When To Get An Attorney For A Car Accident

When To Get An Attorney For A Car Accident

Nov 29, 2022

Approximately 32,000 people are killed in motor vehicle accidents every year in the United States, and millions more are injured. Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death, and they often cause debilitating, life-altering injuries. Car and health insurance are designed to help with the costs of car accidents, but these recourses often don’t go far enough. To get the justice you deserve for your accident, you might need to call a car accident lawyer.

What to Do When You’ve Been in an Accident

Even if you’ve only been involved in a minor car accident or you need a car accident lawyer with no injury, getting in touch with a lawyer should be one of the first things you do as you plan your next steps forward.

Here are the steps you should take as the dust settles:

1. Contact first responders: Before you do anything else, grab your phone and dial 911. The sooner you call, the sooner that squad cars, fire trucks, and ambulances can speed your way.
2. Assess the situation: As you talk with first responders, assess the situation. Try to recollect what happened, and assess the physical situations of yourself and your passengers. Determine if any parts of your vehicle are on fire, your position relative to the ground, and the type of terrain where you’re located.
3. Identify the parties involved: Figure out who was affected by the crash. Look for any signs of injured pedestrians, drivers, or passengers, and also assess the severity of any property damage.
4. Interact with first responders: When first responders arrive, help the flow of the crash site move forward by cooperating with the directions you receive.
5. Receive medical treatment: Receive transportation to a medical facility if necessary.
6. Assess the legal situation: After medical matters are attended to, determine how you will receive compensation for your injury. Contact your insurance company, and find out if you’ll need to defend your case in court.

When to Call Attorneys for Car Accidents

Here are a few reasons you might want to call a car accident attorney:

• You’re concerned that the other driver’s insurance won’t cover your injuries
• You’re concerned that the other driver doesn’t have insurance at all
• The other driver is belligerent and is threatening legal action
• There are obvious problems with determining fault for the accident
• Serious injury or death occurred as a result of the accident
• Multiple parties are involved, which makes insurance matters complicated
• You’re concerned that the police report for the accident is not accurate
• The accident occurred in a construction zone, which have their own special rules and hazards

Beyond these basic reasons, there are tons of other circumstances under which you might find it appropriate to contact an attorney when you’ve been involved in a car accident. Even if you believe your case will proceed smoothly, you might want to let your attorney know that you’ve been involved in an accident. Plus, calling an attorney can give you some leverage if you become concerned that other involved parties might not play things on the level. Keep your call to your lawyer private if you don’t want to put the other party on the defensive, but announce your intentions loud and clear if you’re concerned there might be trouble.

How Much Do Car Accident Lawyers Charge for a Case in California?

The cost of living in California is high, and lawyers have to pay rent too. Prices of representation for car accident cases vary, and under some circumstances, you may be able to find representation for free.

If you end up being awarded financial compensation for your accident, your lawyer will simply charge a small portion of your awarded funds, which allows everybody to benefit when justice is served. Attempting to represent yourself in court might allow you to save some money temporarily, but the benefits of hiring a lawyer include bigger settlements and less exposure to risk.

Dordulian Law Group Has Your Back

Whether you’re looking for a car accident lawyer free consultation or you’re ready to retain auto accident attorneys in your area, the Dordulian Law Group is standing by to be of service. It’s our goal to help people in California who have been wronged, and we’ve dedicated our practice to pursuing justice.

When you’ve been involved in a car accident, don’t panic, and take care of your medical needs and those of your passengers first. Your next step, however, should be calling Dordulian Law Group to get excellent legal advice and seasoned representation in the courtroom.