A lot of people are intimidated by the prospects of hiring an attorney for their car accident claim, because they have no idea what to expect. Below is a brief outline of what a personal injury attorney can do for you, and how they will go about doing it. If you have been injured in an auto accident, a Bellevue personal injury lawyer may be able to help you receive compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A good lawyer knows that auto accident lawsuits aren’t one-size-fits-all, and the specific actions he or she will take to help you get the settlement or court judgment you deserve will depend on a careful analysis of the facts of your case and the evidence available.
Evidence your lawyer will review
Different cases have different fact patterns, but some of the more common types of evidence that come up in Bellevue auto accident cases include:
- Police accident reports
- Medical bills and records of your injury
- Witness statements
- Photos of the scene of the accident
Your attorney may look into these details himself, or may hire an investigator to do so. How effective your lawyer will be in investigating the facts of your case depends in large part on the information you give him during your initial interview. Be completely honest when answering your attorney’s questions. In order for a personal injury attorney to get you the best possible outcome for your claim, they need to know any weaknesses that they will have to prepare for if the case goes to trial. Along these same lines, you need to be 100% honest with the insurance company and any doctor they send you to. It is important, however, to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney before speaking with the insurance companies so you can be prepared to answer the questions they will ask.
Communicating with insurers and developing your case
Your lawyer will also handle communication with the insurance company for the driver who caused your auto accident. After retaining an attorney, you should not talk to the insurance company at all.
Your lawyer will present your case in the most favorable way possible, but may need you to help by:
- Providing the names and phone numbers of any possible witnesses
- Following your doctor’s medical advice
- Trying to recover from your injury
- Keeping track of medical bills and other accident-related expenses
- Keeping records about lost wages if your injury causes you to miss work
Knowledge is your ally — read our FREE book
Navigating the insurance claims process can be a headache that you don’t need while you’re trying to recover from your injuries. Bellevue personal injury attorney Jason Epstein knows this, and has been helping victims of injuries recover from serious auto accident injuries for over ten years. He has collected his knowledge into an easy to read book entitled The Truth About Washington Auto Accidents. His book compiles his years of experience into some simple tips to help you avoid the common pitfalls of moving your case forward. This book is available to Washington State residents for free. Order now on our website.
Jason at premier law group is truly an outstanding individual. Our particular case was not something that their firm usually sees but they were more than willing to help us and give us all of the information they had available. I can't recommend them enough.