Media post: Five Reasons You Need a NYC Lawyer for Your Car Accident Claim
If you are in a car accident in New York City and think that you can handle it without the help of a car accident lawyer, you should know that not having someone in your corner is a huge disadvantage. There are five critical reasons why you should have an attorney represent you.
- You will get more for your accident damages
Studies show that those who hire a car accident lawyer get more than those who decide to negotiate on their own. If you aren’t sure how much you are entitled to, then there is no way to know if the settlement offer you receive is enough to cover your expenses. A professional car accident attorney will not only know what you are entitled to be properly compensated, but they can also anticipate if you will need further treatment going forward and what those costs are worth.
Additionally, if you don’t know how to calculate noneconomic damages, which are highly subjective, then you won’t know if you are getting a fair settlement from the insurance company. The only way to know that you are getting all that you deserve is to have someone on your side to calculate exactly what your injuries are worth.
- You need to protect yourself
Whoever is found at-fault for an accident in the state of New York pays for their injuries and the damages and injuries of the other party. Since New York is a pure comparative negligence state, there are times when both parties can be at-fault in an accident and liable for paying for their “share” of negligence.
Since, in some cases, comparative negligence can be hard to calculate, if you don’t have a lawyer in your corner, it is possible that you can be taking on more than your fair share of blame and liability. To ensure that you aren’t left paying for someone else’s mistakes, it is critical to have the best accident lawyer in NYC represent you.
- If things should escalate, you will want someone on your side
Most car accident cases can be settled before they have to go to court, but there are times when an insurance company won’t offer what is fair and right to the victim of a car accident. In these cases, the lawsuit will need to be taken to court so that the victim can recover a fair settlement for their damages.
If you are unable to come to a fair agreement during the negotiation phase of a car accident settlement, then it might be necessary to take the insurance company to court to get all that you is entitled to. A lawyer will know when what you are being offered is fair and when it isn’t, and will be able to guide you about whether you should settle or hold out.
- Lawyers work on a contingency basis–if you don’t collect, they don’t either
Since most car accident attorneys work on contingency, they don’t get any reimbursement unless they can get you the award you deserve. So, not only does that mean that you don’t have to pay them at the start, it also means that if your case isn’t suit-worthy, they will let you know and save you from drawing out a car accident negotiation if you don’t really have a case. If you want to make sure that you aren’t wasting time when settling a car accident case, a car accident lawyer is the best source of advice when deciding enough is enough.
- The insurance company works for profit, not you
Just like any other business, insurance companies are in the business to make money. The way that they increase their bottom line is by decreasing their liability. If you don’t have someone who has your best interest in mind, then your best interests are certainly not going to be served. A good car accident lawyer will know all the nasty tactics that insurance companies use to limit what they pay and how to negotiate to get you the settlement you deserve. Although it might be tempting to go it alone, if you are in a car accident, it is always a good idea to hire a car accident lawyer who knows how to get you the compensation you are entitled to. If you don’t, you are almost guaranteed to leave money on the table. Don’t take that risk!
