Though being in a car accident can feel like an isolating experience, you’re far from alone. Over 36,000 collisions happen each day across the US, so accident attorneys are well-equipped to handle a wide range of cases.
Here, we’ll talk about what personal injury law firms do and how you can choose appropriate representation. Continue reading for information you need to know before hiring a Beverly Hills car accident lawyer.
How Can an Attorney Maximize Accident Compensation?
An experienced car accident attorney can help maximize accident compensation by exercising strategic approaches throughout the legal process.
Additionally, there are several benefits to hiring an experienced accident lawyer, including:
- Professional resources for gathering evidence
- Legal knowledge that makes assembling a case easier
- Saving you time trying to create your own case
- Higher compensation with expert negotiations
- Options for alternative dispute methods
California is a state that operates on comparative negligence. This means that fault in a motor vehicle accident is distributed between all drivers by percentages.
You may be 20% at fault for an accident while the other driver is 80% at fault. It may be a 40/60 split in your favor or a 70/30 split in favor of the other driver. No matter what, the amount of damages you can recover will depend on your percentage of fault.
That’s why the first goal of an experienced accident lawyer is to prove that you bear the lowest percentage of fault possible to ensure you get the maximum available compensation for your injury.
Proving Fault
Determining fault involves collecting evidence like:
- Police records
- Eyewitness accounts
- Images of post-accident injuries
- Photos of vehicle damage
Lawyers may also:
- Examine the scene of the accident
- Pull security footage if it’s available
- Hire accident reconstruction experts to try to recreate and understand what happened
They’ll also look at how much you can recover based on:
- Medical records
- Medical bills sent to you
- Bills for physical therapy
- Bills for mental health therapy
- Pay stubs if you want compensation for lost wages
- When you’ll be able to go back to work and start earning again
Some documents, particularly medical records, may be subpoenaed for quicker access.
Determining Compensation
A knowledgeable car accident lawyer in Beverly Hills will then tell you what types of compensation you might receive. Some common damages include:
- Compensation for medical bills
- Money to cover missed time at work and the wages you lost
- Temporary or permanent disability
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damage to your vehicle
- Non-financial damages like pain and suffering
Looking at the medical and financial documents they pulled can help attorneys understand how much compensation you can get in these areas.
They’ll tell you a ballpark figure that you can shoot for during the settlement process. They’ll give you information on how much you can expect in both the best-case and worst-case scenarios.
They’ll also communicate how much you’re likely to get based on:
- Similar cases they’ve handled in the past
- The fault that you bear vs the fault that the other driver bears
- The specific insurance policies of both you and the other driver
Negotiating a Settlement
At this point, you’ll have a pretty clear picture of what to expect. This is when the negotiation process begins.
Your lawyer will advocate for you when talking to representatives from the other driver’s insurance agency. The insurance company won’t want to give you a good offer initially since they want to save money. Your lawyer’s job is to bring the offer up to something fair.
They know how to communicate effectively with these representatives without falling for traps and pitfalls. This is critical. Those who try to advocate for themselves often dig themselves into a hole while experienced lawyers don’t fall for those tricks.
Attorneys will communicate with you every step of the way. They’ll:
- Inform you about offers from the insurance company
- Answer questions about the negotiation process
- Provide settlement negotiation tips about when you should take an offer
Almost all car crash cases reach settlements without going to court. However, if yours is among the 3-5% of cases that go to court, your lawyer will also assist you there.
How to Choose a Beverly Hills Car Accident Lawyer
Choosing a Beverly Hills personal injury attorney can be daunting if you don’t know where to start.
Luckily, you can begin making an effective decision with some simple online research like:
- Searching for lawyers who specialize in auto accidents
- Thoroughly browsing the credentials on their website
- Reading online reviews about the law firms to ensure they can be trusted
- Browsing internet forums and interacting with past clients there
We’re confident that Titan Law Firm is the best choice for those seeking compensation in Beverly Hills. However, it’s important to do your own research about our firm and competitors so you can feel confident in your informed decision.
Talk With Car Accident Attorneys Directly
Once you have a comprehensive understanding of what makes your choice stand out, book a consultation online or by phone. Consultations are an opportunity to ask questions, including:
- Do you think I have a case?
- How much experience do you have?
- What is your education-related credentials?
- What fees do you charge?
- Do you operate on contingency fees?
- How long will my case take?
- Can you tell me about a time you took a case like mine?
- What is your success rate for similar cases?
- How will you communicate with me throughout my case?
Make sure that you get direct answers and transparent communication. Above all, your lawyer has to be someone you’re comfortable talking to and asking questions of. They’ll be guiding you through the legal process, so you need to be able to trust that they’ll be open and honest about proceedings.
Contact the Car Accident Lawyers at Titan Law Firm Today
We hope now you have a little better understanding of how a car accident lawyer can help maximize your settlement. At Titan Law Firm, our attorneys are committed to helping you understand your case better and gathering the evidence you need to help you secure the maximum compensation for your injuries.
Get in touch with us today to find out how we can help you with your car accident case. Call 888.848.2656 now or schedule a Free Case Evaluation here.
