Car accidents are the last thing you’d want to experience on the road but they are certainly an incident that you need to prepare yourself for. It’s not just about being prepared for what happens to your body after a car accident. It’s also about knowing your legal rights and obligations that matter too.
What many people tend to forget is that car accidents are legal matters as well. As with all legal matters, these are settled in court. Those who are proven innocent and are considered as the victims in the accident will be given. On the other hand, those at fault will be punished accordingly – either with a fine, suspension of their license, or jail time.
According to statistics, over 38,000 people die annually in the US because of car crashes. The traffic fatality rate is at 12.4 deaths per 100,000 people. If not death, people get injured. In total, there are 4.4 million people who are injured enough to require medical attention as well.
The cost of healthcare and organizing a funeral is, of course, another matter to worry about. However, that’s nothing compared to the pain of loss or the life-changing injuries that you can get after a car accident. This is why seeking justice in court is an important thing that you should do.
In cases like these, you’ll need a lawyer by your side. To be more specific, you need a car accident lawyer to help represent you in court. In this guide, you’ll know what a car accident lawyer is and what they do. You’ll also see what are the things to look for when finding a car accident lawyer.
What Is A Car Accident Lawyer?
A car accident lawyer is someone who will help you make personal injury claims in the likelihood of an accident involving cars. They specialize solely in car accidents so they know various matters regarding the topic. As with most legal cases, it’s always best to hire a lawyer that specializes in that specific case you are facing.
Car accident lawyers are typically those who specialize in personal injury claims and not exactly those who focus on car accidents only. As this is their specialty, you can expect them to help you out with your car accident case better than other types of legal professionals.
Duties And Responsibilities Of A Car Accident Lawyer
A car lawyer isn’t simply someone that represents you in court. They are tasked with various duties and responsibilities that are tied to your case. They will serve as your guide through various aspects of the case. They will not just represent you, they will also help you understand various aspects of the legal system.
Upon meeting, your car accident lawyer should help you understand your rights. It doesn’t matter if you are at fault or if you’re the victim, you will still have rights under the legal system. Lawyers will help you know what these rights are so that you will be capable of defending yourself to a certain degree.
You may have a basic understanding of your rights as an individual but you need to keep in mind that traffic laws vary per state. There are also many provisions that circumvent your rights which is why it’s very important that you know the specifics behind the law.
Of course, it should go without saying that a lawyer will offer you legal advice as well. They will tell you about the actions you should take regarding the accident. They will also tell you about what you can expect from the accident, regardless if you are the victim or the one being accused.
If you already have contact with a car accident lawyer after an accident, you should immediately talk to them and ask for any advice regarding the matter. They will most likely suggest that you take legal action as soon as possible and with that, comes another one of their duties.
A lawyer can also help with the investigation process. Once an accident happens and you are seriously injured, Joe Markey – Boston car accident lawyer https://www.bellottilaw.com/boston-car-accidents.html suggests that you should ask your legal counsel for help. They can help begin securing the evidence you need for the case to get it started officially.
Lawyers will have access to evidence like pictures, security footage, and witness statements as part of their duty. They will try to find any potential signs of your innocence (or guilt) during this process. Of course, car accident lawyers can also get help from outside experts like investigators to help with this.
Investigating the evidence is an important part of the process as this is where the lawyer will begin building your case. The more compelling his findings are, the more capable he is of representing you in court as well. In many cases, the car accident lawyer will ask for your help as you are a part of the accident and you’ve experienced it first-hand.
Another duty of a car accident lawyer is to assess the damage and expenses that have been made during the accident. This includes the medical fees, the damages to your property, and other types of damages such as psychological trauma which need to be accounted for.
This is an important matter as well as here is where your lawyer will determine how much compensation you are rightfully entitled to. Compensation is the amount paid to cover your losses in the case of an accident or personal injury and it’s a very important aspect of the legal process as well.
Last but not least is the most important duty of any lawyer – to represent you in court. If you are what’s considered the victim in the accident, the lawyer will represent you in court so that you get your due compensation. This means fighting for what he believes you are legally entitled to.
