Can You Handle a Car Accident Claim on Your Own? One Lawyer Explains Why You Shouldn’t

While filing a claim on your own is possible, retaining a lawyer is highly recommended. When you have an attorney, you benefit from the experience, knowledge, and resources they can provide. This only serves to increase the strength of your claim and help you win a settlement that will cover all your damages.

After a collision, reach out to a car accident attorney in your area. They can help you start filing your claim. What is more, many law firms offer a free initial consultation to cover the basics of your case. Therefore, you have nothing to lose by taking at least an initial case review.

Should I File a Claim by Myself?

The answer to that is no. While you can file a claim by yourself if you truly want to, the truth is that doing so will put you at a severe disadvantage when it comes to negotiating for your award. This is especially true if you do not have any legal knowledge or experience. The defense and the insurance companies will take advantage of that fact and dismantle your claim.

To prevent this, you should obtain the assistance of an experienced car accident attorney. Do not consider hiring an attorney as an expense but rather as a good investment to help maximize the amount of compensation you receive. Reach out to one of the attorneys at Bader Scott Injury Lawyers for legal guidance.

Benefits of Retaining a Lawyer

Instead of figuring out and negotiating your claim on your own, get a lawyer to help you. There are many benefits of having an attorney represent your case.

Focus on Recovery

Car accidents are devastating. According to data by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were over 36,000 deaths in 2019 due to traffic fatalities. After surviving something so deadly, you most likely sustained severe physical injuries and psychological scars that require time and rest to heal.

Filing a car accident claim and pursuing compensation can be very stressful and time-consuming. This, in turn, can impede your ability to fully recover from your injuries. While you rest and focus on healing, a lawyer can handle all of the legal aspects of your accident for you, from filing a claim all the way through to the negotiations.

Fight Against the Insurance Company’s Tactics

When you deal with an insurance company, you will find yourself weak against their well-funded legal team. With a lawyer, their strategy to try and get you to settle for less will not work as easily. Attorneys are well aware of the strategies employed by insurance companies and know how to navigate around them.

Many cases settle out of court when you have a lawyer representing you. This is because insurance companies do not want to fight a long and drawn-out legal battle and would rather pay you a settlement upfront. An attorney is a great deterrent to their stall tactics and can help you speed up the negotiation process.

On the off chance that you go to trial, your attorney will not abandon your case; they will be by your side until the end. What is more, having legal representation will be critical in this case.

Accurately Calculating Your Damages

When calculating damages, there is more involved than just adding up receipts. How exactly do you calculate pain and suffering? What about the loss of enjoyment of life? There are formulas that lawyers know to assess all your damages accurately and ensure these are part of your settlement.

In Georgia, you can receive punitive damages as well. The Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) §51-12-5.1 refers to punitive damages as a punishment against a malicious or egregiously negligent party. If your case qualifies, a lawyer will also help you recover for these damages.

Handle Your Car Accident Claim With Legal Assistance

If you decide to file a car accident claim, seek a lawyer with experience handling these types of cases. An attorney has the knowledge and resources necessary to fight back against the insurance companies and get you the settlement you deserve.