When someone is involved in a car accident, they have medical bills to pay, lost wages to recover from, and other financial losses to recover from. An experienced attorney helps clients obtain maximum compensation from an at-fault insurance company.
During the initial consultation, an attorney examines case details to determine liability and assess damages. They also advise clients on how to avoid jeopardizing their case. Contact Car Accident Attorney Duluth now!
Car accidents can leave victims with extensive medical bills, property damage, lost income, and pain and suffering. A skilled and knowledgeable car accident attorney can help you pursue compensation that covers all of your losses.
In New York, all drivers must have personal injury protection (PIP) coverage as a minimum insurance policy requirement. PIP provides reimbursement for medical bills and other related expenses, up to a specified limit on the policy. In addition, all motorists are required to carry liability insurance that can cover you if you are found responsible for injuring another person in a car accident.
Your lawyer will help you understand your insurance coverage options and what your legal rights are after a crash. They will carefully review your insurance policies to identify all potential sources of compensation. They may also investigate other parties that may be liable, including other drivers or motorists in the accident, as well as car manufacturers in cases involving vehicle defects.
A qualified and experienced car accident lawyer will negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf to obtain fair compensation for your losses. They will use their experience and knowledge of the law to ensure that your claim is properly submitted and that all required documentation is included in your case. They will be able to provide insight and guidance during the insurance claim process, which can be complex and stressful for many victims.
An experienced attorney will help you understand the value of your injuries and how much they have impacted your quality of life. Insurers will often try to minimize your injuries and downplay their impact on your life by arguing that your suffering is only temporary. They will hire additional medical experts to support their argument. With a car accident attorney by your side, you will be able to counter their arguments and demonstrate the true extent of your damages.
If you have exhausted your PIP and other available insurance coverage, or the at-fault driver cannot be identified, your attorney will file a lawsuit against them to pursue compensation for your losses. In some instances, the at-fault driver may have no liability insurance and you will be able to pursue compensation from the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation.
Liability
Car accident attorneys have an in-depth understanding of insurance laws, including the nuances of policies and coverage limits. They work with insurance companies to leverage their expertise and experience to secure maximum compensation for their clients. They also know how to gather evidence and examine witnesses, enabling them to establish a clear picture of what happened and who was responsible.
During the Initial Consultation
An experienced Manhattan car accident lawyer will evaluate your case and provide an initial consultation at no charge. This can help you get a feel for their approach and dedication to your case.
If you decide to hire the attorney, they will ask you to sign a retainer agreement or other document that formally appoints them as your legal representative and sets out their fees and costs. During this process, make sure to ask questions about their experience handling similar cases to ensure they are well-versed in your specific circumstances.
Liability
The first step in proving liability is establishing a connection between the accident and your injuries. Lawyers review all available evidence to build a strong case, including photos of the scene, witness statements, medical records, traffic camera footage, and police reports. They may even visit the accident scene themselves to make observations and obtain additional evidence.
When necessary, they can call on accident reconstruction specialists to analyze the evidence and recreate the events that led up to the collision. This bolsters their case and helps them prove negligence. They also review your medical records to identify and link your injuries to the accident, allowing them to demonstrate causation. They will consider whether comparative negligence laws apply and how they may affect your potential recovery.
They will assist you with the insurance claims process, ensuring all required documents and evidence are submitted. If the hit-and-run driver is identified and located, they can file a civil lawsuit against them seeking damages for your injuries. They will take into account the current and future cost of your medical treatment, lost wages from missed work, and other economic damages. They will also calculate non-economic damages like pain and suffering to ensure you receive fair compensation for your losses.
Damages
Car accident attorneys review all aspects of a client’s case, including the extent of their injuries and potential damages. They also assess whether the available insurance coverage is sufficient to cover those expenses. In addition, they help their clients gather and submit the necessary paperwork within the required deadlines.
Before you contact a car accident attorney, you should take several steps to protect your claim and yourself. First, prioritize your safety and call 911 if necessary. If possible, get medical attention at the scene of the crash or as soon as you can. Do not ignore any aches and pains that develop days after the accident. It is important to visit a doctor so that the injuries can be documented and treated.
Document all damage to the vehicle and property. Take photos or have a friend take them for you, if necessary. Be sure to collect the names and contact information of all witnesses, too.
The next step is to notify the police of the accident and ask for a copy of the report. It is critical to avoid making statements about how the accident happened or assuming blame for it. Any comments could be used against you later by the police, the other driver’s attorney or the insurance company.
When the attorney reviews the evidence, they determine the potential for a settlement with the at-fault party or their insurance company. They also examine the prospects of a favorable verdict at trial, if necessary.
Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for economic and non-economic damages. The former includes medical expenses, like prescriptions and hospital bills, and lost income from being unable to work during recovery. The latter includes things like your pain and suffering, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment of life and mental anguish. It can be difficult to calculate, but an experienced lawyer will know what factors to consider when negotiating with insurers or going to trial. The best car accident attorneys will genuinely care about their clients, not just their wallets. They will fight to make sure their clients receive the full compensation they are entitled to.
Statute of Limitations
When someone is badly injured in a car accident, they want to get the compensation they deserve as quickly as possible. However, if they file their case too late, they may lose their right to receive full compensation for their injuries and losses. In order to avoid missing the deadline to file a claim, it is important to team up with an experienced New York City car accident lawyer from Greenstein & Milbauer, LLP right away. This is because each state sets a limited amount of time in which people can sue for their injuries, known as the statute of limitations.
Statutes of limitations are often seen as inconvenient, but they serve a very important purpose. The law recognizes that over time, evidence deteriorates, witnesses’ memories fade and records can be lost. In addition, the passing of time can make it more difficult to litigate a case fairly and accurately.
For example, a witness’s memory of the accident may change over time, and it is not always possible to recreate what actually happened on the road. Furthermore, medical records can be lost or destroyed over time. By setting a clear timeline in which people must file their claims, the statute of limitations allows for sufficient time to gather and preserve necessary evidence to support their case.
Additionally, statutes of limitations allow victims to file their claims before the defendants are likely to forget about the accident or become too busy with other matters. If a victim waits too long to file their lawsuit, the defendant’s attorney will likely file a motion to dismiss, meaning that the plaintiff’s claims will not be considered by the court.
If a person is suing a government entity for the accident, such as a municipality, there are special rules that apply in addition to the standard statute of limitations. For instance, the statute of limitations may be shorter and the victim must submit a notice of claim with the municipality in order to bring the case forward.
There are also situations in which the accident victim dies from their injuries, making their case a wrongful death claim, instead of a standard personal injury claim. In such cases, the normal statute of limitations does not apply and a claim must be filed within two years after the date of the person’s death.