Being involved in a car accident can be traumatic, especially if you are injured or miss work as a result. If the accident was due to someone else’s negligence or fault, you might not know what to do in order to be compensated for medical treatment or provide suitable documentation to your employer. It is often a good idea to contact an auto accident attorney for information about how to proceed. Here are some of the ways an attorney can assist you.
Verify the Facts
When an auto accident occurs, it may be confusing at first to determine who is at fault, and to what degree. An experienced vehicular accident attorney can help you research the facts objectively to identify the cause of the accident and the person who may be responsible. As a starting point in your investigation, this information will be essential to discovering if someone should be held accountable for your losses.
Collect Relevant Documentation
Obtaining the right documentation is critical to understanding what happened and to supporting any claim you might bring to a court of law to request damages. An auto accident attorney can advise you of which entities to contact for proper records, which often include a traffic accident report filed by a police officer, a vehicle repair estimate, witness statements, and any medical records related to injuries sustained in the accident. In some cases, the attorney can help you to obtain copies of these records, often at no initial cost to you until the case is won or settled.
Prepare for Litigation
Filing a legal claim for damages against someone who you believe has caused or contributed to the cause of a car accident typically involves an extensive legal process. The other person’s attorney might ask you to answer written questions, called interrogatories, answer questions in a conference room, and eventually testify during a hearing or trial. Your attorney can explain each of these proceedings, and others, so that you will be prepared.
Weigh Optional Outcomes
The majority of legal cases are settled before or during trial. However, some are decided by a judge or a jury following a detailed trial that can last days or weeks. An auto accident attorney will be able to explain how each option works and which might be advisable in your case based on available evidence and facts.
For the best chance of winning compensation for your car accident losses, contact an auto accident attorney for assistance.