After a car crash, you may be unsure about how you want to proceed. On one hand, you can reach out and speak with the other person’s insurance carrier on your own. On the other, you don’t want to settle too soon and end up getting less than you deserve for your injuries or the damage to your vehicle.
It’s perfectly understandable that some people don’t want to reach out to an attorney. They may never have worked with an attorney in the past or might not know what to expect. They may worry that the initial consultation will cost a lot of money with no real outcome to help them, or they might think their case isn’t strong enough to get picked up by the firm.
The truth is that it’s smart for anyone who has been involved in a collision to talk to an attorney about their rights and options for pursuing compensation. Having an attorney on your side also makes it more likely that you’ll be able to get the payout that you want through negotiating with the insurance company. An attorney has good negotiating skills and is also able to take your case to court if the insurance or other coverages offered aren’t enough to cover your needs.
Isn’t it costly to hire an attorney?
Don’t worry about the cost to hire an attorney right away. Instead, remember that most attorneys do use a contingency fee and free consultation structure. What that means is that your initial appointment is usually covered with a free consultation. During that appointment, your attorney will go over the case with you to determine if you’d like to move forward with a claim. If not, or if you feel you don’t want to work with the specific attorney you met with, then you can move on to a different firm or attorney at no cost to yourself.
If you do decide to move forward with a claim, working with an attorney who uses a contingency fee structure is beneficial. It doesn’t require you to pay out of pocket, and the attorney receives compensation when the case is won (and your settlement or award pays out).
These are some things to consider if you’re concerned about working with an attorney after a crash. It’s worth setting up a free consultation when they’re available.
