3 Surprising Reasons It's Important To Call An Attorney After A Car Accident

Even a seemingly minor car accident can result in serious injuries, yet many people assume they can work directly with an insurance company, or assume their injuries aren't so severe that an attorney would be needed. In truth, there are many reasons why a person should always call a car accident attorney when they've been injured in any type of auto accident, and some of those reasons might surprise you.

1. You may have future injuries for which you would be financially liable

Some injuries take weeks to appear after a car accident, simply because the muscles in the back, legs, and other areas may be in a form of shock so that their injuries are not immediately felt. Other muscles may compensate for the damage done to the muscles in the back or legs so a person doesn't realize that their injuries are so severe.

This is one reason to call a car accident attorney after any type of accident, as you may assume you've been diagnosed with all the injuries you've suffered from the accident. If you were to sign a settlement agreement based on this assumption or let too much time pass after an accident before filing a claim, you may lose out on your right to have the insurance company pay for those injuries.

2. There may be other parties at fault for your accident

If you've been hit by a commercial vehicle, you may have a claim against the company that owned the vehicle and not just the driver. If you were hit by a drunk driver, you may have a claim against the place where he or she was drinking, if they allowed them to leave their establishment while obviously intoxicated.

Rather than assume that a settlement from one party is the end of your case, it's good to call an attorney so he or she can note if there are other parties at fault.

3. A settlement offer may not be so generous

One common reason that many people don't call a car accident attorney is that they've been offered a settlement by the insurance company which they assume is very generous. In truth, you may be entitled to much more money than you realize. A car accident attorney will know the standard settlement amounts for a case like yours and will know if you should take someone to court to get a fair amount based on your injuries, property damage, and other such factors.

Visit a website like http://www.mccreadylaw.com to learn more about your legal options after you've been involved in a car accident.