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What Does a Car Accident Lawyer Do? | Karl Truman Law Office

When Should You Hire a Lawyer After a Car Accident?

June 9, 2021

Most people involved in serious car accidents have never been in a similar situation before. It can be challenging, especially when you are facing damages such as medical bills and lost wages.

The uncertainty surrounding your situation, including how you will pay your bills, can be overwhelming, which may have you wondering when the right time is to hire a car accident lawyer.

Here, we take a look at some of the situations where we recommend working with a lawyer as soon as possible. However, for advice specific to your situation, we recommend receiving a free case evaluation from a car accident attorney, which will give you some helpful insight without furthering your burden. 

You Suffered Serious Injuries

Whenever your injuries are serious, it causes a few complications that may warrant hiring an attorney. 

First, serious injuries usually mean serious medical bills. If you require surgery, hospital stays, or ongoing medical treatment, these bills add up quickly and may be far more than you can afford. This means that the stakes are high for you and your family. These bills could pose a substantial long-term burden. 

Second, when there is a lot of money at stake, it means insurance companies are more likely to fight your claim. These companies are, at the end of the day, for-profit organizations that do what they can to maximize their bottom lines. They might seem kind and reassuring, but rest assured they are not on your side. 

Finally, if you are trying to heal from your injuries, it can make it difficult to focus on your legal situation. Hiring a lawyer can allow you to focus on getting better while also giving you the legal insight and experience you need to pursue maximum compensation and hold insurance companies accountable. 

You Suspect Negligence May Have Caused Your Accident

To recover compensation, someone else’s negligence must have caused it. This could include:

  • Distracted driving
  • Drowsy driving
  • Driving under the influence
  • Wreckless or aggressive driving

You may also suspect negligence on the part of a manufacturer who produced a defective vehicle part. 

Regardless, the point is that you must be able to prove another party’s negligence caused the accident and directly led to your injuries and damages. 

In many cases, this requires a thorough investigation, which is another reason hiring a car accident attorney can be helpful. 

You’ve Received a Lowball Settlement Offer

If an insurance company knows their customer’s negligence caused the accident, they may offer you a settlement. But don’t be fooled. These initial settlement offers are usually lowball offers that would not fairly compensate you for your damages. 

That said, you might not have a good understanding of how much your claim is worth in the first place. To calculate the appropriate amount, you need to understand not only the immediate and long-term economic damages you are facing, but also the non-economic damages, including pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and more. 

Working with a lawyer can help you come to the right amount and more effectively negotiate with insurance companies to recover that amount. 

Your Case Is Going to Court

If an insurance company refuses to provide a fair settlement offer, your best option may be to file a lawsuit and take your case to court. However, knowing the right time to escalate to a lawsuit is not simple. There are many things to consider, including how low their offer is compared to what you deserve, how willing you are to extend your case’s timeline, and how strong your evidence is. 

Despite the potential drawbacks, we firmly believe going to court can be the right – and sometimes only – option for keeping an insurance company accountable. However, it does complicate your case and we would strongly caution taking a case to court without the representation of an experienced car accident attorney. 

You Lost a Loved One in an Accident

Few things are as heartbreaking as losing a loved one in an accident. Not only is the emotional toll and mental struggle often debilitating, but it might also cause financial difficulties, including funeral expenses and lost income. 

As with accidents that involve serious injuries, accidents that lead to wrongful death often involve substantial amounts of money. However, you can still expect the insurance company to fight your claim and try to avoid liability for the accident. 

Working with a lawyer who has experience with wrongful death claims can help make sure you pursue the compensation you need and deserve while allowing you and your family to heal. 

Contact a Louisville Car Accident Lawyer Today

While we hope this gives you a better understanding of when and why you should consider hiring a lawyer after a car accident, we know that every car accident case is different and you probably still have questions about how to navigate your situation. 

If this is the case, we encourage you to reach out to the Louisville, Kentucky car accident attorneys at the Karl Truman Law Office. For more than 25 years, we have provided compassionate, aggressive legal representation for car accident victims, and we are here to help you. 


Please call us at (502) 222-2222 for a free initial consultation.