subject: Should You Hire An Accident Attorney? [print this page] Everyone wants to be safeEveryone wants to be safe. We wash our fruits and vegetables before eating them. We wear helmets when riding our bikes. We wear seat belts when driving our cars. That is why it is so frustrating when we are injured because of the negligent or reckless behavior of someone else. When this happens, we deserve to be compensated for our injuries and financial losses.
Circumstances differ from victim to victim, and hiring an accident lawyer is not always necessary. If you were injured in an accident, the other driver's insurance company will likely offer compensation that will not cover all of the expenses needed just to pay your medical bills, let alone repairs to your damaged vehicle and lost wages. When this occurs, hiring an accident attorney may be a good decision.
In a country with so many cars on the road, car accidents happen all too often. The circumstances surrounding each accident are different. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you may want to consider hiring an accident attorney to handle your case. Discussed here are three circumstances in which you might want to hire an attorney:
Property Damage: Damage to property is obviously one thing that will happen in a car accident. It is, however, usually not necessary to hire a lawyer in such cases. An accident attorney will typically be able to get you roughly the same amount that the insurance adjuster of the offending party will offer. Before accepting an insurance company's offer of settlement, however, always compare the quote against the Blue Book value of the vehicle. In cases where your car is a historic vehicle or collector's item, getting the full value not the Blue Book value may require the assistance of an attorney.
Minor Injuries: Cases involving minor injuries is a bit more complicated than just property damage cases. Typically, medical bills for minor injuries do not exceed $1,000. It may be easier and you may receive your settlement money more quickly if you negotiate with the insurance company yourself. Don't just accept any offer, however. If you believe the offer will not be adequate to cover all of your losses, consult with an accident attorney.
Serious Injuries: In accidents involving serious injuries, you may want to consider hiring an injury attorney. Negotiating with insurance adjusters for compensation in serious injury cases will place you at a disadvantage. Insurance companies have vast resources, and they will do all they can to settle for the smallest amount possible. An experienced attorney can help you calculate all of your damages including future medical expenses and diminished earning capacity to ensure you are receiving just payment for all of your losses.
Whether or not you hire an accident attorney will depend on the circumstances surrounding your accident. In Chicago, accident victims can turn to Shannon Law Group, P.C. for experienced representation. Mr. Shannon has been representing victims in auto accident cases for 20 years. His firm works on a contingency fee basis in all personal injury cases. Call 866-881-9980 or visit http://www.shannonlawgroup.com to learn more about the firm.
