One misconception many accident victims have is that a lawyer is an unnecessary expense. Some car accident survivors believe they can handle their own insurance claim, which means they won’t have to shell out any money for a lawyer. Unfortunately for them, many car accident victims find themselves in over their heads and without any ability to get fair compensation. What should have been easy—fill out a couple of forms and wait for a check—has instead become a nightmare for a personal injury claim.
Call Ponton Law. Our Sandy Springs, GA car accident lawyers have won millions of dollars in settlements for injured clients, and we know how to steer your claim safely through the process. Below, we look at when you should consider hiring a lawyer. Call our office if you have any questions.
Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer if You Suffered Bodily or Catastrophic Injuries
Experienced car accident attorneys are an excellent asset to have for anyone who has suffered a serious bodily injury in motor vehicle accidents. Did you need medical care from a doctor or at the hospital for your car accident injuries? Then chances are your injury is significant. For example, we have taken on personal injury cases where clients have suffered fractures, whiplash, concussions, back injuries, soft-tissue injuries, caused from the other driver.
A lawyer can negotiate a settlement to cover:
- Medical bills to treat your injuries. Think ambulance transportation, X-rays and other diagnostic tests, hospital visits, surgery, prescription medication, and more!
- Lost wages, if you had to miss work to recover. Bodily injuries make it impossible for many people to get out of bed.
- Pain and suffering, which compensate for the physical pain, inconvenience, and discomfort of bodily injuries.
A lawyer really proves their value when it comes to negotiating compensation for pain and suffering in a personal injury lawsuit. This is a very subjective category of damages. When it comes to medical care, your lawyer will ask to see bills and insurance statements—but this type of documentation does not exist to establish a market rate for pain and suffering from the accident scene. The insurance company will try to pay as little as possible. They might only offer a few thousand for what are major, long-lasting injuries.
You Can Handle Your Own Car Accident Lawsuit if You Suffered Only Property Damage
Some car accidents don’t result in bodily injuries. For example, someone might have crashed into your car while you were in the coffee shop ordering a latte. You are completely unscathed, but your car is damaged. You can probably handle this type of accident claim on your own.
With property damage, there is less controversy over the value of the claim. You will likely take your car to a body shop in the insurer’s network and receive an estimate for the cost of repairs. Then the insurer will pay up to the policy limit to get your vehicle fixed. Although disputes sometimes arise, they usually aren’t major.
You Should Hire a Lawyer Early for Your Car Accident Cases
When should you actually reach out to an attorney? Ideally, you will call as soon as possible. There is a lot of work that is required to handle a car accident claim, and your Sandy Springs car accident lawyer will benefit from a head start.
For example, your lawyer needs to prove fault for the crash—and that requires evidence of what happened. At Ponton Law, we often end up calling and speaking to witnesses who saw the wreck to get their perspective, or we ask them to come into the office to chat. Our personal injury attorneys might also walk around and speak to nearby business owners to see if they have surveillance cameras pointed toward the road. Video from these cameras is often useful.
The longer a victim waits, the more likely this evidence is to disappear. For example, a witness could move out of town, or a business owner could erase or record over their video footage. Thus, it’s critical to hire an experienced car accident lawyer early.
Some victims are in so much pain they don’t want to leave bed. We completely understand. Still, send your details online or ask a friend to call. We can come meet you to discuss the accident.
It’s Not Too Late to Call to Recover Compensation
Many of our clients tried to handle their case to start, only to realize they had no idea what they were doing. Or they have started negotiating with an insurance company and are unsure of whether they are receiving a good deal.
Call Ponton Law. It’s almost never too late to seek a lawyer’s help. So long as you haven’t accepted a settlement, we can jump in and ensure you are getting a good deal. We’ll review a settlement proposal and study your medical records from your severe injuries. Based on what we find, we might reject the offer and continue to negotiate for more.
Ponton Law is Affordable
Probably the #1 reason people don’t call a lawyer is the expense. They have no money and, even worse, probably cannot work after the accident. They are feeling intense financial stress.
The good news is we don’t charge upfront legal fees to hire us. Instead, Ponton Law will agree to do all the work in exchange for a share of whatever settlement you receive. It really is that easy. If for some reason we don’t win your case, then you won’t owe us legal fees.
This type of contingency fee agreement works well for all sides. We have an incentive to only accept cases that we think have merit. And we are motivated to get as much compensation for our clients as possible, since that increases our share of compensation as well.
Call to Speak with a Sandy Springs Car Accident Lawyer
The days following a car wreck are confusing. You might feel as if your world has been thrown into chaos. The information you find online could be confusing, or you are unsure of whether you really have a case. Call Ponton Law to talk with our legal team. Our personal injury law firm has ample experience in car accident cases and has won settlements for those hurt in rollovers, rear-end collisions, and more. We can offer a free consultation, so there is no risk to reaching out for legal representation for your auto accident injuries.