Car crashes can be really significant events that change a person’s life completely, and the consequences might be hard both physically and mentally. It doesn’t matter if the accident was a small one or a major one; being aware of the legal procedures after a car accident will not only help your rights remain intact but also you will get the compensation that is rightfully yours.
We will comprehensively show you how to take a legal course after a car accident, and we will also tell you how an experienced lawyer can guide you along the way.
Table of Contents
1. Ensure Your Safety and Seek Medical Attention Immediately
First and foremost, it is safety after any car accident. If possible, go to a safe place and check if you or anybody else is injured. In case of any injuries, don’t waste time; call 911. The thing is that even if you do not feel that you are injured, this does not mean that you can skip going to see a doctor since there are some injuries that cannot be noticed immediately.
After all health issues have been solved, it is necessary to collect evidence from the accident scene. This is done by taking pictures, sharing details with the other driver, and getting witnesses’ statements.
2. Notify Your Insurance Company
When you’re done with all that and are sure you’re ok, call your agent. So that you can file a claim, it is important to inform the insurance company about the accident. However, at times, the carrier tries to reduce the loss or pretend that there is no loss and in such cases, your job will not be so easy as it first seemed.
It’s crucial to consult with a reliable car accident lawyer in Chicago before speaking with the insurance company. An attorney can be at your side all the way through the process of the claims and make sure you get fair treatment.
3. Investigate the Accident and Collect Evidence
Collecting evidence is an essential step in a car accident case. With the help of your attorney, you can find like-minded people who will provide you with evidence to make your case stronger. Such evidence can be:
Your lawyer will expand on the accident investigation as well, allowing for this you will be able to receive surveillance cam footage, consultancy/interviews with experts, or if necessary, speak with accident reconstruction specialists.
4. Evaluate the Damages You’ve Suffered
In personal injury cases, it is very important to find the right extent of damage. Besides that, after a car accident, the harm might only include the physical injuries but also the emotional distress, lost wages, and the property damage. Your lawyer will examine different kinds of damages you suffer – the economic and non-economic. These can cover the following:
Fully and correctly estimating the personal injuries you sustained is very important to receiving full legal damages. Your lawyer will cooperate with different specialists, including doctors and economists, to make sure that your compensation is not low.
5. Determine Liability and Negligence
One of the essential things about any case of a car accident is figuring out who is responsible for the accident. The legal concept of negligence is core in these cases. The party at fault must have come… in a negligent manner, such as driving recklessly or failing to obey traffic laws.
Figuring out the source of the accident that your lawyer will allocate will focus most of the effort on that. Such work may include studying traffic rules, getting witness statements, looking at traffic cam footage, and police reports investigating. Your advocate will not stop at the liability part but will also be ready to support and defend your case.
6. Negotiating a Settlement with the Insurance Company
Settlement negotiations usually solve most car accident cases instead of going to court. Your lawyer, after having collected all the evidence and assessed your losses to the fullest, will then draft a settlement offer to be handed to the insurance firm.
Nevertheless, insurance companies are typically more concerned with safeguarding their profits rather than providing fair settlements. At this point, the knowledge of your lawyer becomes invaluable. An expert lawyer will bargain with the insurance company to make sure that you are given a fair settlement corresponding to your losses and requirements.
If, however, the insurance company is not willing to provide a fair settlement, your lawyer will not hesitate to sue them in court.
7. Filing a Lawsuit if a Settlement Isn’t Reached
If a fair resolution can’t be reached with the insurance company, then it may be necessary to sue the company to get compensation. A lawsuit means that the formal process of seeking compensation through the courts is started.
In Chicago, the process is pretty much the same as other places and it means that you have to file a complaint, collect evidence, go through depositions, and maybe even go to a trial. Throughout the whole process, your lawyer will be by your side, doing all the paperwork, presenting your arguments, and defending your rights.
8. The Role of Your Attorney in the Legal Process
To get through the legal system successfully, an experienced lawyer is a must. Lawyer will basically:
9. Understanding the Timeline of a Car Accident Claim
A car accident law case might last for quite a while. It can even take for months or years depending on how complicated your case is. The general process includes:
While the process may be lengthy, it is crucial to be patient and allow your attorney to take care of the legal matters while you concentrate on your recovery.
10. Why You Should Choose Wallace Miller for Your Car Accident Case
If you were in a car accident, then you have the right to get a lawyer who will be on your side and will protect your rights. At Wallace Miller, our mission is to provide individuals in Chicago with the necessary assistance while they are going through the complicated legal process because of a car accident. We are a group of lawful professionals who are always present for our clients to receive the right compensation. Whether it is working with the insurance company or going to court, we will be there at your side every step of the way.
In the event of a car accident injury, it would be the right thing not to waste any time.. Contact Wallace Miller today to discuss your case and See how we could potentially help you to get the best possible result.
