What Happens If You Don't Get A Lawyer For A Car Accident?

The issue of whether to hire an automobile accident lawyer crosses most people's minds when they are starting to realize that they are hurt and will need to pursue legal action. On one hand, the lawyer will get a portion of your settlement if you bring them on board. On the other hand, you'll find that many things can happen if you don't hire a lawyer. What will it look like without a lawyer?

You're Not Obligated to Have a Lawyer

First of all, it's important to know that you don't absolutely have to have a lawyer if you don't want to. In situations that are straightforward and with minimal injuries, it may be beneficial to work directly with the insurance company. But if the situation gets complicated, you may regret not having a lawyer deal with it from the start. Personal injury attorneys usually charge a fixed rate for their services, so if you end up doing a lot of legwork yourself and then handing the case over to a lawyer later on when you find that you're over your head, then you'll probably feel like you wasted some of your own time. Just be sure, if you decide not to hire a lawyer, that you have the skills and time to complete the entire process. 

You May Front More Out of Pocket Costs

You can also get into a sticky situation if you find yourself with a lot of medical bills. Sure, the insurance company is going to cover those if it's found that you're not at fault. The problem is that it can take months or years to settle an insurance claim. In the meanwhile, you can find yourself with thousands of dollars missing from your bank account while you're waiting for a settlement check. Most people handle this by having great insurance coverage or by going through a lawyer to write medical liens for them, essentially saying that the money will be paid out of the settlement. 

You May Find Yourself Lowballed

Another potential issue is the back and forth that comes with auto insurance companies. An insurance adjuster may play on your lack of experience with car accidents in order to give you a settlement amount that is lower than what they know you could get. An automobile accident lawyer has more experience to draw on when figuring out what the fairest settlement amount is. 

Contact a lawyer, like Clifford Raihala SC, for more help.

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