Written on July 7, 2021.
Written by James J. Kirshbaum. Posted in Car Accidents.
Are you wondering what to do after a car crash?
There are a lot of issues to address after an accident:
- What do I do about my damaged car?
- Can I get a rental car to drive until my car is repaired?
- Where should I go for medical help if I have been hurt?
- Who will pay for my medical expenses?
- What if I am unable to work?
- Can I make a claim against the other driver if the crash was not my fault?
Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney after a car crash can help you in more ways than you can imagine. You need someone who can help guide you and to be your advocate through the entire claim process. But what can an attorney do for me that I cannot do myself?
Something that people do not realize is that, although the agent that sold you your insurance policy was looking out for your best interest in getting you the best possible coverage at the best price, everyone else employed by the insurance company that you chose is more interested in the well-being of the insurance company than in yours. Insurance adjusters are not your friends. Their jobs are to literally pay out as little as possible in order to keep the insurance company stockholders happy.
So what will an experienced personal injury attorney do for me?
You have two separate claims following a car crash
Most people do not realize that they have two completely separate claims usually against different insurance companies following a crash. One claim is against your own insurance company (no-fault, also known as personal injury protection or PIP) and one claim against the insurance company for the driver that caused the accident. Some people don’t realize it, but this claim may be against the insurance company for the driver of your car if you were a passenger. This could be the case even in a one car accident.
No-Fault (PIP) claim
Every car owner in Minnesota is required to carry basic PIP protection on their vehicle. You may be covered under the insurance on a car you own, a car a family member owns or possibly the car you were in at the time of the crash. This coverage is often referred to as No-Fault insurance since it makes no difference if you or someone else was at fault in causing the accident in which you are injured. PIP coverage gives you at least $20,000 in medical expense coverage and a separate pool of $20,000 in coverage for wage loss and other economic protection benefits. If you are injured in an accident you need to contact your own insurance company right away to open a no-fault claim and to obtain a claim number to give to medical providers you see for treatment so they get paid.
No-fault insurance coverage can be very complicated. An experienced personal injury attorney will be able to help you navigate your way through your claim to make sure you get all benefits to which you are entitled and have paid premiums for and to make sure your own insurance company does not take advantage of you (pro tip – they ALWAYS try to do so). They do not tell you what benefits you are entitled to; you have to ASK for them.
Third-party (at fault driver) liability claim
If someone else caused your accident you may have a claim against them that an experienced personal injury attorney can help guide you through. If the accident is the fault of the other driver, you can make a claim against his insurance company for disability, pain and suffering and other damages if you cross any one of the following thresholds:
- $4,000.00 in medical expenses.
- 60 days of inability to work or perform substantially all of your normal daily activities.
- A permanent injury or disfigurement verified by your doctor.
Your experienced personal injury attorney will outline a strategy from his experience that will strengthen your case. He will help guide you to medical professionals that are specialists at dealing with YOUR injuries. He will gather all the necessary documents essential to your case and eventually, if a threshold is crossed, he will approach the insurance company on your behalf.
Communication
As a party involved in the accident, make sure that you don’t talk to anyone about the case. Anything you say can turn into a piece of evidence against you without you realizing it. Attorneys are meticulous about communicating the right message and avoiding any statement that can potentially bring you harm. Once you hire an attorney, they become your representative and your voice. Ensure all the contact with the opposing party’s insurance company is through your attorney.
Investigation
Sometimes, a car crash case may require reconstruction at the accident site by an independent expert to see who is responsible. An experienced attorney has the experience, networking, and resources to get the best people to work and ensure that your compensation is fair and transparent.
Talking to Witnesses
Your experienced personal injury attorney will do all the talking and ask each of the witnesses what they saw. Attorneys speak to as many people as possible involved in the case, including your friends and family members who can help piece together the story of how your injuries have affected your life.
Assessment
Your final compensation depends on the type of accident, the injuries involved, and the damages that result from it. Insurance companies can fight back when it comes to paying for everything you are entitled to. You may get a dispute from them about the claim related to the damages, pain and suffering and medical expenses. While it can be confusing for you, attorneys know and understand the right approach to handle such disputes. It requires precise and detailed case submission and evaluation of the documents and other evidence. An experience personal injury attorney will do everything to fight back.
Negotiation
In most cases, a pre-trial negotiation is an effective and easy way to resolve a car accident case. Although this can save you from a lot of legal involvement, many people simply don’t know how to negotiate a settlement in their best interest. It can easily lead to under-compensation due to undervaluation. With an experienced attorney working for your interest, you can rule out the possibility of getting tricked in a negotiation.
Defense
Some car accident cases can end in a trial. If out of the court negotiations don’t work, you need an experienced attorney to represent your case in a courtroom to the jury or judge. You can bet that the insurance companies will hire the best attorneys to fight against your interest. You would also benefit from hiring the best trial attorney you are able to.
Get help from a car accident attorney at Kirshbaum Injury Law today.
Are you looking for the best attorney in your area? Count the Kirshbaum Injury Law Law Firm, to be by your side. With decades of experience, our professional attorneys have helped hundreds of people involved in a car accident in Minnesota. The person who caused your accident and subsequent injuries must be held accountable for their actions, and our experienced personal injury attorneys knows how to make that happen.
It may be the first time you’ve had to deal with a car accident. However, our attorneys do it every day. We know the little tricks that insurance companies try to use. We know how to get the evidence that can support case, and we know the laws in Minnesota that will work for you.
Another significant advantage of having us represent you is that you will not have to deal with any more stress while recovering after your accident. A lawyer will take care of everything so that you can focus on more important things, such as recovering your health.
Are you in the Twin Cities, Maple Grove area or greater Minnesota? Are you curious about what else an accident attorney at our law firm can do for you? Call us for a free consultation reach us through our contact page today.
Written By James J. Kirshbaum
Jim is a very experienced trial lawyer having conducted jury trials in multiple states both on behalf of injured people and on behalf of defending insurance companies.
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