On the other hand, if you are at fault – the goal of the lawyer is to look for a fair settlement amount and punishment. He can try to reduce the compensation asked by the other party. Of course, if all evidence points to the fact that you had no direct control over the accident, then he’ll be tasked with proving your innocence too.
As you can see, a car accident lawyer provides guidance from beginning to end of the accident. Their help is something that you shouldn’t be without in such critical matters. It’s not only essential that you get a car accident lawyer, you should also get one that is more than capable of representing you in court.
In truth, it’s fairly easy to find a car accident lawyer. Just go to your local bar directory and you’ll be able to find a large selection of lawyers for hire. Another good way to begin finding the right lawyer is to ask your friends and family for any referrals.
If someone you know has been through a car accident legal battle recently, then there’s a good chance that they have hired a lawyer to help them out. Ask them if the person they hired for the job is good. Direct referrals are always great as you can get a firsthand account of how good the lawyer is.
However, before you hire a car accident lawyer, make sure you check out a few important things first.
Experience And Expertise In Car Accidents
This should be the first thing that you should look for. The lawyer should specialize in car accidents first and foremost. You can go online and search for car accident lawyers near you and you’ll get a large selection of professionals waiting to be hired. While other lawyers are okay, it’s still best to find someone who already has handled car accidents or at least personal injury cases before.
As explained before, there are various things to consider when it comes to car accidents. It’s very important that your car accident lawyer is knowledgeable in traffic laws, as well as in investigating evidence that is related to the car accident.
References
Asking for references is a common practice in the field of law. Don’t be afraid to ask your lawyer about a contact list of clients and attorneys they’ve already worked with during the last couple of years. A lawyer who has nothing to hide will happily show you this list of references.
It’s very important that you know the types of questions to ask these reference people once you contact them. Of course, you shouldn’t ask them anything too privy about the previous case that the lawyer was involved in. Instead, ask them about how he is to work with them.
Does he have a good work ethic? Is he easy to contact? Does he have his way with people, making him more convincing in court? These are just some of the important things that you need to ask those people. It will help you get a clear understanding of how good the lawyer is.
Investigative Skills
A huge part of the case will be devoted to securing evidence, studying it, and then making a compelling case about these. It’s not possible for lawyers to achieve his if he doesn’t have good investigative skills.
A good car accident lawyer needs to be aggressive and persistent when it comes to finding evidence for the case. This will help give you a better shot at getting what you deserve after the car accident. A lawyer with amazing investigative skills can make or break the case.
Accessibility
When referring to accessibility, we are referring to primary things – how easy it is to talk to the lawyer and their availability as well. Ideally, you’d want a lawyer who you can talk to on various mediums. Email, calls, texts, instant messaging – there should always be a definite line of communication between you two.
This is important because you’d want your lawyer to be able to talk to you just in case an update or an emergency pops up related to the case. If there are a ton of mediums to contact him at, then you’ll be able to relay the new information without any worries.
In terms of availability, you need to understand that lawyers can take multiple cases at a time. That’s not exactly bad but what can be wrong is if the lawyer isn’t able to make a lot of time for you. The lawyer should be at the very least able to assist you and guide you whenever you need it as emergencies can happen when you least expect it.
Good Communication Skills
Becoming a lawyer is not just about being wise and critical, your lawyer needs to be good with words too. He should both be a good listener and talker at the same time. A good listener is important because your lawyer needs to spot any discrepancies and possible flaws in the defense of the other party.
On the other hand, good talking skills are important as it takes this to confidently present a case to the judge and jury. These communicative skills are very crucial for any good lawyer. The good thing is that you can spot these easily upon talking to your lawyer for the first time.
Credentials
A lawyer can say a lot of things about who he is, where he comes from, and how he got to that point easily. It would be much better if your lawyer shows you proof of what he’s all about. Lawyers don’t have to reveal their diplomas to you. Of course, it would be good if they give you a good rundown of their educational and professional backgrounds.
Getting in a car accident is the last thing you’d want obviously. However, there are many factors that are involved in a car accident. It isn’t just about how good and how careful you are as a driver. Being prepared with a car accident in your contacts is always going to be a good way to save yourself from major legal problems.