Car accident injury lawyers help victims seek financial restitution after a crash, including compensation for medical bills, lost wages and property damage. They may also pursue punitive damages if the other driver committed a particularly egregious act that rose to the level of moral turpitude.
Promptly reporting a car accident to the police helps strengthen an injury victim’s case. It also allows law enforcement to investigate the incident and prepare an official report. Failing to contact authorities or file a claim within the required time limit puts an injury victim’s right to compensation in jeopardy.
To strengthen their clients’ cases, car accident injury attorneys examine crash details and evidence, assessing the following factors:
Insurance Coverage
Lawyers review the insurance coverage of all parties involved in a car accident. They determine the extent to which a policy covers the liable party’s liability and whether additional coverage, such as uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM) protection, may be available.
Insurance Company Negotiation Skills
A car accident injury attorney evaluates the potential for a satisfactory settlement with the at-fault insurance company. If a satisfactory resolution cannot be reached, an experienced lawyer may have to take the case to trial.
Medical Records
Car accident injury attorneys review medical records to link specific injuries to the crash, establishing a direct cause-and-effect relationship. They may also consider the impact of comparative negligence laws on possible compensation amounts.
Property Damage
The amount of property damage to a client’s vehicle and other possessions is taken into account when seeking compensation for lost property. Lawyers also assess the impact of property damage on a person’s quality of life, considering how much it will cost to repair or replace the damaged items.
Damages to Personal Well-Being
A person’s quality of life after a car accident can be significantly diminished, depending on the extent to which they are injured. Injuries requiring hospitalization or surgery, and those that leave a person with permanent limitations, might require extensive rehabilitation and long-term care. In addition, a person might suffer emotional and psychological trauma from the collision that affects their daily functioning.
Litigation Experience
A car accident attorney with years of litigation experience understands relevant court procedures and employs successful legal strategies in a lawsuit. They have successfully taken cases to verdict, so they know what it takes to win a favorable judgment for their clients.
A reputable New York car accident injury lawyer will take the time to learn as much about their clients and their needs as they can, in order to help them get the best possible result. They may also offer flexible and creative fee structures that do not put their clients in a financial bind while they are recovering from their injuries. Often, they work on a contingency basis, meaning that they get paid only if they win the case. This arrangement provides people with access to quality legal representation who might otherwise be unable to afford it. For example, the firm of Rheingold, Giuffra, Ruffo & Plotkin has a team of dedicated New York City car accident lawyers who represent victims of serious crashes.
