Do I need an Auto Accident Attorney?
Sadly, the answer to this question is “Probably.” Even if the car accident is not your fault and you were injured, as a result, you probably will need an attorney’s help. The reason is that the insurance company insuring the at-fault party is not in the business of paying claims such as yours if they can avoid it.
But there are times you probably do not need an attorney. For example, if your accident involved only property damage on both sides, you do not need an attorney. Likewise, if the injuries were very minor (bumps and bruises) with no time missed from work, you should be able to handle your claim on your own.
When should you hire an auto accident lawyer? That’s up to you, of course, but there are situations when you should probably get an attorney involved. Examples of those situations are when:
• You suffer an injury that requires you to seek immediate medical help;
• You suffer any significant lacerations or broken bones or any head injury;
• Your injury requires you to miss more than a few days of work;
• Your injury results in you suffering a long-term partial or total disability;
• Your injuries result in severe financial hardship;
• Your injury leaves you in chronic pain;
• Your injury leaves you with permanent scarring;
• A loved one is killed;
• The car accident was caused by the other party’s gross negligence and resulted in injury (DUI/DWI cases are a good example of this)
The facts of each car accident are different. Therefore, you may wish to consult with a car accident attorney before you settle your case with the insurance company. Merritt Webb offers a free initial consultation, so there is no downside to speaking with an auto accident attorney to see if you have a case.
Not Legal Advice: Merritt Webb provides the information on this website as a public service. This website offers general information about the law only and hence is not intended to be, nor can it be, actual legal advice on any specific matter for any particular person. The use of information on this website or any link connected to this website or any form offered by this website cannot be taken as establishing any contractual, de facto, implied or other form of attorney-client privilege or relationship between Merritt Webb and the reader or user of this information, links, forms or documents found herein. Merritt Webb does not guarantee such forms, links, documents and information. Merritt Webb can only be responsible for the use of such information, forms or documents if they have been provided by Merritt Webb pursuant to an attorney client relationship between it and the user.
No guarantee as to currency of information: Due to how quickly the law can change without advance notice, the information contained in this website is not and cannot be guaranteed always to be completely up-to-date. We try to keep it current with frequent updates and review, but that is not always possible on a day-to-day basis.
No attorney-client relationship: No one can establish an attorney-client relationship with Merritt Webb merely by the use of this website or by sending or receiving information through this site or using any forms herein. Nor is any general information or document found on this website or sent to Merritt Webb unsolicited through this website considered privileged or confidential. An attorney-client relationship with Merritt Webb can be established ONLY by an express and written agreement signed by a Merritt Webb attorney to represent you.
Website responsibility: The attorneys responsible for this site are Joy Rhyne Webb (NC), 2525 Meridian Parkway, Suite 300, Durham, NC 27713 and Heather Caruso (SC, TN), 8910 Two Notch Road, Suite 400, Columbia, SC 29223.