If you have been involved in a car accident, you may wonder whether hiring a lawyer for a car accident is a good idea. Surely the negligent party’s insurance will pay your medical bills and damage to your vehicle without you hiring an attorney, right? Unfortunately, the answer to this question is rarely an unequivocal “yes,” and more often than not insurance companies offer an amount that leaves the victim on the hook for a significant amount of the expenses. If the accident was a very minor bump in with no real injuries, then you can probably skip hiring an attorney, however sometimes injuries are not immediately present and you should monitor how you are feeling.
If, however, you have more serious injuries or have been off work and maybe off work for an extended period of time, then you definitely need to consider hiring a lawyer for your car accident. Following a New Orleans, LA car accident, an attorney from New Orleans Legal, LLC, can help you through the aftermath in the best way possible. We will fight for your rights and your future, ensuring you receive an equitable settlement that fully covers your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
What if My New Orleans, LA Car Accident is Minor, and My Injuries are Minimal?
As noted above, if the damage to your car is fairly minimal, and there are no serious injuries, you can probably handle the accident on your own. Examples would be a minor bump-in in the parking lot, or a low-speed intersection crash. Make absolutely sure you aren’t seriously injured before making your decision. In many cases, the adrenaline rush you experience during a car accident can mask symptoms of a more serious injury. In particular, soft tissue injuries like whiplash can manifest hours, days, or even weeks after the accident. Always be checked out by a doctor before deciding you are fine.
If I Have Severe Injuries Should I Hire a Car Accident Attorney?
You may have heard of auto accidents leaving the victims with truly catastrophic injuries. Such severe injuries can change lives forever, altering the future of the victim. Catastrophic injuries generally result in permanent disabilities, but any severe injury can change your life and deserves compensation from the responsible party. If you are dealing with grave injuries, are perhaps unable to return to work, and suffer constant pain, not having to worry about the financial aspect can at least take one worry away.
If you are dealing with severe injuries, then those closest to you are probably also dealing with the changes your injuries bring to their lives. Perhaps you are the primary breadwinner for your family. This means that not only did your life change in an instant, so did theirs. When you receive a fair settlement for your injuries, you don’t need to worry about whether you will be able to pay for your medical treatments and rehabilitative therapies. New Orleans Legal, LLC, will fight aggressively for you and your family.
If I Decide Hiring a Lawyer for a Car Accident is the Best Course of Action When Should I Do That?
If you are involved in a serious car accident, the quicker you bring an experienced New Orleans, LA car accident attorney on board, the better. Immediately after the accident, make sure everyone involved receives medical care. If you are physically able, exchange information with the other driver. If you can, snap some photos of the accident scene, including both vehicles, and the license plate of the other vehicle.
If there are witnesses to the accident and you can, get contact information from them. Once you are home, contact your insurance company and give them the facts about your accident. Take a moment to jot down everything you can remember about the accident. Memories tend to fade, and you could forget important details. Once you have done all the above, it’s time to contact an experienced, knowledgeable car accident attorney.
How Do I Choose the Best Car Accident Lawyer?
Perhaps you know someone—a family member, friend, or co-worker—who has had a good experience with a particular car accident attorney. If so, you might want to add that attorney to your list. You might look at websites of a few New Orleans, LA car accident attorneys, or even contact the state bar organization. Once you have a list of a few likely candidates, set up consultations with each. Ask about their specific areas of expertise, and how many car accident claims they have handled.
Ask each attorney how you will get in touch with them (email, phone, text, etc.) and whether they will handle your case directly or whether it will be handed off to a junior partner or paralegal. Finally, consider your gut feeling about each attorney. While you don’t need to be best friends with your car accident attorney, you do need to trust him or her and you do need to feel the attorney has your best interests at heart.
How Can New Orleans Legal, LLC Help Me Following My Car Accident?
If you are considering hiring a lawyer for a car accident, we hope you will consider New Orleans Legal, LLC. We bring extensive knowledge of the law to the table, as well as many years of experience. We understand a car accident claim can be extremely stressful. We can take that stress from your shoulders, handling all the legal aspects while you give yourself time to heal. Those injured in a car accident due to the negligence of another driver are much more likely to receive an equitable settlement when an experienced personal injury attorney is involved. Contact New Orleans Legal, LLC today for the help you need following your New Orleans, LA car accident.
