A car accident can happen in a flash and leave you facing uncertainty you didn’t expect. In an instant, a normal drive can turn into a crash that leaves you dealing with vehicle damage, injuries, medical treatment, and difficult conversations with insurance companies. Perhaps the most difficult part of the process for many people is not the accident itself but what happens afterward.
In 2022, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were over 5.2 million police-reported motor vehicle crashes in the United States, and over 2.3 million people were injured in the crashes. These numbers show how common serious crashes are and why having the right car accident lawyer can make a real difference.
Motor vehicle accidents remain one of the leading causes of personal injury claims in the United States. Whether it involves a passenger car, a truck, or a motorcycle, the legal and financial consequences of a motor vehicle accident can quickly become complicated. Insurance companies often begin evaluating a claim almost immediately after it is filed, which can significantly affect how the case is resolved.
At Goldman Daszkal and Stallone, our attorneys have extensive experience helping accident victims navigate these situations with confidence. We represent individuals and families after serious car, truck, motorcycle, and other motor vehicle accidents.
Understanding Your Accident and What’s at Stake
Before comparing accident attorneys, it helps to understand your case and what compensation you may be entitled to recover. Not all crashes are the same. The type of accident can affect who is at fault and how much compensation you may be able to recover:
- Rear-end collisions are commonly caused by drivers following too closely or failing to stop in time.
- Side-impact crashes, such as T-bone accidents at intersections
- Head-on collisions, which are a common cause of serious car accident injuries.
- Multi-vehicle collisions, including highway pileups.
- Single vehicle wrecks, where roadway hazards or defective parts may be involved.
There are also different types of car and motor vehicle cases, such as:
- Standard passenger car accident
- Large commercial truck accident
- Motorcycle accident with unique visibility and injury issues
- An accident involving a pedestrian or a bicycle
Each situation may require a slightly different strategy from your personal injury lawyer and may affect the amount of your claim. The details of your case will shape how an experienced attorney builds your claim, including:
- The severity of your injuries and the type of vehicle involved (car, truck, or motorcycle)
- Whether a driver was distracted, speeding, or running a red light.
- Whether alcohol, unsafe road conditions, or vehicle defects were involved.
- How clearly the evidence shows who was at fault for the accident
It helps if you can explain your situation clearly when you set up a free consultation with a personal injury law firm.
Why You Should Consider Hiring a Car Accident Attorney
It is essential to find the right accident attorney to ensure your rights are fully protected after a car accident. Not all law firms approach injury cases the same way, and your attorney’s experience can make a significant difference in the outcome.
You are not always required to hire a car accident attorney, but doing so often makes a significant difference in a personal injury claim.
An auto accident lawyer can:
- Explain your legal rights after being involved in a car accident.
- Handle communication with insurance companies.
- Investigate the collision by gathering photos of the accident scene, witness statements, and police reports.
- Help you report the accident properly and within the required legal deadlines.
- Calculate the value of your claim depending on how serious your injuries are, the amount of lost wages, and other losses.
- File a car accident claim or injury lawsuit, if necessary.
- Take your case to court if a fair settlement cannot be reached.
A good car accident lawyer will be able to help you focus on healing while the law firm helps you with your legal process and paperwork. Insurance companies often try to minimize their payouts.
Without good legal representation, you may:
- Accept a settlement offer that does not fully cover your medical expenses and lost wages
- Underestimate future costs related to your auto accident injuries
- Say something to an insurance adjuster that can be later used against you
- Miss deadlines to make a car accident case or a personal injury case
For that reason, many accident victims choose to speak with an attorney soon after a crash. A personal injury attorney can ensure that all aspects of the accident are properly investigated and that compensation for injuries and medical bills is pursued with the insurance companies.
What to Look For When Hiring a Car Wreck Attorney
The type of car accident lawyer you hire can make a world of difference in how your claim is handled. When you are in a wreck, you are bombarded by advertising from a multitude of law firms. However, not all accident lawyers are created equal.
Not all are qualified or motivated enough to represent you in a personal injury claim. Knowing what to look for can help you find an attorney who is ready to take on the legal and financial fight ahead.
1. Experience in Accidents and Personal Injury Law
The first thing you should look for in a lawyer is whether or not he or she specializes in personal injury law. A good accident lawyer is familiar with auto accident cases and understands how these claims work.
Look for a personal injury attorney or auto accident attorney who:
- Focuses not only on general practice but on accidents and personal injury
- Has had experience with your type of car accident (car crash, truck accident, motorcycle accident, or pedestrian accident)
- Understands the law of injuries in your state and local courts
- Has experience dealing with insurance companies and their tactics
Experienced personal injury lawyers understand how to present evidence that proves the full extent of the damage from an accident. They are also aware of all of the medical and legal documentation that is required for an accident injury claim.
