Everyone knows they need to call a lawyer if they’re involved in a serious accident with lots of damage and potential medical costs. However, one mistake many people make is not calling one for minor accidents.
Most people have dealt with this before. You get into a little fender bender, the damage looks fairly minor, no one is hurt, and the other party is being cooperative. In some ways, it might even seem like you’re the bad guy if you call your lawyer.
However, it’s actually crucial to call a lawyer for a minor car accident.
Here are several reasons why your lawyer is the first person you should call even if it’s just a minor fender bender under the best circumstances.
1. Attitudes Change Quickly When Money is Involved
While everything might seem very cordial right after the accident, wait until the other party finds out your car actually had some fairly expensive damage and their insurance is going to increase their premiums if they have to payout. That friendly person at the scene of the accident might suddenly deny all responsibility and try to leave you with the bill.
A lawyer prevents that from happening especially if you call them right after the wreck and let them guide you through the initial process.
If you are entitled to compensation, they can build a car accident case that proves that, and any change of heart on the other person’s behalf won’t be as effective.
In contrast, if you don’t call a lawyer and try to be the nice guy, and they change their story, you might be left with the bill due to mistakes from the start of the process.
2. Finding the Right Medical Care is Crucial
This is one thing you probably didn’t expect from a lawyer, but you can have a much easier time pursuing medical treatment.
While a lawyer primarily worries about legal proceedings, they know exactly what medical care their clients need to pursue to both recover and build a solid case for compensation later. This comes from helping thousands of clients in your exact position, and since you likely don’t get into accidents often, that means they have a bit more experience than you.
You’ll recover faster by pursuing the right care, and you’ll help protect yourself from legal issues by following your lawyer’s advice and building a medical history for any potential case that springs up.
3. Filing Insurance Claims Properly for Faster Payouts
Insurance claims should be easy, but they’re actually quite easy to mess up, and the insurance company loves when that happens. It lets them delay payouts and find reasons to pay less or deny your claim.
Having a lawyer by your side can help with the claim filing process and ensure that you have help if the company needs more info.
Again, your lawyer does this every day. They know exactly what you need to file your claim and all the mistakes you need to avoid.
4. Fight the Insurance Company’s Low-Ball Offer
One of the most common tactics insurance companies use is offering a smaller amount than your claim is worth. After all, they profit from you paying for coverage that you don’t use. When you finally need coverage, they don’t gain anything.
A lawyer can accurately determine what your policy is worth based on the extent of the damages done and any other factors that require compensation, and they can fight the insurance company to get you all or most of that value.
5. Appeal a Denied Insurance Claim Effectively
Sometimes, even with a lawyer by your side, the insurance company will try to keep your money by denying your claim.
Well, lawyers are masters at spotting when those little shady tactics are used, picking apart the details, and forcing people to do what’s right.
So, just like when they help a plaintiff get justice, or protect a defendant from serving more than they should, they can handle the insurance company.
You’ll be surprised how quickly a full denial of your claim gets appealed and the company is willing to pay out.
6. Handle All Legal Action
Unfortunately, even though you deserve compensation, and we all like to think that the people around us are ethical people, sometimes you have to take things to court.
With minor accidents, there are two realistic situations that warrant this.
The first is that the other party in a multi-person accident refuses to accept responsibility and wants you to go without any sort of compensation. Even when they’re fully at fault.
Unfortunately, they can go to some serious lengths to avoid paying for your repairs or dealing with higher premiums of their own. So, court cases can quickly take a turn for the worse.
The second scenario is that the insurance company refuses to cooperate. It doesn’t have to have anything to do with someone else being at fault for the accident. The insurance company might simply do everything they can to avoid paying you.
Insurance companies tend change their tune when a lawyer gets involved, but that doesn’t always happen, and the court is the next step.
In any of these situations, it’s not a good idea to take these steps on your own. The insurance company surely has its own legal team, and if you’re in a case with another driver, they are likely to get a lawyer and win even if they were in the wrong.
You never want to represent yourself.
7. It Usually Doesn’t Cost Anything If You Lose
One of the big worries people have is that they’ll lose a lot of money paying a lawyer and then lose their case or still get their claim denied.
Well, a lot of them don’t work like that. lawyers only get paid if you win your case. So, even though it’s a minor case, and you might only need them to argue with the insurance company a bit, you won’t pay out of pocket in many circumstances.
This makes it worthwhile to ensure you get compensated.
Call DeSalvo Law for a Car Accident Lawyer You Can Trust
Even a minor car accident can lead to unexpected challenges. At The Law Office of Scott D. DeSalvo, we specialize in cases involving minor car accidents, ensuring that your rights are protected and you receive fair compensation. Our expertise also extends to motorcycle, truck, and bicycle accident cases, allowing us to bring a comprehensive approach to all personal injury claims.
From handling insurance disputes to addressing low-ball offers or denied claims, our team is equipped to guide you through the unique complexities of minor car accident cases. We focus on ensuring that even small claims are managed with the same dedication and attention to detail as more significant cases.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward resolving your case with confidence.
