Why do I need a lawyer when I already have insurance?
If you are at fault for an auto accident, generally your insurance policy will cover the cost of the damages. Keep in mind, your insurance policy has limits, so if you have minimum coverage, your insurance policy might not cover more than a few thousand dollars.
If the accident costs rise above your insurance limits, you will want hire a lawyer to help you keep those costs as low as possible. Anything not covered by your insurance policy will come out of your pocket — either now or over the course of the next twenty years.
Even if the accident costs don’t rise above the limits of your insurance policy, it might be worth your time to ask a lawyer to review the case. If you’ve been deemed at fault, then you will be looking at a very steep hike in your insurance costs over the next five years. A good attorney can minimize the extent of your blame.
Lastly, if there is even the suggestion that anyone was injured, you will want a lawyer. The victims of an accident have years in which they can claim problems arising from an injury caused by the accident. Medical costs are high, and could easily use up your insurance coverage.
If you caused an auto accident, then you will probably have to pay — from delayed medical problems to expensive insurance hikes. Get an attorney to represent your best interests.
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If there are any serious medical problems from the accident, you should hire a lawyer.
Luckily many lawyers will work on contingency. On contingency basis, fees range from 25-40% depending on the case. The attorney will cover costs up front, making it possible for the client to seek justice without worrying about losing their own money.
While your insurance company is required to fairly represent your interests, there are built-in limitations to your insurance policy. There are also built-in limitations in the other driver’s insurance policy. If those limitations don’t cover all of the medical costs, the insurance companies walk away leaving you with thousands of dollars of unpaid medical bills. Or even worse – a lawsuit by the other driver requesting that you pay his or her medical bills as well.
Perhaps you aren’t worried because you (and perhaps the other driver) have health insurance. The health insurance companies don’t want to pay medical bills caused by unnecessary car accidents. Now, people are suing insurance companies and insurance companies are suing each other and you. You need a lawyer.
A person injury lawyer will protect you from unfair claims and help you get the money you deserve for your medical bills and your lost wages.
Medical bills add up quickly. And lost wages can have a devastating effect on your long term earning potential. These costs can quickly exceed the limits on your (and the other driver’s) insurance policy. If a reckless driver destroys your ability to use your hands to work, your lawyer will help you collect his or her future earnings.
Because insurance is highly regulated by each state, it’s unlikely that your insurance company will try to scam you out of money. However, they are likely to want a quick and easy settlement. While an insurance company probably won’t say, “Don’t hire a lawyer,” they might send you a letter explaining why lawyers complicate and delay the settlement process.
Insurance settlements without lawyers are fast. Once you hire a lawyer, you become just another case in the backlog of your regional legal system. Using a personal injury lawyer may mean years of waiting for additional settlement money. However, the lawyers are the experts. If a personal injury lawyer takes your case, patience and trust will yield the best settlement.
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