A terrifying, unexpected event that can occur in our daily lives is a car accident. This is a stressful event, but it is important to stay calm throughout the whole process and not to do anything that could affect your insurance claim or court case. There are more steps below that will be beneficial to your accident attorney in New Orleans.
Don't Say it Your Fault
One crucial thing to remember is to never admit fault to anyone involved in the accident. It's also important not to admit fault to insurance companies or a policeman. Your mind can distort the events that occurred, since an automobile accident is a traumatic incident. The best thing to do, is contact an accident attorney in the New Orleans area and to remain in a stable emotional state.
Acquire Medical Attention
Even if you don't seem to have any symptoms, you should always seek medical attention immediately after an automobile accident. Sometimes you will have delayed onset soreness, which means symptoms such as dizziness, numbness, or pain won't occur until a couple days after your accident. It is important to get medical attention as quickly as possible, because the longer you wait, the harder it is to prove the injuries are a result of the accident. Get treatment for the incident as soon as you possibly can.
Get Pictures Taken
A New Orleans auto accident attorney will find it very useful if you take pictures of the accident and any injuries that came from it. Time is critical, because minor wounds can heal in a matter of days. Pictures can even be taken with a mobile phone, if there is no one around to help you with this procedure.
Take Detailed Notes
Making notes regarding any medical treatment will be helpful in getting the best insurance reimbursement. The person should also keep any receipts that pertain to medical expenses and devices, and get the personal information of the doctors, physical therapists or chiropractors who were involved with the case.
Make a Police Report
If no officers come to the scene of your accident, you should still report it to the police. Go over the report thoroughly, make sure that the details such as names, facts and dates are correct. Present this police report to your New Orleans personal injury attorney when you consult with him.
Consult With an Attorney
It is common practice of insurance carriers to try to get a car crash victim to settle right after an accident. This usually happens by telling the person to sign forms that they are unsure about. This can lead to bad short- and long-term effects. The best way to protect your rights is by contacting an accident attorney in New Orleans immediately. It will also be wise to hire an attorney if there was significant damage or injuries and the other driver was the cause.
An accident can happen out of the blue, taking you by surprise and quickly turning life upside-down. By remaining calm and hiring an accident attorney in New Orleans, you can avoid being blindsided by legal and medical problems and quickly resume a normal life.
Talk to an auto injury attorney in New Orleans today by contacting The Lambert Firm and scheduling a free consultation.
There are many reasons New Orleans injury victims are reluctant to consider hiring a personal injury lawyer, such as not wanting to file a lawsuit, thinking it will be to expensive, or believing they can take care of everything on their own.
In many cases, they realize too late that they should have sought the services of a New Orleans personal injury attorney and the statute of limitations to bring a claim has expired.
Insurance Companies' Motives
Another thing that accident victims fail to realize is that insurance companies are a business. Insurance agents are not there to ensure that the victim's needs are provided for on a long-term basis. It is their job to settle claims as quickly and cheaply as possible.
It's not uncommon for insurers to pressure an accident victim into accepting a less than ideal settlement offer. However, a New Orleans personal injury attorney understands the rights of accident victims and knows the ins and outs of negotiating with insurance companies. Having their education, skills and experience on your side will offer you the best chance at getting fair compensation.
Investigating the Accident
If you're considering representing yourself in a lawsuit, consider what must go into it. Do you have the time and resources to investigate the claim? Are you physically up to the task, considering your injuries? It is the responsibility of the person filing a lawsuit to prove their claim, and a thorough investigation is needed to achieve this.
A New Orleans personal injury attorney has the tools necessary to successfully investigate your claim, including speaking with witnesses, getting the insights of reconstruction experts, and gather evidence. Exhaustive investigation is the best recourse to convince a judge and jury to award you the compensation you deserve.
Negotiating A Settlement
If you've been injured in an accident, the ideal scenario is that the responsible party offers fair compensation to settle the claim. They may even have legal representation to assist in this.
Even if you feel that the settlement offer is fair, it's vital to have an attorney experienced in negotiations to be on your side. While the settlement may seem reasonable, a New Orleans personal injury attorney will be able to tell you if the offer is sufficient to cover your medical expenses, lost wages and more.
Contingency Fee
One of the biggest misconceptions about hiring a New Orleans personal injury attorney is that it will be expensive. In reality, injured people typically don't pay anything unless they win the lawsuit.
Typically, your lawyer will offer you a free initial consultation to review your case and determine whether filing a claim is the right option for you. If it is a viable option, your attorney will work the case with no cost until a settlement is paid or jury award received. Then, your legal fees will be deducted from the compensation you received, with no up-front or out-of-pocket costs.
Get help from New Orleans personal injury attorneys today by scheduling a free consultation with The Lambert Firm. Their experienced New Orleans accident attorneys can help you recover the compensation you're entitled to.
