Calico Ridge Auto Accident Attorney

Why Should You Work With A Calico Ridge Auto Accident Attorney?

A Calico Ridge auto accident lawyer can help you take the right steps immediately following the incident. After an accident, you should check if you or any of your passengers are injured and then call emergency services if necessary. After seeking medical care, contact an attorney immediately.

Our lawyers will guide you on the evidence to gather to build a claim. After that, we will help you file the claim without making errors that can cause a delay. We will help you determine whether or not you need to report the accident to the police and the information to exchange with the other driver.

Additionally, we will handle negotiations with the other driver’s insurance company. It can be challenging and risky to negotiate with the other side by yourself, as insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payout. They know the right questions to ask to get you to admit fault, either wholly or partly. 

The other driver’s insurer may also suggest an unfair first settlement and use different tactics to pressure you into accepting it. It’s also not uncommon for adjusters to use pre-existing medical conditions to reduce compensation.

For over three decades, our law firm has been negotiating with insurance companies. We know how to present a compelling case that weakens their strategies. 

Another benefit of working with an auto accident lawyer in Calico Ridge is that it allows you to focus on recovery. We will handle the legal aspects of your case, allowing you to prioritize your health and well-being.

How Can You Choose An Auto Accident Lawyer?

When choosing a car accident attorney in Calico Ridge, you need to pay attention to certain factors. Firstly, the attorney should be able to handle car accident cases. You want to work with an attorney with extensive knowledge of car accident laws.

Furthermore, the attorney’s success rate in similar claims should be checked. Most lawyers usually include past results on their websites. You can review how much a lawyer has helped clients recover in compensation in the past and read testimonials from the clients.

Consider asking the attorney about the strategies they employed to help their past clients receive the compensation they did. This can help you understand how experienced a lawyer is in negotiating successful settlements for their clients.

You should also pay attention to an attorney’s communication skills. How they respond to you now can reflect how they will treat you once you hire them. It’s critical to work with an attorney to whom you can reach out without difficulties. Ask your chosen lawyer how and when you can contact them and how often they will be keeping you updated about your case.

Also, assess if you are comfortable talking to the attorney. If, within the first days, there isn’t a rapport (you can’t be transparent with them), it may be best to look for another lawyer. 

Lastly, the estimated legal costs are another aspect to consider when choosing a car accident attorney. How much does the lawyer charge? What is their fee structure?

Do You Need An Attorney After A Minor Car Accident?

It’s vital to work with an auto accident lawyer in Calico Ridge, even when involved in a minor accident. It can be tempting to want to face the other driver’s insurer by yourself when the damages you are claiming are not significant. The problem is that the insurance adjuster may still use tactics to minimize payout. 

Besides, while an accident may have seemed minor, you may have sustained a serious injury without knowing, as some injuries have delayed symptoms. If you accept the settlement the insurer offers, you may incur medical expenses out of pocket in the future. 

An attorney can help you find an experienced doctor to examine the severity and extent of your injuries. Lawyers also work with different professionals to understand the consequences an accident may have on a client in the long run.

Are All Car Accident Cases Similar?

Not all car accident cases are similar. Firstly, there are different types of car accidents. Examples include head-on collisions, rear-end accidents, T-bone accidents, rollover accidents, and sideswipe accidents. 

The accident you are involved in may determine the injuries you sustain. You may suffer severe injuries in a more serious accident. Hence, you may need to ask for higher compensation, as the damages you incur may be costlier.

The potential liable parties in a claim also make car accident cases different. When involved in an accident, the driver may automatically be liable if they are at fault and own the vehicle. However, your case may become more complicated if the driver is not the owner and the owner lent them the car knowing they are not fit to drive — perhaps they were drunk or have a history of reckless driving.

If you are involved in an accident with a truck, different parties may be liable, including the truck driver, the trucking company, the maintenance company, or the cargo loader.

If an accident is caused by a vehicle defect, you may have a case against the manufacturer or designer. In some cases, you may have a case against a drug manufacturer if the driver who caused the accident experienced drowsiness after taking medication, yet they were not warned of such a side effect, which affected their ability to drive.

Furthermore, you may have a complex case if you made a mistake that may have contributed to the accident — you were partially at fault.

Car accident claims are approached differently depending on their circumstances. That’s why it’s crucial to work with an attorney skilled in handling claims similar to yours.

What Damages Can You Claim?

When you file a car accident claim, you can recover economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include:

• Medical expenses: Ambulance fees, hospital stays, doctor visits, transportation to appointments, medications, medical devices, surgery, and so on.
• Lost wages: The wages you have already lost, including regular hourly wage or salary, overtime, commission and bonuses, paid time off, vacation and sick days, retirement contributions, and self-employment income.
• Lost earning capacity: Future income you are likely to lose because the injury will prevent you from working for a long period or returning to your duties or career.
• Property damage: Costs for repairing or replacing your vehicle or personal items, such as electronics, jewelry, and clothing.

The non-economic damages to claim are:

• Pain and suffering: You can claim compensation for the physical and emotional distress the injury causes you.
• Emotional stress: The feelings of fear and frustration you may feel, validating the need for professional help.
• Inconvenience: Your injuries might affect your ability to do daily tasks.
• Disfigurement: Compensation for permanent changes to your appearance, such as permanent scarring, amputations, and burns.

Non-economic damages are difficult to quantify, as you don’t have receipts stating how much you have incurred, as is the case with economic damages. However, there are formulas to help you come up with a fair amount. Our attorneys can carefully assess your case to determine the most suitable formula to calculate your non-economic damages.

Why Choose Adam S. Kutner, Injury Attorneys? 

At Adam S. Kutner, Injury Attorneys, we have a team of attorneys ready to help victims of auto accidents and other personal injury cases. Our Calico Ridge personal injury law firm will offer your case the attention it deserves and, in turn, get you the best results.