Why You Should Hire an Accident Attorney A seasoned accident lawyer can take care of all the legal details of your claim and take on the work you are unable do yourself This includes gathering evidence, filing the proper paperwork, and the negotiation with insurance companies Top car accident lawyers have extensive experience preparing for trial and trying multi-million dollar cases This makes them less likely to settle cases without compensation for your losses and injuries Legal Advice Car accidents are traumatic events that cause disruption to your life and put you at risk of suffering injuries or property damage, as well as loss of income Helping someone navigate the legal process can provide you with peace of mind and allow you to focus on healing A NYC car accident lawyer is not required, however hiring one can make the difference in ensuring that you get compensated for your losses When you first talk to an attorney, they will offer suggestions on whether it's beneficial for you to submit a claim to the at-fault driver's insurance company or your own through your personal injury protection, or PIP, a provision The law firm of Anidjar amp; Levine will also guide you through the process of filing an insurance claim and inform you of the most common pitfalls A knowledgeable lawyer will examine the evidence supporting your claim and calculate the amount your case will be worth in terms of damages or compensation This is based on the circumstances of the accident including who was at fault the injuries you sustained, how they are expected to last, property damage as well as lost wages, among other factors They will also determine if you qualify for punitive damages, which are intended to punish defendants for especially problematic or malicious behavior Your attorney will then collect evidence to support your claim This could include witness contact information, photos of the scene, photos of your injuries, or anything else they need They will also know which experts to hire which documents to seek from the at-fault party and how to work with the insurers to maximize your compensation Your lawyer will represent you at every stage and fight for you They will defend your rights, negotiate with the insurance companies, and present your case before a jury or judge They have the knowledge and expertise to help you get more money than if you had to handle the claim process on your own The decision of whether to employ a lawyer will ultimately be based on your comfort level managing the legal process by yourself Gathering Evidence Evidence is vital in any legal case to establish the facts of an accident and show the liability for your losses Car accident cases are no exception Evidence can include witness statements documents, physical objects, and more Evidence is anything that makes it more likely for your side of the tale to be accepted as fact Evidence that is not preserved as soon as possible after an accident could be lost, destroyed, or altered due to weather or other elements It is crucial to go back to the scene of the crash and take photos if you can Photographs can record many details like the damage to objects and vehicles, location of stop signs and traffic signals and road conditions, weather conditions, and skid marks Note down everything you remember about the incident This includes the details of how it happened, and who's responsible This narrative is essential if you find it difficult to recall details later https//vimeocom/709771528 will also help your attorney understand the complete circumstances surrounding the accident Ask if they were witnesses to the crash and if they are willing to testify in court Find out if they witnessed the accident and if any of them would be willing testify in court If you also have a cell phone, you should record any footage of the crash or its aftermath that is available It is important to take photographs of any visible bruises, or other physical signs that you are in pain, based on the nature and severity of your injuries This is especially crucial if you've suffered serious injuries It can help to demonstrate the impact of the accident and the severity and extent of your losses As soon as possible you must request your medical records from the doctor or hospital who treated you These documents will show your physical and emotional suffering, as well as your medical expenses These records are needed to support any claims you may have regarding medical expenses, lost wages or repairs to your vehicle They will also be used by your insurance company to calculate the amount of the compensation you'll receive Negotiating with Insurance Companies Insurance companies have their own interests in mind and will do anything to decrease the amount they pay an accident victim It is for this reason that hiring a personal injuries attorney is crucial Your lawyer is your advocate and must take your best interests into consideration throughout the legal process They will conduct an investigation into the facts of your case, and this includes gathering evidence such as police reports, photographs, witness testimony, and much more In addition, they'll also work with experts such as accident recreation teams and forensic specialists to determine the reason for your accident In addition they will examine any and all responsible parties which include the car manufacturer and the city that is responsible for road maintenance, or even the bar that served an alcoholic driver Once your lawyer has assembled all the relevant evidence, they will prepare an offer package and send it to the insurance company The demand package will contain medical records and bills, property damage expenses including lost wages, future earnings, and any other costs you've had to pay due to the accident The insurance company will examine the evidence, and calculate your losses The insurance company will then offer a settlement You can decide to accept it or continue to discuss the matter If you don't agree with the initial settlement offer, you can ask your lawyer to help determine what to do next They will go over your demands, review the evidence and your injuries to determine if they have a right to additional compensation They will then bargain with the insurance company to reach a fair and equitable settlement It is important to keep in mind that your lawyer will not give less than what you're entitled to The insurance company will be aware that your attorney is working on your behalf and will do everything to avoid paying you more than what you are owed Insurance companies typically employ this tactic to make you feel pressured to agree to a low-cost deal They do this because they are aware that they'll have to pay more if you employ an attorney in the end Filing a Lawsuit Car accident attorneys know how to gather and organize evidence that can support your claim They've also negotiated with insurance adjusters for hours and are not afraid to bring them to court if needed They will ensure that you receive adequate funds from the insurance company to cover your medical costs as well as ongoing treatment costs and lost wages A seasoned attorney can assist you in determining how much compensation you are entitled to according to the severity of your injuries and how they have affected your life This includes calculating your anticipated medical expenses as well as your past and potential loss of earnings, and the physical pain and emotional trauma that you've suffered, aswell in any permanent impairments that you've sustained The law stipulates that you are entitled to recover the cost of these losses from the party at fault If you decide to fight an insurance company on your own, you are likely to receive much less than you need The best method to avoid this is by hiring an attorney who will take on the insurance company on your behalf If you've been injured in an accident you must seek medical assistance as soon as you can Even if it is not the case that you suffer from any obvious injuries, a visit to the doctor can establish a connection between the accident and your injuries This is essential for establishing the basis of your claim It could also provide additional damages that you are entitled to Many car accidents happen as a result of the negligence of another driver In these situations you may be able pursue a claim of injury against the insurer of the driver responsible or your own insurance company A lawyer is knowledgeable about these claims as well as the statutes of limitation time limitations for filing lawsuits that could bar your claim if you fail to file in a timely fashion A New York car accident lawyer can provide you with the information that you require to take the next steps Contact Davis, Saperstein amp; Salomon today to request a free review of your case, with no obligation and to find out more about how we can assist you to obtain the compensation you need to recover