Should I Get a Lawyer for a Car Accident That Wasn’t My Fault?
If you were injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be wondering whether you need a lawyer. Can you trust the insurance companies to pay what they owe? Or will you need to fight for the compensation you deserve?
While it would be nice if you could file an insurance claim and then sit back and wait for a check to arrive in the mail, this simply isn’t going to happen. You might receive a check eventually, but it almost certainly won’t be for the full amount you deserve. In fact, the odds are that it won’t even be close.
If you are serious about asserting your rights under North Carolina law and recovering the financial compensation you truly deserve, you need an experienced car accident lawyer on your side. The Whitley Law Firm answers the call, reviewing your case for free and protecting your rights at every stage of your claim.
5 Reasons Why You Should Get a Lawyer for a Car Accident That Wasn’t Your Fault
One of the biggest mistakes you can make after a car wreck (particularly one where you suffer serious injury) is to try to handle the case without a lawyer. There are a multitude of good reasons to talk to an attorney, some of the most important of which are:
1. You Need to Prove the Accident Wasn’t Your Fault
Even if you know the wreck wasn’t your fault, this isn’t enough to convince the insurance companies to pay what they owe. In order to recover just compensation for your injuries, you need to prove that someone else was responsible for the collision. Due to laws of contributory negligence, you must also prove you are not at fault yourself.
More specifically, you need to prove who is responsible. Did another driver cause the wreck? Or did the wreck result from a road or vehicle defect? If another driver caused the accident, was he or she working at the time of the crash?
The answers to these questions (among others) will determine not only who is responsible for the car accident but who is liable for damages. Comprehensive investigation by a car accident lawyer can help identify all of the parties at fault and fight on your behalf to hold them accountable.
2. You Also Need to Prove How Much You Are Entitled to Recover
There is a common misconception that once the insurance companies accept liability, they will pay what they owe. This is not the case, and any offer the insurance company makes should be treated with the utmost scrutiny. Their job is to pay the lowest amount they can get away with paying!
Some damages are easy to quantify on your own, such as your medical bills to date, the income you lose if you are unable to work, etc. However, some damages are not readily apparent.
A car accident lawyer can evaluate your losses and determine the full value of your claim. You may be entitled to compensation for future medical bills, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and more.
3. The Insurance Companies Will Try to Pay You as Little as Possible
Not only won’t the insurance companies pay what they owe, but they will try to get away with paying the absolute minimum for your losses. To avoid settling for just a small fraction of the financial compensation you deserve, you need an experienced lawyer who can accurately calculate your losses and fight for just compensation on your behalf.
Read More: What Is a Typical Car Accident Settlement Amount?
4. Your Lawyer Can Defend Against the Insurance Companies’ Claims of Contributory Negligence
North Carolina is one of the few states that follows the law of pure contributory negligence. Under this law, if you are even 1% at fault for a car wreck, you are entitled to recover 0% of your accident-related losses. As a result, the insurance companies routinely dispute claims by alleging that the victim played a part (even if it was a very tiny part) in causing the wreck.
To recover the compensation you deserve, it is crucial to have an attorney who can effectively counter accusations of contributory negligence. An experienced car accident lawyer will be familiar with this defense tactic and the strategies for fighting it. If there is adequate evidence available, your lawyer may be able to conclusively establish that you played no part in causing the collision.
5. This Is Your One Chance to Recover Just Compensation
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, your car accident claim is the one and only chance you have to recover compensation for your injuries and damages. If you fail to collect key evidence before it disappears, if you say the wrong thing to your insurance adjuster, or if you accept a settlement before you know how much you are entitled to recover, you won’t get to try again.
A car accident lawyer can help you make the right choices so that you do not fall victim to the insurance companies. Furthermore, a knowledgeable attorney can help you feel confident in the outcome of your claim.
Contact Our Raleigh Car Accident Lawyers Today
Never assume that the insurance company will compensate you fairly for a car wreck that wasn’t your fault. Insurers frequently dispute liability, make low-ball offers, and try to blame the victim in an effort to avoid paying what’s fair.
At the Whitley Law Firm, we take a compassionate and persistent approach to legal service. Our lawyers and staff develop innovative strategies for representing our clients effectively and aggressively advocating for their best interests and results.
If you have been injured in a car wreck that was not your fault, please call the Whitley Law Firm at (919) 785-5000 today. Our car accident lawyers serve clients in Raleigh, Kinston, New Bern, and throughout North Carolina. It won’t cost anything to see if we can help.
