If you suffered injuries in an automobile accident and your vehicle is damaged, you may pursue compensation to help ease your financial burden. A car accident lawyer can help you understand your legal options and how to gain fair compensation.
However, choosing the right personal injury attorney is critical, and you shouldn’t limit yourself to getting one from a local law firm. You must thoroughly vet potential lawyers to ensure you work with an attorney with extensive experience working on similar cases and skillfully advocate for your legal rights.
The experienced car accident lawyers at Nessler & Associates know how to guide you through the legal process of filing a personal injury claim. We are skilled attorneys with 35 years of combined experience helping auto accident victims get maximum compensation for their injuries.
Why You Need an Auto Accident Lawyer
A car accident lawyer must be familiar with personal injury law and insurance laws to help you file your accident injury claim. They must also know how to negotiate with the insurance companies who may attempt to delay or deny your right to maximum compensation.
Deep Understanding of Law
An experienced auto accident attorney can help you understand how Illinois’ modified comparative fault laws apply to your case. This doctrine says that if you are found to be more than 50% responsible for your accident, you aren’t entitled to compensation. They know how to investigate the circumstances of your case and gather evidence to prove liability in the accident.
Your attorney may look at traffic accident reports to find out who are the at-fault parties that caused your accident. For instance, they can ask for surveillance footage from nearby businesses to see if the negligent driver was speeding.
The attorney can also review your photos and videos to see the damage to your vehicle and the type of car accident, such as a T-Bone collision. The lawyer may also gain insight into the accident by speaking to witnesses. You can benefit from their extensive legal knowledge by understanding what it takes to prove fault with the collection of evidence.
Proper Assessment of All Damages
A car accident attorney can review your medical records from your health care provider to assess the amount of damages you can receive in your settlement. They may also identify other damages you are entitled to that you may not have considered.
If your injuries require long-term physical therapy, your attorney may include future medical expenses to cover it. The attorney can also include compensation for pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and the loss of enjoyment of life by looking into your quality of life before and after the accident.
When you can no longer work because of your injuries, you may receive compensation for the loss of wages. Your lawyer can help you understand the full range of your economic and non-economic damages to ensure you receive fair compensation for your financial stress.
High-level Negotiation Skills
Insurance companies may try to deny coverage or underpay legal claims, but a skilled car accident attorney can negotiate for what is yours. They can handle all communications with the insurance company on your behalf so you never miss a deadline and can receive a fair settlement.
Your experienced lawyer can also use evidence from the accident to prove negligence of the other party, including police reports and photos and videos of the accident scene. In addition, the lawyer can work with the insurance company to negotiate a settlement that compensates for all financial losses and non-economic damages.
Attorneys from Nessler & Associates won’t let an aggressive insurance company intimidate you into accepting a low settlement offer and will pursue legal action through the court system if the insurance company refuses to pay.
When You Need to Look for a Car Accident Lawyer
Reach out to one of the experienced attorneys at Nessler & Associates as soon as possible after your accident. Obtaining prompt representation means you can take the appropriate actions to protect your rights after a collision. The following reasons may also prompt you to seek legal assistance with your claim.
Your Injuries Were Serious
It’s in your best interests to hire an attorney if you have suffered a serious accident injury such as broken bones that have required extensive medical treatment. Out-of-pocket expenses for supportive devices like splints, long-term hospital stays, and surgeries can quickly add up, increasing the value of your legal claim.
Your attorney can evaluate your medical records to see the extent of your health condition and the current and future costs of treatment. They can then use your records as leverage with the insurance company to help you achieve the best possible outcome for your case.
The Insurance Company Offers a Settlement
The insurance adjuster might attempt to offer a quick settlement for your injuries and vehicle damage. However, an inadequate settlement may not cover all the medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. This is a means of getting out of paying the full damages and limiting your compensation.
If you received a settlement offer from the insurance company, you should consult with a car accident attorney. They are familiar with Illinois’ insurance law and auto insurance policies, so they know how to apply them to your auto accident claim. An attorney can increase your chances of a successful claim for compensation when the insurance carrier sees that you have retained one.
You Need Help to File a Claim Within the Statute of Limitations
With an experienced car accident attorney’s help, you can ensure you don’t miss any steps during the insurance claim process. Your attorney can also help you stay on track to file your claim within Illinois’ two-year statute for bodily injury claims. You can also have your attorney review vehicle repair invoices and repair estimates to help you file on time within five years of the accident for a property damage claim.
What to Look for When Selecting a Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney
When you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident, you need to know what to look for in a lawyer. To find the best attorney for your case, consider these factors:
Ample Experience in Car Accident Cases
Look for an experienced lawyer with a track record of success in settlements with insurance agencies. You can also see if they have trial experience in personal injury litigation for car accident cases. Choose a lawyer who understands common car accident injuries and what sort of financial compensation you need after an accident.
An experienced attorney can handle your case more efficiently and help you get adequate compensation than someone with little courtroom experience. They should also be compassionate about supporting accident victims with legal guidance during difficult times.
Reasonable Fee Schedule
Any attorney you consider should charge reasonable fees for their services. Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis. This arrangement means that you don’t pay them a retainer or hourly fee; instead, you pay them only when you win your settlement or damages.
If you are struggling to pay your bills or have lost wages due to your accident, contingency arrangements help you get legal representation so you can win fair compensation. Look for a law firm like Nessler & Associates that operates on a contingency fee basis so you can get your case started without paying upfront.
Well-Respected in the Local Legal Community
The personal injury law firm’s website should showcase its professionalism and track record of satisfied clients. You can search their site for awards, certificates of recognition, and leadership roles with local legal associations that help accident victims. You can also search online to see if the law firm’s lawyers are members of the state bar association and any local bar associations.
Ensure the practice lawyers don’t have a history of legal issues, such as unethical behavior. With an award-winning law practice and knowledgeable attorneys, you know you can trust them with your case.
Access to a Wide Range of Resources
A lawyer will consult with medical witnesses, accident reconstruction experts, and truck safety experts to determine the financial impact of a typical motor vehicle case. Talk to a potential lawyer about how they approach cases like yours and enlist help from their expert witness network. The lawyer should be able to explain how these professionals can help you bolster your case.
Positive Customer Service Reviews
An attorney’s communication skills, experience, and success record can be gleaned from online reviews and personal recommendations. Search the internet for reviews and testimonials to learn about a prospective attorney’s reputation with past injury victims.
Read client reviews to learn if they obtained financial compensation from their claims. If you find bad reviews, look for common complaints like the lawyers handing off cases to junior attorneys and staff members.
Family and friends who have worked with lawyers can also give you referrals. Ask them about the lawyer’s communication style, professionalism, and ease of working with them. They may help you choose a lawyer who best suits your needs by discussing their strengths and weaknesses.
Find a Personal Injury Lawyer Who is Right for You
A personal injury case can be a long journey, so make sure you choose someone who listens to you and answers your questions in easy-to-understand responses without a lot of legal jargon. At Nessler & Associates, our lawyers are skilled in handling car accident claims and can help you navigate communications with insurance companies and, if necessary, represent your interests at trial.
Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation. We can review your case, help you understand your legal options, and get you started toward a fair settlement today.