Proportionally speaking, accidents are relatively few and far between. In 2015, there were 6.3 million traffic accidents in the US alone which is 0.03% of the 210 million licensed drivers in the US. However, if you have been involved in any kind of accident, you will know how traumatic and life changing this can be. In addition to any physical injuries sustained, the mental and emotional wreckage may be severe too. These scars can leave a long-lasting impact upon you and your family. This is why it is so important to make sure you that you have the right legal guidance to take you through the compensation procedure. Here are a few handy hints that we have put together to help you through this process.
- Pick an attorney that you can trust
It is crucial to pick an attorney that you can trust, not someone who has chased you down- your attorney should be honest and show concern for your welfare and not be about just getting money out of you. Listen to your intuition.
- Look for a quality service
A good attorney will put your mind at rest and talk you through the whole procedure so that you fully understand the whole legal process.
- Make sure they are accessible, helpful and easy to talk to
Do they answer all your questions? Do you have their direct contact details rather than just a generic email address or phone number?
- Read their website and do your research
What does it tell you? The way the website is written and the language it uses will tell you a lot about how the law firm operates and whether or not they are friendly and welcoming or cold and inaccessible. Are they well established in the field? What do others say about them?
- Make sure you understand the steps involved in gaining compensation.
Identify whether or not your attorney pays the damage costs to your vehicle and if they help you claim for all medical expenses. Your lawyer should get all records and bills for your treatment and submit an opening offer to the insurance adjuster, including compensation for all expenses and bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering. They will then negotiate and if necessary, file suit to force the insurance company to pay more for your case. This process continues until the case is settled to your approval, or litigated before a jury.
- Find out if there are any costs that you may be liable for
It is really important to find out in advance If there are any costs incurred by you if you are not successful in gaining compensation. At Stillman and Friedland, clients do not pay anything until the case is settled and compensation received. If there is no recovery, there is no cost to the client.
In short, drive carefully and stay as safe as you can on the roads. If the unfortunate does happen, make sure you enlist professional support that you can trust to help you get your life back on track.
