Have you been the victim of a recent car crash? Are you having a hard time figuring out how to move on from the harrowing experience? It’s clear you could use someone to help you overcome the nightmare. Someone such as an experienced NYC car accident lawyer.
Know Your Rights
Knowing how to file a police report and notify your insurer following a crash is only half the battle. You’ve also got to know your rights, plus the nature and extent of your damages. Most crucially, you have to understand how much you’re entitled to in compensation once you begin the process of filing an insurance claim.
You definitely could use some advice from an experienced NYC car accident lawyer. Besides familiarizing you with your rights, they’ll also help you compute how much your injuries/damages are worth.
Leave no Stone Unturned
Not every insurer presents an unfair compensation offer — some will try to deny you altogether. You might be told that your injuries/damages don’t meet the threshold required to file a claim. Or worse, the adjuster will overlook certain critical aspects when assessing the crash.
It’s only by having an experienced attorney by your side that you can avoid this. Car accident lawyers know how to collect the crucial pieces of evidence you need to make a solid claim, including:
- Footage from surveillance cameras
- Eyewitness statements
- Medical records
- Photos of the scene
Proving Liability
Even if you did know how to gather evidence for your claim, showing that you’re not to blame for the mishap will still be an uphill battle. Yes, make no mistake: The other driver’s insurer — if the crash was a collision — will go to great lengths to assert why their client shouldn’t be held at fault. And once again, you cannot count on your insurer to stick their neck out.
It’ll take a good auto accident lawyer to fight the other side’s assertions. Your lawyer will support your claim by proving how:
- The other motorist breached their duty to exercise caution while driving
- You suffered losses and injury due to this breach
Most importantly, an experienced attorney knows what expert testimony will be needed to back up your case.
Fight for Justice
Speaking of case, chances are you’ll need to file a lawsuit to compel your insurer into presenting a fair settlement offer, or hold the other party to account. And that’s something that’s best handled by a legal expert. Your lawyer, besides taking care of the paperwork and administrative procedures, will also look out for your rights as the case proceeds. Having an attorney’s representation will also save you from attending every court hearing — thus ensuring you’re able to fulfill your duties at the workplace.
Settlement Negotiations
While your insurer will likely propose to settle once a lawsuit materializes, don’t count on them making a reasonable offer right away. You still need someone to help you negotiate a fair settlement. Your lawyer, besides negotiating on your behalf, will also be ready to take matters back to court if no agreement is reached, or the payout takes too long.
