Do I Need a Lawyer for a Car Accident?

When you’re in a car accident, your first step to recovery might be speaking to the insurance company about a settlement. If the other driver caused the accident, you should be compensated for the suffering you’ve experienced, and their insurer should provide that.

But, what if you’re struggling to reach a fair settlement with the insurance provider and need to take your claim to court? You’ll need to fight for your compensation, which could leave you wondering, “Do I need a lawyer for a car accident?”

Although attorneys are not required in many situations, their resources and experience can make a difference in your claim. If you’re struggling to reach a positive solution to your claim, you might need a lawyer from The Kindley Firm, APC, to help.

Getting Your Full Compensation

One of the most important services a lawyer can provide is calculating your claim’s worth. When you’re dealing with the aftermath of an auto accident, you might be considering the financial damages, such as the cost of your medical care, the lost income while you’re unable to work, and your property damages, for example.

What about the mental and emotional suffering you’ve experienced? You could need help calculating the cost of your intangible damages, such as emotional trauma, pain and suffering, and the emotional toll of your injuries.

Because these losses don’t have a physical bill attached to them, it can be tough to determine their worth. A car accident lawyer in California can help you with these calculations.

Understanding Negligence in California

When another driver is at fault for your accident, you have recourse to fight for your compensation. Victims of car accidents can file a claim with the insurance company, or when necessary, take the claim to court. Unfortunately, reaching a successful outcome in court is not always simple.

If you’re fighting for your compensation, you might need to do more than show that you were injured and that the other driver was responsible. You might also have to defend yourself if the other driver accuses you of partial negligence.

In California, these accusations can affect your compensation. For example, you were in a car accident, but you were eating food while driving. You didn’t cause the accident, but the other driver could argue that you weren’t paying enough attention to potentially prevent the accident.

In this case, you could be accused of being 20 percent at fault. Although you didn’t cause the accident and could still recover compensation, you might only receive 80 percent of the total compensation.

When you have medical bills to pay, this can bring added stress to your recovery. A car accident lawyer can help you fight for the full compensation you deserve.

A Car Accident Attorney Can Help

You might not be required to have a lawyer, but an attorney from the The Kindley Firm, APC, can be a valuable resource in the courtroom. You can take on your case alone, but a lawyer’s knowledge and experience can be vital to receive the full compensation you need to recover.

Car accident claims can be complex and time consuming. When you’re trying to heal, navigating the claims process can be stressful and frustrating. An attorney can help, beginning with a free consultation.

Ready to get started with your car accident claim? Reach out for help. Our attorneys can be contacted by calling 619-550-1313 or by completing the online form below.