After you've been injured in an accident, you may want to consider filing a claim for reimbursement for your injuries and, if your property loss was greater than your insurance coverage, for your property damage as well. It's good to hire a motor vehicle accident lawyer in particular, versus just a general attorney or someone with another type of specialty. Note a few questions that you might have about hiring such an attorney and then be sure to discuss your case with such a lawyer to get more specific information about a claim you might have.
Why hire a motor vehicle accident lawyer in particular?
Lawyers often have specialties the way doctors have specialties because they need to remember the details of so many laws that apply to a certain type of case. They may also need to understand insurance policies and their terminology, as they apply to car accidents.
Additionally, a lawyer with a specialty is more likely to be up to date on cases that are similar to yours, including how much compensation accident victims may have gotten in recent court cases. This makes them the better choice for a motor vehicle accident claim in particular than a general lawyer, who may not be as knowledgeable about your type of claim and the compensation you should request.
What if the accident was my fault?
While a claim usually requires another party to be at fault, note that the other party may need to be only partially at fault for you to file a claim. Don't assume that you don't have a claim in any case, as there may be circumstances surrounding your accident that you're overlooking; discuss the details with an accident attorney and let him or her determine if the accident was truly your fault or if a claim can still be filed.
What does the compensation include?
Your medical expenses are obviously included in this compensation, but note that this might also include your costs for rehabilitative services if you should need physical therapy due to the accident. You can also be compensated for lost wages as well as pain and suffering and even loss of enjoyment of life. The compensation you receive will always depend on the nature and extent of your injuries and how they affect you long-term, and your attorney can usually advise you on the best amount to request when you decide to file a claim.
Share18 July 2016
I love all of those quirky laws that are still on the law book. It's a little hobby of mine to track down some of those laws and try and work out if there was a story behind how they got on the books. I've been doing it for 14 years and have accumulated a lot of material that I have researched. I thought it would be fun to start a blog with some of these stories to share with other people who like to know a little more about law and about history. I hope you enjoy my site.