Is It Worth Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer?

Whether it is worth hiring a car accident lawyer or not depends on a few factors. If there are multiple liable parties, complications surrounding who was negligent, and severe injuries that call for higher compensation, hiring an attorney may be the right call for you.

In this article, we’ll explain how an accident attorney can help you throughout the legal process so that you can make an informed decision about seeking legal representation.

Car Accidents Involving Multiple Liable Parties

While some car accident cases are fairly straightforward, others may have contributing factors that make it harder to determine who is liable, especially when there may be multiple liable parties. Ensuring that all responsible parties are held accountable in your accident claim is an important aspect of pursuing maximum compensation.

Some examples of where there may be multiple liable parties include the following:

Crashes Involving Commercial Vehicles

If an accident involves a commercial vehicle, the driver may be liable for their directly negligent actions. However, the company may also be negligent in cases where they:

• Failed to perform required maintenance on their vehicles
• Failed to hire qualified drivers or train drivers properly
• Had policies that disregarded safe practices, such as overloading a vehicle

They may also be vicariously liable for the actions of their employees. Our car accident lawyers thoroughly investigate to determine whether a company’s actions make them liable for your losses.

If Hazardous Roads Were a Contributing Factor

In some instances, road conditions may be bad enough that they either contribute to an accident or cause it outright. In these cases, government entities may be liable. Bringing a claim against a government entity is often more legally complex and may involve a different statute of limitations.

Our car accident lawyers understand how local, state, and federal laws affect your ability to recover compensation. We’ll create a legal strategy that accounts for these laws.

Other Non-Driver Parties Were Negligent

In some cases, there may be other non-drivers whose negligence factored into the accident. These include:

• Mechanics who performed maintenance improperly
• Manufacturers whose vehicles or parts were defective or faulty

Our car accident attorneys will carefully investigate and gather the evidence needed to prove negligence if someone other than another driver was at fault.

The Car Accident Resulted in Severe Injuries

Car accident injuries can have devastating lifelong effects. Some examples include:

• Burns and lacerations, which cause scarring and disfigurement
• Spinal cord injuries causing paralysis
• Internal organ damage, which requires surgery and medications
• Traumatic brain injuries, which result in physical or cognitive impairments
• Broken bones requiring extensive physical therapy

Fair compensation often covers losses like property damage, vehicle repairs, and medical bills. In cases where serious injuries are involved, fair compensation is often higher and may involve more complicated negotiations with insurance companies. For example, you may seek compensation for:

Future Medical Expenses

Car accident victims may have medical bills for emergency room care, surgeries, diagnostic exams, and doctor appointments. In addition to your past and ongoing medical treatment for your injuries, you may also seek compensation for the medical expenses you can expect in the future. For example, future needed surgeries, rehabilitative therapy, or even long-term medical care in a living facility.

Diminished Earning Capacity

A severe injury may lead to a permanent disability, which keeps you from returning to the workforce. Compensation may be available for the future income you’ve lost out on.

Non-Economic Losses

The effects of severe injury do not stop at the financial. You may have a lifetime of emotional trauma and physical pain ahead of you. You may qualify for a fair settlement that covers non-financial losses such as:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Lowered quality of life

Our personal injury lawyers seek the maximum compensation you are eligible to receive. We build a compelling case for compensation using evidence and, in some cases, will consult experts who can further prove your need for a higher settlement.

When Negligence Isn’t Clear in a Car Accident

Establishing negligence is required to recover fair compensation. With some accidents, a negligent action may be quite clear (such as someone running a red light). In other cases, it may require a thorough investigation.

Our lawyers will carefully investigate and compile evidence that firmly establishes that negligence occurred. For example, in an accident where a driver was distracted while texting, we can obtain crucial evidence like their phone records to prove it.

If an insurer tries to claim you were more at fault than you were, we can also preserve your legal right to compensation by showing how the accident occurred and each party’s degree of fault. During questioning by an insurance adjuster, we’ll be by your side so that you have no risk of accidentally taking more blame than is warranted.

We may also consult experts, such as an accident reconstruction specialist, to help substantiate the claim of negligence.

A Lawyer Will Also Keep Your Case on Track

Your case will have a statutory deadline known as a statute of limitations. In California, you generally have only two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. In Idaho, you have a similar two-year deadline.

To remain in compliance, you should contact your personal injury attorney as soon as possible so that they can get started on their investigation as soon as possible.

How Else Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help?

In addition to helping with the complicated examples above, we can also handle all aspects of the legal process. We will:

• File paperwork
• Handle all communications with the insurance company
• File any necessary appeals
• Represent you in court if needed

Many law firms that handle car accidents also work on a contingency fee basis, so you’ll only pay them if they recover compensation on your behalf.

Call Sargent Law Firm Injury Lawyers for Your Car Accident Case

At Sargent Law Firm Injury Lawyers, our legal team is here to advocate for your legal rights. We’ve recovered over $40 million in financial compensation for victims like you.

Contact us today for a free initial consultation. We can discuss your legal options and see if we’re the right lawyers for your case.