What To Do? Knowing Where To Turn After A Wreck
You have choices when it comes to what you do after a wreck. If the other driver caused the accident, you might be better off taking legal action. Several factors all contribute to the value of your case. To help you understand where to turn after a wreck, read on.
Turn to the Insurance Company
Not all accidents result in injuries. If you are not injured in the wreck, you won't be able to go beyond what the at-fault driver's insurance company will pay. They will pay to get your vehicle back on the road but, you won't need medical expenses, pain and suffering, or lost wages. A word of caution about doing things this way is in order, though. Some accidents result in injuries that might appear to be minor but later on turn out to be more serious. For example, a head injury might not become apparent until later. For that reason, wait a week or so before you sign an accident release. Once you do so, you cannot take legal action against the driver ever again, no matter what type of injuries you end up with.
Turn to a Personal Injury Lawyer
If your injuries resulted in more than just a few bruises and soreness, speak to a personal injury lawyer. You may or may not need to take the other driver to court. You might be able to get the other side to settle with you rather than taking the case to court. This can mean the case is finished faster and with a minimum of legal costs. A lot depends on the factors below:
- Fault — You must be able to show that the other driver was at fault.
- Medical expenses — High medical expenses make for a very valuable case.
- Future medical expenses — Very serious and/or permanent injuries can result in high pain and suffering damages.
- Evidence — The more you have, the easier it will be to avoid a trial and be offered a settlement. For example, if you have lots of credible eye-witness statements about how the accident occurred, fault won't be in question.
The cases that end up having to be litigated in court are often the ones where fault is undetermined and where the one side disagrees with the injury status of the victim. One way to find out what path is right for you is to leave your case in the hands of an auto accident lawyer. Doing so will make the insurer cooperate with claims, offer you a settlement, and win your case in court.