating Insurance Claims After a Car Accident
In the U.S., there are two kinds of states when it comes to auto accidents. Those are tort or fault states and no-fault states.
No-fault states have personal injury protection insurance that pays out in the event an accident occurred. It doesn’t matter whose fault the accident was.
In tort states, drivers are required to carry liability insurance. If one driver causes an accident with another driver, the injured party (who was not at fault) makes a claim on the other driver’s auto insurance.
Despite the fact that these auto insurance companies have catchy jingles comparing themselves to good neighbors and assure you that you’re in good hands, this doesn’t tell the entire story.
Indeed, insurance companies have more in common with the neighbor who desecrates the unblemished beauty of your lawn with their dog and then claims he must have gotten out of the yard.
Ready to Speak to a Auto Accident Attorney?
If you recently been involved in a car accident and have suffered injuries, you shouldn’t face it alone. We want to hear from you, simply fill out the form below and we will contact you to set up a consultation. We just need some brief information:
The Rule of Thumb When Hiring a Lawyer for Car Accident that Wasn’t My Fault
We’re not here to take your money or to waste your time. Indeed, there is an endless supply of car accidents to litigate. The question you want to know is: Should I hire an attorney to litigate my claim against an at-fault driver.
The rule of thumb is this: You can submit a claim if you want and get some money back but if you have serious injuries, you should hire an attorney. By “serious” we mean any injury that will require you to miss any time from work. If you get out of the accident with a couple of scratches and body damage to your car, the insurance companies are usually pretty good about paying for the repairs.
What they’re not so good about is paying for repairs to you personally. The reason is that there are a number of people that attempt to scam insurance companies by claiming significant irreparable damage to their bodies when none really exist.
For that reason, the insurance companies will stress test your case against their policyholder as much as they can.
That means poring through your medical records and interpreting ambiguities in the police reports against you. This is, essentially, their job.
Their interests are aligned with their policyholder’s and if they do not advocate on behalf of their policyholder, they can be sued for breaching their fiduciary duty and Geico recently found out to the tune of $8.5 million.
In addition to having a fiduciary duty to their policyholder, they also run a business. That business operates for-profit and they make money by settling claims for less than they’re worth.
You Deserve to Be Made Whole
The Other Driver’s Insurance Company Isn’t Looking Out for You
Insurance adjusters work to minimize what they pay, even when the accident clearly wasn’t your fault. Let our team fight for the compensation you deserve, including lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.
Your Attorney’s Job
Your attorney’s job is to assess the total value of your lawsuit and fight for your right to be compensated that amount. In the same way that the insurance company owes a fiduciary duty to their policyholder, we have a fiduciary duty to you.
That means getting you compensation for your lost time from work, pain and suffering, medical expenses, and more.
Contact Harris Law Firm
The Harris Law Firm has a history of success securing top settlements and verdicts for our clients; to be sure, we have secured success in car accident litigation and even 18-wheeler crash settlements.
If you were in a car accident that wasn’t your fault but left you with serious injuries, we will ensure you are compensated for all your injuries. Give us a call at 877-714-4171 or contact us online. We can help.
Common Questions
Not-At-Fault Car Accidents: Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re asking should I get a lawyer for a car accident that wasn’t my fault, these are the questions we hear most often.
If you suffered any injury that caused you to miss work, or if the insurance company is disputing your claim, it’s worth speaking with an attorney. For minor accidents with only small vehicle damage and no injuries, you may be able to handle the claim yourself, but an attorney can still review it for free.
Even when fault is clear, insurance companies still try to minimize what they pay out, sometimes by disputing medical records or the police report. An attorney has a fiduciary duty to represent your interests, unlike the insurance company, which represents its policyholder or its own bottom line.
You may be entitled to compensation for lost time from work, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages caused by the accident. An attorney can help make sure all of these losses, not just your immediate medical bills, are accounted for in your claim.
In a no-fault state, your own insurance typically covers your losses regardless of who caused the accident, up to your policy limits. In a tort state, the at-fault driver’s insurance is generally responsible for covering your damages. An attorney can explain how this applies to your specific situation.
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