Have you recently been involved in a car accident? Are you worried about how you're going to pay your medical expenses and get your car repaired? Being involved in an accident can be very stressful. Not only do you have to worry about paying for your extra expenses, but there are the ordinary bills that can be more difficult to deal with if you're unable to work for even just a few days or weeks. In order to be able to pay for everything, you'll be needing a settlement from the relevant insurance company. Here are a few things that you may need to know about the process:

Don't fill out any statements: Aside from what you are required to tell the police, it may not be a good idea to give additional statements to your insurance company without first consulting an auto injury lawyer. Even if you tell the complete truth, your inexperience could result in inadvertent wording that makes the accident sound like it's your fault. If the insurance company thinks that you're at fault, even if you're not, they may offer a reduced settlement or even none at all. A lawyer can help you fill out the paperwork so as to tell the truth but still minimize the chance that the insurance companies will put the blame for the accident on you.

Lawyers cost nothing up front: One reason why many people avoid going to see an auto injury lawyer is that they're under the impression that they simply can't afford to do so. Fortunately, for this type of lawyer, you don't have to pay anything out of pocket for one to take your case. Instead, he or she will take a percentage of whatever settlement you finally receive. Since you may not get any settlement at all without the help of a lawyer, it just makes sense to hire one.

Your case may take a while: One thing to understand is that even with the help of an auto injury lawyer, it could be several weeks or months before you receive any money at all. The stronger your case is, the more likely it is that you'll quickly receive a favorable settlement. Your attorney will be able to give you an estimate, based on past experience, as to when you might expect to have your money. But a lack of an immediate settlement doesn't mean that the lawyer that you've chosen is bad or incompetent, it simply means that the insurance company is waiting for more information or is still trying to decide how much money to offer you. 

For more information for what to do after you've been in a car accident, contact an auto injury lawyer, such as those at Knafo Law Offices.

Share