Why It Is Important To Find A Good Attorney After An Accident

If you’ve been involved in an accident, you may be wondering what to do next. Have you got injuries to deal with? Maybe your mental health is suffering? Perhaps you are not yet able to return to work? These things can be super stressful and very uncomfortable after an accident, especially if it was not your fault.

If you have any injuries or feelings of stress after an accident, the best thing to do is reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. They are there for you throughout the process, offering their help and advice along the way. Let’s look at a few reasons why it is crucial to find a reliable attorney after an accident.

What Can an Attorney Do For You?

First and foremost, an attorney can offer advice and confidential help after an accident. Of course, they are not doctors, so they can’t help you with any physical or emotional medical needs, but they can help guide you through the following processes. Chicago personal injury lawyers also noted that they would aim to get you a fair settlement for your accident, covering compensation and damages for everything from injuries to property damage and many things in between. They will guide you every step of the way and fight your case on your behalf, taking away a considerable portion of your stress and worries. 

How to Find One

Finding an attorney is easy enough; you need to look for experienced teams in your local area. Simply searching online for personal injury lawyers in your area will probably bring up plenty of results. Why search for a local attorney? Well, there are a few reasons. 

Firstly, a local attorney will make your life easier. If you have to have meetings, you can be with them in no time, plus, they will be able to get second opinions from local doctors, for example. Secondly, you need a local attorney, as there may be local or state laws that affect your case. Different states hold different laws on various matters, so local attorneys are best placed to use the laws to your benefit. 

They will also benefit from having local experience. Knowing the local police and court systems, for example, can have a considerable benefit when fighting for a settlement like yours. Local lawyers are the best for you.

Their Knowledge Is Key

Local lawyers are good, but their good experience is necessary. You need to ensure you choose a firm with a wealth of experience in personal injury law. If you already have a lawyer specialized in commercial law, for example, they may be great at that but would not have the necessary specialized experience to lead a case like this for you. 

Move Quickly

You must reach out to a lawyer as soon as possible after the accident before the statute of limitations on personal injury cases passes. This expires after two years in most states, meaning that you cannot launch a new claim after this time elapses. Substantial evidence is generally harder to come by after two years.

It’s in Their Best Interest to Win

You may be asking yourself, “why should I trust an attorney?” Well, the answer is simple, as it’s in their best interest to win your case. Why? Firstly, because that’s how they make their money. Typically, injury lawyers receive their pay from your settlement, so they want to win your case to make sure they earn their money. 

Also, they have a reputation to uphold. Lawyers will only take on a case they genuinely believe they can win or feel strongly about. Your lawyer will work for you because they want justice for you.

The Process

Once you’ve searched for local law firms, you can start to organize meetings. From this point forward, the case will begin to evolve and develop. This is how the process of an accident injury claim tends to work.

● Initial Meeting

Firstly, you need to sit down and have a meeting with any potential attorneys or law firms. With this first meeting, it is crucial to be sure that the attorneys are right for you. During this initial meeting, the attorneys will inform you on how their firm works and what they think a reasonable settlement will be. The best part is, all good law firms will meet you to discuss your case for free. So you have no obligation to work with them after this first meeting.

● Evidence

Next, you and your legal team will start to gather evidence related to your accident. Evidence may include police reports, workplace reports, witness testimony, and medical evidence. They want to get as much evidence as possible to prove you have been physically, mentally, and financially impacted.

● Seeking Settlement

Once the evidence has been sorted, your attorneys will reach out to the opposition party in your case, seeking a settlement. They will have discussed figures with you beforehand and do their best to make sure your offer is met. They will not agree to a settlement unless you indicate it is fine to do so.

● Potential Court Case

If both parties cannot reach a settlement agreement, you may have to file a lawsuit to take your case to court. Although very unlikely, around 11% of all injury claims go through the process. But, if they won’t budge on paying a settlement, this will be your attorney’s next move.

What They Will Claim For

As briefly mentioned, there are a lot of things that can be claimed in a settlement agreement. The obvious ones include any financial impacts you have suffered, injuries sustained, or medical treatment needed. They can also cover a lot more in a claim. Things like ongoing care needs, mental health issues, or personal property damage can also be covered in a settlement. Your attorney will claim for absolutely everything they can.

As you can see, it is vitally important that you speak to an attorney after an incident like this. They will guide you through your case and help you receive the best possible settlement. They will be by your side every step of the way, fighting for you and you alone.