There is no adequate compensation for the impairment, disability, and death caused by a car accident. But the recovery of your financial losses will help you reclaim your old life or be better prepared to begin your new one. You don’t have to start over with nothing, or worse, huge amounts of debt. If you or your loved one suffered physical, financial, or emotional harm in a car accident, seek legal representation today from a Visalia car accident lawyer.
A knowledgeable Visalia car accident lawyer can guide you through the legal process, protect your legal rights, and help you fight for fair compensation for your injuries and other losses that occurred in the motor vehicle crash.
Should I hire an attorney after an auto accident?
Even for a minor car accident, or a car accident that you believe wasn’t your fault, you should hire a lawyer. In some cases, an injury like whiplash may not surface for weeks. The later you file a claim, the weaker it is. An experienced car accident lawyer knows what to watch for how to prepare.
By representing yourself, you also leave yourself vulnerable to insurance companies and may pay more than you need to. It’s equally possible that if you have suffered pain and financial difficulties, you could be leaving money on the table. A car accident lawyer in Visalia helps you pursue the full list of claims available to you under the law. We also provide guidance to prevent you from jeopardizing your own claim. It’s always worth getting a car accident lawyer.
What questions should I ask an attorney for a car accident?
When you are looking for a Visalia car crash lawyer to take on your case, you should search for a qualified attorney who will have handled similar cases, and ideally specialize in personal injury. Your attorney needs to know what questions to ask to get you the best chance of settlement. Your legal team should also anticipate the defense’s counter-questions to ensure you don’t risk losing the maximum possible payout from the people responsible for causing your motor vehicle crash.
Here are questions to consider when measuring the impact of the car accident on the life of you and your loved ones:
- Are you able to participate in the activities you enjoyed prior to the accident?
- Have your current or future employment opportunities been affected?
- Have you lost income due to injury or time away from work as a result of the car accident?
- Have you incurred medical and/or funeral expenses?
- Will you need ongoing treatment, medication or physical rehabilitation?
- Have you endured any resulting emotional trauma?
- Did you suffer property damage? How minimal or extensive?
- Were there any additional factors, like road sign visibility, infrastructure damage, etc.?
At Nelson, Rozier, & Christenson, our decades of experience in auto accident lawsuits includes previous work defending insurance companies. This allows us to provide skilled Visalia car accident lawyers to help you receive coverage. Again, you won’t be responsible for case-related costs if we do not secure you compensation.
Negotiating with Insurance Companies
At Nelson, Rozier, & Christenson, our decades of experience in auto accident lawsuits include previous work defending insurance companies. We can apply our years of experience handling similar claims to help you fight for fair compensation. Our legal team is familiar with how insurance companies work. They don’t usually have the best interests of injured people who are seeking compensation for their losses in mind. Instead, the goal of all insurance companies is to maximize the company’s profits by denying benefits or paying as little as possible. We know how to negotiate for what your case is worth, and we would not be willing to let you settle for less by allowing an insurance company to undervalue your claim. Again, you won’t be responsible for case-related costs if our Visalia car accident attorneys do not secure you compensation.
How long do you have to get a lawyer after a car accident?
In California, you have three years to file property damage and injury claims. Although three years might seem like a long time, unfortunately, evidence begins to deteriorate within days and even hours of your car accident. Skid marks on the road begin to fade, and so will bruises from seat belts and air bags. Even witness testimony will prove less reliable over time. You’ll want to hire a car accident lawyer as quickly as possible.
Investigating Your Car Crash
A car accident attorney in Visalia will work to preserve all relevant evidence, which is why they’re helpful at the start of your case.
Gather as Much Information as Possible
Before you meet with your attorney, document your evidence, including:
- Medical consultations sought
- Medical bills
- Photographs of injuries before and after treatment
- Photographs of the scene, including road conditions and signage
- Photographs of car damage
It’s important to get ahead of the defense. Document visible injuries before they heal and identify physical factors in an accident as soon as possible before infrastructure updates, environmental changes, etc. Your attorney will also take written statements from witnesses and may involve calling accident reconstruction experts to investigate the scene.
Write Down Critical Details about the Accident
In addition to taking photographs of critical details, it is also important to write down what you can remember about the accident as soon as possible. As you heal from your injuries, you should continue to document in writing everything that you have gone through as a result of the accident. Describe your level of pain, whether you are able to work, whether you need someone to care for your daily needs, and whether you feel you have a diminished quality of life because of what happened.
Review of Evidence by Your Attorney
Your attorney will review all evidence that you have gathered, examine the police accident report, comb through footage from area traffic or surveillance cameras, and also take written statements from witnesses. Depending on the precise details of your accident, we may also call accident reconstruction experts to investigate the scene. The goal of our in-depth investigation of the automobile collision that injured you would be to determine precisely what went wrong and who bears potential legal responsibility for your injuries and other losses.
How long does a car accident lawsuit take?
There is no set amount of time for each car accident lawsuit because the duration can vary considerably from case to case. However, an auto accident defense attorney who has had successful experience handling a wide variety of motor vehicle collision cases can estimate the time it will likely take to resolve your case based on similar cases they’ve had with past clients. It can take anywhere from months to years and largely relies on evidence. A car accident attorney is also a huge factor in the length of your case. A skilled Visalia attorney who is willing to work around the clock on your car collision lawsuit while you focus on recovery, as well as your daily responsibilities like your job and family, could potentially speed up the timeline of your side of the case so that you would hopefully not have to wait as long to get the legal and financial relief that you need and deserve.
Call a Visalia Car Crash Attorney Today
The immediate aftermath of an automobile collision can be confusing and overwhelming. You probably have a great deal of questions about where you can turn to get the money you need to pay for your medical bills and other expenses relating to the crash, especially if your injuries have prevented you from returning to work. Fortunately, a seasoned Visalia car accident lawyer can meet with you to answer your questions. Our compassionate local legal team wants to help make things better for you.
Call our firm today.