Is it Worth It to Get an Attorney for a Car Accident in Pennsylvania?
- Do I Need an Attorney After a Car Accident?
- Standing Up to Insurance Companies
- What Evidence Can Attorneys Help Gather?
- If Your Case Goes to Trial
- Choosing the Right Car Accident Lawyer for Your Case
- How Much Does Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
- Get Help with Your Claim and Hire a Car Accident Attorney Today
After being involved in a car accident, you may be wondering whether you need to hire an attorney to help you recover compensation for any injuries and damages you may have incurred. Not every insurance claim requires an attorney, but if you have been injured, you should discuss your case with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after seeking appropriate medical attention.
If you’re concerned about navigating the insurance claim process or unsure if the insurance company has offered you a fair settlement, a lawyer can help. An attorney can protect your rights and help you determine whether it’s worth pursuing your claim. They can advise you regarding medical bills and property damage and negotiate a fair settlement with the insurer. If they can’t reach a fair settlement, they can pursue litigation and fight for you in court.
Do I Need an Attorney After a Car Accident?
You may not need an attorney if you were involved in a minor fender bender with no injuries. However, you likely need an attorney in any of the following circumstances:
- You suffer any injuries
- You miss work because of your injuries
- The police report of the accident doesn’t seem accurate
- There is a dispute over who is at fault for the accident
An experienced auto accident attorney in Pennsylvania can investigate, gather evidence, develop a strategy for your accident injury claim, file your lawsuit, negotiate with insurance companies, determine your case’s settlement value, advocate for you in court, consult experts to bolster your case, and give you the best shot at getting the compensation you deserve.
Standing Up to Insurance Companies
Insurance companies are for-profit businesses, and even though Pennsylvania law requires that they act in good faith, some insurers may still downplay the cost and severity of your injuries after a car accident to protect their bottom line. Insurers often attempt to delay claims to get the victim to accept any settlement they offer, and some will even refuse to communicate openly with you in the process.
Insurance companies have vast resources and teams of lawyers and professionals working for them to protect their interests. An attorney can level the playing field and advocate to get you all the compensation you deserve for your accident. They will pursue compensation for your vehicle damage, medical bills, missed work, pain and suffering, disability, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Insurance companies use a host of tactics to limit the amount they pay out. A skilled and knowledgeable attorney will anticipate those tactics and ensure you avoid any pitfalls. They will protect you from giving the insurance company any information that it might later use against you. Always speak to a personal injury attorney before signing documents from insurers or giving them recorded statements. Some insurers may even try to get you to sign a release that would give up all your rights to proceed with a lawsuit.
What Evidence Can Attorneys Help Gather?
After a car accident, an attorney can often access evidence that would otherwise be very difficult to obtain. For instance, an attorney can investigate your accident and obtain the following:
- Surveillance and other video footage of the accident
- Photos of the accident scene
- Witness testimony
- All police documents regarding the crash
- Medical records
- Expert witness testimony
If Your Case Goes to Trial
In Pennsylvania, many car accident cases settle outside of court without ever going before a judge or jury. However, the attorneys working on these cases still must prepare as if the case will go to trial.
When attorneys prepare a case for trial, it puts insurance companies on notice that you’re serious about getting a fair settlement. If the insurer fails to settle or engages in bad-faith tactics, you may need to take your claim to court.
Choosing the Right Car Accident Lawyer for Your Case
There are several red flags to look out for when choosing an attorney to represent you in a car accident case. Watch out for lawyers who promise “quick settlements” in 30 to 60 days, lawyers who urge you to sign contingency agreements without letting you read them over or ask questions, and lawyers with little to no experience in accident cases.
If a firm offers money as an incentive to sign with their firm, pushes you to settle for a lowball offer, or doesn’t pay personal attention to your case or check in with you often, run the other way.
“You should be talking to your attorney and/or paralegal staff at least once a month for sure. Here at Cordisco & Saile, we try to do it at least two to three times a month because I want to know every bit of information to help maximize the value of your claim.”
How Much Does Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
While some attorneys charge an hourly rate, most personal injury lawyers handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning that the attorney will take a percentage of your settlement or verdict award only after you win your case. For motor vehicle accidents, Cordisco & Saile operates on a contingency fee basis, with rates of 35 percent if the case settles pre-litigation and 40 percent if the case settles after litigation. We don’t charge any upfront fees. You don’t owe us a cent unless and until we recover compensation for you.
Get Help with Your Claim and Hire a Car Accident Attorney Today
If you’ve been involved in a car or truck accident in Pennsylvania, contact the personal injury attorneys at Cordisco & Saile. We can help you navigate the claims process and maximize your compensation. Our award-winning, nationally recognized team of attorneys fights for the people of Bucks County, Montgomery County, the Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia, New Jersey, and beyond. We’ve been practicing personal injury law for 30 years and have a proven record of recovering millions of dollars for our injured clients. We never stop fighting for your rights.
At Cordisco & Saile, our clients are like family—we see you as a person first and an accident victim second. If you choose us to fight for you, we won’t take it lightly. Contact us online or call 215-642-2335 today for a free consultation.
