Car accidents in the U.S. resulted in approximately 46,020 deaths in 2021. Moreover, they led to an estimated 5.24 million nonfatal medically consulted injuries.
The thing is, even a nonfatal injury can rack up thousands of dollars in medical costs. The more severe ones can even reach hundreds of thousands of dollars.
So, if you get involved in a car crash yourself, it’s best to hire an auto injury attorney to help you file a claim or a lawsuit. We’ve listed the top reasons you should below, so read on.
1. Allow Yourself to Heal and Recover
Aside from hefty medical costs, a car accident can also cause injuries that result in income loss. Additionally, they can lead to pain and suffering from physical or emotional trauma. For example, a neck or a back injury may prevent you from enjoying activities you once did.
Severe auto accident injuries can also result in long-term symptoms and disability.
An example is a whiplash injury, a neck injury that leaves long-lasting symptoms in 25% of patients. That may include chronic neck and shoulder pain, numbness, fatigue, and headaches, to name a few.
Poor recovery, in turn, can raise your risks of developing long-term injury symptoms. Thus, it’s imperative to have enough time to rest and recover following a car crash injury. Unfortunately, that can take days, even weeks or months, leaving you little time to file a claim or legal case.
An auto injury lawyer can start the legal process on your behalf so you can recuperate ASAP. Your attorney handles the bulk of the case, from gathering evidence to filing the claim. Your legal aid also speaks with credible witnesses and negotiates with insurers.
2. The Other Driver Is Uncooperative
Drivers involved in car accidents often see their auto insurance premiums rise. The average increase is about 30%, but it’s usually higher for drivers found at fault for the crash.
Since car insurance is already expensive, it’s easy to see why some drivers don’t want to admit fault. They’re often uncooperative, or worse; they may even try to blame others.
If you’re dealing with such a motorist, you may have difficulty obtaining compensation. In that case, it’s best to hire an auto injury attorney to help you prove the other driver’s fault.
3. Unfair Settlement Offer From Insurers
Unfair claims settlement is an unjust practice committed by insurance companies. An example is an insurer avoiding paying a legitimate car accident claim. Another is making an unfair settlement offer, such as an amount less than you believe you deserve.
If your or the other driver’s insurer makes such an unfair offer, hire an auto accident lawyer ASAP. Your attorney will reject it and provide proof you deserve a higher amount.
Hire an Auto Injury Attorney ASAP
And there you have it, the top reasons you should enlist the services of an auto injury attorney. So, if you ever find yourself in a car crash, especially one you didn’t cause, don’t delay seeking legal help. Likewise, hire a lawyer to help you fight an uncooperative driver or an unfair settlement.
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