Car accident lawyers are attorneys who specialize in cases regarding vehicle accidents. Most people who are involved in an automobile accident aren’t sure if they need to hire a car accident lawyer or if they should just settle the claim on their own and save themselves the cost of hiring a car accident lawyer. We, here at Allen Schulman and Associates understand your concerns and have put together the pros and cons of handling your car accident claim on your own.
The Pros of Not Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer
People may have a variety of reasons for not hiring a car accident lawyer in the event of a car accident claim. Some people will say that they don’t trust lawyers to have their best interests at heart. They may also be under the impression that they will be able to get their settlement more quickly without a car accident lawyer involved. While this may be beneficial in an accident with no injuries, it can actually work against you if there are serious injuries as a result of the accident. The only concrete reason for not hiring a car accident lawyer would be the cost. By not hiring a car accident lawyer you will save the money that you would have otherwise spent on legal representation.
The Cons of Not Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer
Most of the reasons that people provide for not hiring a car accident lawyer directly correspond to the cons of not hiring legal representation. While not seeking legal representation may in fact help you reach a settlement and claim more quickly than if you hire a car accident lawyer, a quick conclusion in the event of a serious accident may end up being a negative experience for the parties involved. A person who represents themselves in regard to their car accident claim may be too quick to accept the first settlement that seems descent to them. A car accident lawyer will have the experience to fight for your best interest and needs, both short term and long term. Some injuries may be longer-lasting than you might expect, but your car accident lawyer has experience with these cases and will have a better idea of what to expect as far as recovery time and medical expenses for your injuries.
Another con of not hiring a car accident lawyer is missing out on all of their knowledge and expertise. A person without legal representation statistically has a higher chance of losing their case. This is because most people haven’t had the training or experience to understand all of the legal processes involved. In fact, many accident victims may not realize that their testimony may be something incriminating that could put at least some of the blame on themselves. The knowledge and preparation that a car accident lawyer brings to your table is valuable and important to the success of your case.
While it is true that not hiring a car accident lawyer will save you the cost of legal representation, it’s best to only do this when it comes to an accident with no injuries and only minor damages. In any accident that results in injuries or major damage, it’s best to hire an experienced car accident lawyer. While there is a cost, in the end, it is likely that their experience and know-how will actually result in a better settlement for yourself than if you had not had legal representation.
Making the Decision to Hire or Not Hire a Car Accident Lawyer
Ultimately, the decision to hire or not hire a car accident lawyer is yours to make. However, most attorneys provide a free or discounted consultation for car accident claims. It’s always a good idea to meet with a car accident lawyer and get their opinion on the complexity of your case as well as their thoughts on what the possible outcome may be.
It’s important to realize that while it may be easy to handle a car accident claim on your own when there are no injuries and just minor damage, things become infinitely more complicated if there are serious injuries or extensive damage caused as a result of the accident. The cost of hiring a car accident lawyer may be offset by the larger claim that they may be able to have you awarded based upon the circumstances of the accident.
It’s always a good idea to meet with a car accident lawyer and hear their opinions on your case so that you can make a fully aware and educated decision regarding your car accident claim.