A severe car accident can ruin your life. It can leave you with physical injuries that take weeks, months or even years to completely heal. You may need surgery to repair your injuries. You may even need a series of reconstructive surgeries over a period of months or years to recover. You may have scars that will never go away – both physically and emotionally. You may suffer a brain injury that results in cognitive problems that are short term or end up with permanent deficits.
On top of this, you may have financial issues that come from mountains of medical bills, time lost from work, loss of a job because you can’t work, lower wages because you can’t work as many hours or in the same job you were working prior to your accident. You will also have property damage to your car – perhaps extensive enough that you will need to replace your vehicle. All of these factors can add up so that you feel like your life is ruined.
But there are some steps you can take to turn this into a more positive experience:
#1 Hire a Lawyer to Protect You – In order to have a good chance of being fairly compensated for your injuries, your medical expenses, future limitations in work or disabilities caused by your injuries and ongoing pain and suffering, you need to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer. Insurance companies will fight to minimize the value of your claim and will try to pay as little as possible. A personal injury attorney will protect you from these belittling insurance practices.
#2 Hire the Right Lawyer – You don’t want just any lawyer representing you. There are several factors to consider. First, you want to hire an attorney you’re comfortable with, one that you feel like you can talk to and who pays attention to you, listens to what you say, hears your concerns and then answers all of your questions. Second, you want a lawyer who is ethical and trustworthy. Third, you want an experienced lawyer who has handled thousands of cases and is well reviewed in the industry, by his/her peers and by former clients. Lastly, you want a lawyer that insurance companies will know by reputation is prepared to fight to win and go to battle for you.
#3 Get Compassionate Help – You want a lawyer that’s compassionate to your situation and one that can recommend physicians with experience in treating your type of injuries. You want an attorney that will assist you by referring you to the best medical treatment team. Serious auto accidents can cause traumatic injuries that will require follow up by specialists. An experienced local personal injury attorney will know doctors to refer you to that specialize in your injury and will listen and give you the best possible care to ensure a speedy recovery.
#4 Take Care of Your Injuries – For major auto accidents, injured victims may be taken to the hospital via ambulance or told to go and get immediate medical attention. You should follow this advice and accept urgent treatment of your injuries on the day of your collision. Hospitals are an important part of your treatment team and if you are seriously injured, you should go to the hospital right away. Once you’re stabilized with medical care right after your collision, it is important to make sure you follow up with the appropriate specialists. You may be told to see an orthopedist, physical rehabilitation physician, a physiatrist or another provider or specialist. Always follow doctor’s orders – otherwise you risk compromising your recovery and maximizing your financial settlement for your injuries.
#5 Hire on a Contingency Basis – Any reputable personal injury attorney will work with you on a contingency basis. This means that their fees are contingent on winning you a settlement. Unless and until your attorney is able to successfully negotiate a settlement for your injuries, you won’t have to pay any attorney fees. This aligns your interests with the attorney’s – the harder they work for you, the more compensation they have a chance of recovering for you!
Get a Great Attorney Today!