Never Settle A Car Accident Case Without An Attorney
Millions of car accidents happen annually in the United States. While many accidents are just minor fender-benders with no injuries, others result in severe or fatal injuries. In most car accidents, one or more party was careless or reckless. If this can be proven, the injured party could receive compensation in a personal injury lawsuit.
However, if you were hurt in a car accident because of another party’s negligence, you should not attempt to settle the case on your own. As this article will illustrate, it is always to your benefit to hire an attorney for your car accident case. If you need legal representation after a car accident, the Detroit accident attorneys at Ravid & Associates can assist you.
Receiving The Most Compensation For Your Losses
In Michigan, you should always have a knowledgeable car accident lawyer representing you if there are injuries and significant property losses related to the accident. Having an experienced car accident attorney ensures that your settlement accurately reflects the total value of your claim, including your pain and suffering.
Insurance industry data shows why it is usually to the injured party’s benefit to have an attorney for their car accident case. Statistics show that the average car accident case may settle for up to four times as much when a personal injury attorney represents the victim. Of course, that is an average amount, and your attorney may get you more than that, depending on the circumstances of the case.
This data is why auto insurance companies usually contact a driver immediately if their client probably caused the accident. The insurance company knows it could cost them much more to settle the case if the injured party hires a lawyer. It also knows that the attorney could eventually file a lawsuit, which could cost the insurance company much more in the end.
Proving Liability
After a car accident, it is insufficient to say that the other person caused it and should pay for your damages. Liability must be proven in a car accident claim or lawsuit. Even if it appears that the other party was clearly wrong, proving liability can be more complex than it first appears.
There are accident cases where law enforcement and witnesses said that the other driver caused the crash, but proving they breached their duty of care is challenging. A car accident personal injury attorney has years of experience demonstrating the four elements of negligence:
- The other party owed you a duty of care. For example, if you were hit in an intersection by someone running a red light, the other driver owed you a duty of care to drive safely and obey traffic laws.
- The potentially liable driver breached their duty of care. In the above example, the other driver breached their duty when they ran the red light.
- You suffered injuries because of their breach of duty.
- You suffered financial and other losses related to your injuries.
Supporting The Car Accident Claim With Evidence
A Detroit auto accident claim is only as strong as your evidence. Your attorney will perform a complete investigation of the accident and collect evidence linking your injuries to the crash. Proof will be essential to prove the claim to the liable insurance company and in court if needed. Evidence that your attorney may collect could include:
- Cell phone photos and video
- Medical reports
- Witness statements
- Medical tests and scans
- Crash scene photos from red light cameras
- Video footage from businesses near the crash scene
- Law enforcement accident reports
In some accidents, an accident reconstruction expert must show how the crash happened and who caused it. Our Detroit auto accident attorneys at Ravid & Associates have reliable accident reconstruction professionals who will be highly helpful to your claim.
Explaining Options For A Settlement
In addition to collecting evidence and proving liability, a Detroit auto accident attorney will also help you understand your settlement options. Most car accident victims do not realize that most claims are settled before they reach a courtroom. So, there is a good chance the liable party or their insurance company will make at least one settlement offer.
Your attorney will explain any settlement offers on the table and whether you should accept it, make a counteroffer, or go to court. Ultimately, the decision is yours alone, but your attorney’s input on settlement offers is valuable advice.
Going To Court
Most auto accident cases are settled out of court, but not always. When the insurance company does not offer a fair settlement, filing a car accident lawsuit may be the only option. An experienced car accident attorney in Detroit at Ravid & Associates can file a lawsuit and advocate passionately for you in court.
Your attorney will present the accident evidence to the jury, call witnesses, and thoroughly argue why you deserve compensation. While the chances you will need to file suit are low, the possibility of a courtroom fight for compensation is a compelling reason to retain a tenacious Detroit auto accident attorney. One never knows when you will need to present the case to the jury to obtain the money you need for medical bills, lost earnings, and pain and suffering.
Meeting Critical Legal Deadlines
A car accident attorney’s understanding of critical legal deadlines is another significant reason to hire an attorney. Personal injury lawsuits must be filed within a specific time, and your attorney will be familiar with all relevant state and local laws.
In Michigan, you generally have three years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss the statute of limitations deadline, the case will probably be dismissed in court. For this reason, it is always best to report an accident with injuries as quickly as possible.
In A Car Accident? Contact Our Detroit Accident Attorney Today
Ravid & Associates has over 180 years of combined legal experience helping injured victims in Detroit. Our attorneys have helped thousands of local residents obtain compensation for their injuries after car accidents. If you are ready to pursue justice against the at-fault party, call one of our Detroit accident attorneys today at (248) 948-9696. We will work hard to maximize the compensation you receive so you can recover from the accident and move forward.
