Car Accident Lawyer
Too often people are left unprepared at the scene of an accident, dazed from the incident and foggy on how to proceed in the aftermath. If you are the victim of a crash with a negligent driver and you sustained severe injuries that impacted your finances and work situation, you’ll be looking to get proper compensation for your losses. Knowing the following steps can make this potentially lengthy process smoother and get you on the right track faster.
At the Scene of the Accident
Taking the other driver’s information, such as contact info and insurance policies, as well as making a detailed record of the crash and taking pictures, can be used as evidence if you need to prove that the other driver was at fault. When speaking to the police and your insurance agent, don’t admit guilt or blame the other driver; simply state the facts.
Filing a Lawsuit
If you were injured in a crash with a drunk or distracted driver (among many other possible faults), you may consider filing a lawsuit to be compensated for any injuries you sustained. Finding a lawyer to represent your case can be crucial in understanding how laws affect your case and how much money you may be able to obtain. Many states have statutes of limitations regarding the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit (usually one to two years after the accident), so getting your case together sooner rather than later is best.
Finding the Right Lawyer
There is an abundance of lawyers aiming to get your business, so knowing what you want in a lawyer and who can best represent your case is important when choosing one:
- What they specialize in: since you’ll likely be filing a personal injury lawsuit, look for a lawyer who deals specifically in that area of expertise; he or she will know the state and federal laws impacting your case and help navigate you in the right direction
- Look into his or her history: experience — particularly successful experience — is what you’ll want from your lawyer; see if he or she is willing to take cases to court, and how many cases he or she has won
- Talk to former clients: speaking to former clients on their experience with the lawyer can help you gauge whether you think he or she will be a good fit for you
No matter your situation, it never hurts to talk to a lawyer to see what options you have. If your life has been greatly affected by the accident, it may be well worth your time to seek legal action in getting rightful compensation for your suffering.
Source: Woodland Hills Car Accident Lawyer, Barry P. Goldberg