When my husband I decided to start a business, we didn't think about the legal aspects of doing so. We didn't realize that purchasing business insurance, getting building permits and making investments all required some type of legal advice. But after speaking to a close friend, who also happens to own a small business, we contacted a business attorney. Now, we have the legal smarts to make the best decisions for our business, as well as the legal representation in case something happens to our company. I hope that you find my blog helpful and informative for your own business. It's a great resource for finding the legal advice, resources and guidance you need to get your company up and running.
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What Is An Auto Accident Attorney, And When Do You Need One?
Ronnie Mills
Getting into a car accident, especially if it wasn't your fault, is a stressful situation. Depending on the damage and whose fault the accident was, you could hire a car accident attorney to take the other driver to court. If you've never gone through the process before, an attorney is a great resource to have by your side.
What Is an Auto Accident Attorney?
An auto accident attorney is the type of lawyer that specializes in car accident lawsuits. They have the most knowledge and experience trying these cases. If you've been in an accident, it would be best to hire a car accident attorney versus any other type because of their experience, and they keep up to date with all the laws.
What Does an Auto Accident Attorney Do?
If your case goes to court, your attorney will represent you and fight for your case to the best of their ability.
Other tasks your attorney will do include:
- Deal with your insurance company
- Recreate the accident to investigate
- Find all liable parties
- All paperwork and documentation
- Fight for the most compensation
- Negotiations with the other driver
- Settlements
How to Know When to Call a Lawyer
If you've been in a fender bender and there have been no injuries and little to no damage, you will most likely not need to hire an attorney. A good rule of thumb is if you or a passenger in your car have been injured, or if there's significant property damage, you most likely will want to hire an auto accident attorney.
Other ways to know you may need to hire an attorney include:
- The accident occurred in a school zone
- The crash was with an uninsured driver
- The crash occurred in a construction zone
- The accident also involves a pedestrian or cyclist
- The fault is not clear
- You disagree with a police report
What Your Attorney Will Need
To give your attorney the best chance of fighting for your case, they will need some of the following:
- To know exactly what happened
- Police report
- Photos of accident and damage
- Witness statements
- Medical records (if an injury occurred)
- Medical receipts (if an injury occurred)
Never hide anything from your lawyer; they are on your side. If you hide information or evidence from your lawyer, they cannot properly fight for you.
How Is an Auto Accident Attorney Paid?
Most often, car accident attorneys are paid using a contingency fee. A contingency fee means if you and your lawyer end up losing the case, your lawyer will receive zero compensation for the work they did. If you win a settlement in court, your lawyer will receive a percentage of the money won.
The contingency fee will vary by law firm and location. Always make sure to have a written contract with your lawyer before hiring them to represent you. This way, all the fees that can be charged will need to be mapped out in that contract.
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