Auto Accident Lawyers

Each case and each client are different. Often, people considering hiring an attorney only focus on the end result. While that is certainly of great importance, there are other factors to consider too, such as:

• Is liability clear (who is at fault)?
• Are there multiple vehicles involved?
• How severe are the injuries?
• How disabling are the injuries?
• Can I afford medical treatment on my own?
• How much time do I want to spend trying to gather information, reach and negotiate with the insurance adjuster, and resolve the medical bills?
• Do I want to deal with the health insurance company and negotiate what they take from my settlement?
• Am I willing to move forward with a lawsuit if the insurance company doesn’t offer me fair value?

If the claim is small and the injuries are minor, you may be perfectly capable of handling it on your own and achieving the result you want to achieve. With potential liability issues, multiple insurance companies, more significant injuries, and medical bill concerns, it would most likely be in your best interest to retain an attorney.

Clearly, the person who is at fault or their insurance company should step up immediately and take care of the medical expenses, right? Unfortunately, it does not work that way. The at-fault driver’s insurance company will need to investigate liability first. Even assuming they tell you their insured client is at fault, they still will not pay your medical expenses right away.

If applicable, recoverable damages may include medical bills, car repair bills, rental car fees, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Medical Bills: This covers the costs associated with your medical treatment. It includes hospital stays, surgeries, doctor’s visits, prescription medications, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and any other healthcare expenses. The goal is to ensure that you are not financially burdened by the injuries sustained in an accident.

Car Repair Bills: If your vehicle was damaged in an accident, you can seek compensation for the necessary repairs or replacement. This includes the cost of parts, labor, and any related services to restore your car to its pre-accident condition.

Rental Car Fees: If your is inoperable or needs repairs, you may need to rent a replacement vehicle. Your damages you seek may include the cost of renting a car during this period.  The goal is to ensure that you are not inconvenienced and have access to transportation while your vehicle is being fixed.

Lost Wages: Sometimes an auto accident results in injuries that prevent you from working. You are entitled to compensation for the income you would have earned if not for the accident. This can cover both the time you’ve already missed from work and any future earnings you might lose due to ongoing recovery or disability.

Pain and Suffering: This category of damages focuses on the physical and emotional distress caused by the accident. It can include compensation for the physical pain, mental anguish, and diminished quality of life you’ve experienced because of the incident. Adjusters calculate pain and suffering based on factors like the severity of your injuries, their long-term impact, and the emotional trauma you’ve endured.

The goal is to make the injured party “whole” again. Insurance companies achieve this by providing financial compensation for the victim’s losses. These losses can be economic or non-economic.

Every case is different. It depends on how long the treatment phase is, how efficient the law firm you choose to hire is, and the responsiveness of the assigned insurance adjuster.

Personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means they get paid a percentage of the settlement. An attorney’s hourly rate can be several hundred dollars per hour. Contingency fees allow any injury victim to hire an attorney to guide them through the process and hold the insurance companies accountable.

Most attorney fee agreements assign different percentages to various points of the process. For example, many attorneys will charge between 33.3% and 35% for handling a claim that is resolved without having to file a lawsuit. They will then charge somewhere in the range of 40% once a lawsuit is filed. Some attorneys will charge between 45% and 50% if the case goes to trial. These are just general estimates. Many attorneys use different numbers and stages to determine fees.

The quickest way to get back on the road is to go through your own insurance if you have rental car coverage. If you opted out of that, paying out of pocket and waiting for reimbursement is the next quickest option. The last alternative is to wait until the at-fault driver’s insurance accepts liability and offers to pay for your rental car while your car is in the repair shop.