You should get a lawyer for a car accident if you suffered injuries and/or other losses that cost you time, money, and pain and suffering in the past and future. If your case is legally complicated, such as a situation where multiple liable parties are involved, a lawyer can also be helpful. If you wish to seek financial recovery for your losses, a lawyer can provide many services to help you do so.
Injuries and losses will look different depending on the accident. But if you have medical bills for injuries (such as broken bones or head trauma), were left unable to work because of your injuries, or if you lost a loved one in your accident, you might want to consider hiring legal support.
The more serious the accident, the more involved the legal process can be. Consider working with a lawyer who can guide you through it and help you pursue a course of action that is appropriate for your situation.
What a Lawyer Will Handle on Your Behalf
A lawyer can help you with a car accident claim or injury lawsuit, depending on what your needs are when you come to us. Some of the services we can help you with are:
- Collecting police reports and medical documents that detail your injuries
- Reviewing photos, videos, and other accident-related evidence
- Identifying liable parties in your accident
- Interviewing individuals who saw your accident
- Consulting with experts who can offer a professional opinion on your medical condition, accident, or other aspects of your case
- Representing you in court to seek fair compensation for you
- Explaining any laws or legal terminology that may pertain to your case
- Keeping you updated on any changes
If the insurance claim negotiations fall short of a satisfactory settlement, we can file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf and make sure to file it on time. State laws restrict how long you have to file a lawsuit.
For instance, Nevada generally gives you two years to file, per NRS §11.190(4)(e). If you want to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit in Nevada, this two-year deadline applies, as well.
Pursuing Recovery from an Insurance Company
Hiring a lawyer to review your accident as soon as possible can help you assess your losses accurately and figure out what your case is worth. Having this information in hand can help you decide whether pursuing an insurance claim or injury lawsuit is worth the time and effort.
You can start the financial recovery process with a claim to the insurance company of the party who caused the accident. You will have to prove the driver acted negligently and that doing so led to an accident that harmed you and caused you losses.
The Claims Process
The claims process is not always straightforward for many accident victims seeking compensation. If you find this is the case for you, you may want legal help, especially if you are finding it challenging to collect payment from the insurance company.
A lawyer can help you when an insurance company either denies your compensation claim or offers you a settlement that does not cover your losses. It is common for insurance companies to do their own investigations into an accident to determine liability.
An insurance adjuster may look at your claim and reject it after determining you were fully or partially responsible for the accident. If other parties are involved, the insurer may say those parties have more liability in the accident than its client does.
Shared Fault
Some states use a system of shared fault in order to assess responsibility for an accident. For instance, under the modified comparative negligence law in Nevada, which can be found at NRS §41.141, an injured party can recover compensation if they are not more than 50% responsible for the accident. Even if you do have some liability for your accident, you may be able to collect compensation, but it will be reduced by the percentage for which you were determined to be at fault.
A lawyer can give you specifics about how state laws affect your claim. An attorney can also work on your behalf and handle all communications with an insurance company while you recover from your accident. They could negotiate for a settlement or for a higher settlement if you were initially offered one that was too low.
Call High Stakes Injury Law Today for a Free Consultation
If you are considering whether or not you should get a lawyer for a car accident, working with a lawyer can be beneficial under many circumstances. A lawyer can help you become more informed as you decide how to proceed with your case.
If you have been in a car accident that injured you or caused a loved one’s death, we can help you explore your legal options. Call High Stakes Injury Law today at (702) 444-3228 to speak with a team member for a free case consultation.