Were You Injured?
It doesn’t take a major automobile accident to sustain painful and potentially debilitating injuries. The forces of any type of motor vehicle collision can be enough to cause you physical harm. A low-speed rear-end collision, for example, could put you at risk of whiplash – a painful soft-tissue injury of the neck. If you suffered no injuries or minor injuries only, you may not need to hire a lawyer to help you handle your car insurance claim. If your injuries are more serious or require expensive medical care, however, it can benefit you to have a personal injury attorney looking out for your best interests. While a car insurance company won’t want to maximize your settlement as an injured victim, your car accident lawyer will be focused on getting you the best possible financial outcome. This can give you the case results you need to build your life back up after your accident.Were Your Injuries Delayed?
A common problem encountered during minor car accident cases is the appearance of delayed-onset injuries. The nature of a low-speed car accident may not cause injuries that are immediately noticeable; however, you may notice symptoms in the hours or days following the crash. Common examples of delayed injuries include:- Muscle strains
- Soft-tissue injuries
- Broken ribs
- Whiplash and other neck injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Nerve damage
- Herniated disks
Are Your Losses Extensive?
Even a car accident that is objectively “minor” could cause considerable damage. Your vehicle may sustain expensive property damage, for example, or you could suffer an injury that requires thousands of dollars in medical treatments. It’s important to recognize that the costs of a minor car accident could be higher than expected. Before accepting a modest settlement from a car insurance provider, review your case and rights with a car accident attorney. An attorney can give you an accurate estimate of the value of your claim that you can take into settlement negotiations for a better outcome. If you settle too early, you may not fully realize the extent of your injuries and accident-related costs.Is There a Liability Dispute?
A car accident attorney will have the experience to handle negotiations with a car insurance company on your behalf if there is a dispute regarding liability for the crash, meaning who is at fault and financially responsible. A law firm has the resources and personnel to investigate your collision to help determine liability. If the other driver’s car insurance company is accusing you of causing the crash, for example, you may need to hire an attorney to protect your rights. Tactics such as blaming you for your own injuries can lead to a tough insurance claim without an attorney advocating for you.Is the Insurance Company Acting in Bad Faith?
Most minor car accident claims in Austin are straightforward: you file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company, they accept the claim and you are offered a reasonable settlement for your losses. However, there are always exceptions. One potential issue you may encounter is bad faith, which is where an insurance company fails to handle a claim in an honest and good faith attempt to resolve the legal matter according to the relevant laws and the terms of the policy. Signs of insurance bad faith can include refusing to offer a reasonable settlement, rejecting a valid claim, causing unnecessary delays, misrepresenting the terms of a policy and failing to properly communicate with you. If an insurance company is acting unreasonably, it’s important to talk to an attorney for assistance handling the claims process. An attorney can help you explore your legal options, which may include bringing a lawsuit against the insurance company for bad faith practices.How a Lawyer Can Help You After a Minor Car Accident in Austin
Even if the damage from a minor car accident seems minimal at first, a lawyer can provide valuable assistance and advice that improves the outcome of your case. Your lawyer can educate you on relevant legal issues to help you make informed decisions about your case and future. With a lawyer by your side, you can gain:- Information. Knowledge is power in a car accident claim. With the transparency and education you can get from a personal injury attorney, you can recover the compensation that makes up for every consequence of the crash.
- Advocacy. Your lawyer can negotiate and communicate with insurance companies and other parties on your behalf to achieve the results you need based on your unique situation. Your lawyer’s goal will be to recover a fair settlement for you so that you can focus on getting better.
- Confidence. The peace of mind you can gain from hiring an attorney can be invaluable. You will have the ability to fully focus on your physical and emotional recovery while your lawyer handles your financial one.