2. Experience Gained Handling Different Cases
Not all accidents are created equal. While some accidents may involve simple claims for damage to vehicles, others may involve complex injuries or multiple parties.
A good car accident lawyer should have experience handling a wide variety of accident cases, including those involving multiple vehicles or serious injuries.
- Standard auto accidents/cases involving car accidents.
- Cases involving truck accidents involving commercial vehicles.
- Cases involving motorcycle accidents.
- Cases involving accidents involving multiple vehicles and drivers.
Different types of cases may involve different types of legal issues and insurance issues. Lawyers who have experience in handling different types of cases involving accidents are more aware of how to investigate the accident and can build a good personal injury claim.
3. A Clear Plan for Dealing With Insurance Companies
Insurance companies are involved in almost every accident claim. Even when they seem helpful, their goal is often to minimize what they pay in a settlement.
A good accident lawyer is aware of how insurance companies evaluate claims and how they try to reduce payouts. They know how to deal effectively with insurance companies.
Your relationship with your attorney matters. At the first consultation, listen for whether the lawyer:
- Pays close attention to your story, and asks good questions.
- Explains the legal process in easy and understandable language.
- Answers questions regarding accident claims and fees without rushing you.
- Makes you feel respected & informed.
You should feel at ease enough to be honest about the accident, about your medical treatment, and your concerns about the future.
4. A Law Firm That Has Strong Resources
Investigating an accident involves more than just reviewing the police report. Many personal injury cases require the expertise of experts, thorough investigation of the accident, as well as the expertise of medical professionals.
A good law firm that has been in the field for quite some time is likely to have people who can assist in the investigation. These people can range from accident reconstruction experts, medical experts, to financial experts who can assist in determining the long-term damage that the client has sustained.
Having access to these resources can enable the accident attorney to make more convincing cases for the clients.
5. A Law Firm That Focuses on Client Support
The aftermath of an accident can often prove overwhelming for the victims. Medical appointments, car repairs, and insurance claims can quickly become overwhelming for accident victims.
A good personal injury lawyer can help alleviate the stress that the victims of an accident often feel. This can enable the victims of an accident to focus on the recovery process while the lawyer handles the legal communication, the collection of evidence, and the claims process.
At Goldman Daszkal and Stallone, we have accident lawyers who work with accident victims to assist them through the personal injury process. Choosing the right auto accident lawyer near you can make a huge difference in how your case progresses and what compensation you might be able to receive.
Who May Not Need a Car Accident Lawyer
While many accidents are situations where the services of an attorney can be beneficial, there are some situations where the services of an attorney may not be necessary. If the accident has resulted in minor damage to the vehicle but no physical injuries, the case can be handled directly through the insurance companies.
In such cases, the process will simply involve filing a claim for damage to the vehicle and working out the details of the repair of the vehicle through the insurance company. In some cases, the accident may be obvious, and the insurance companies of both drivers may work out the problem quickly. If the medical costs are low and the compensation is easy to come by, the services of an attorney may not be necessary.
Some cases may simply be damage that is not large enough to warrant the services of an attorney. If the costs of repair to the vehicle, as well as the medical costs, are low, the victim of the accident may wish to settle the case without the services of an attorney.
Even in all of the above cases, many lawyers offer a free consultation to assist the victim of the accident in understanding the options available to them.
Fees, Free Consultations, and Contingency Agreements
One of the common concerns that injury victims have is how to afford a personal injury lawyer. Many personal injury attorneys offer a free consultation or injury consultation to go over your situation. This is your chance to:
- Share how the accident happened and how badly you were injured.
- Ask questions about how car accident claims work in your state.
- Find out if the law firm believes that you have a good case for your accident.
- Understand what the next steps might look like.
With Goldman & Daszkal and Stallone, P.A., you can schedule a free consultation or request a free case evaluation to allow you to get answers without an up-front cost.
Most auto accident attorneys work on a contingency basis, meaning:
- You do not pay hourly legal fees as the case progresses.
- The law firm is paid a percentage of the compensation if they recover money for you.
- If there is no recovery, it usually does not require an attorney’s fee (although it is always best to make sure in writing).
Be sure to ask:
- What percent of the compensation will the attorney get?
- How are the case expenses (expert reports, filing fees, etc.) managed?
- Will those expenses be subtracted from the calculation before or after the contingency fee is calculated?
Clear answers to help you better understand the financial implications of your personal injury case before you sign an agreement.
When Your Car Wreck Case Might Go to Court
Most personal injury claims are settled out of court. However, sometimes your legal team will suggest that you go to court with your case. Your accident lawyer may recommend that you file an injury lawsuit if:
- The insurance company does not want to accept clear fault
- The insurer disagrees on the severity of your injuries or medical costs
- The parties cannot reach an agreement as to the value of your claim
- The statute of limitations is approaching, and you need to file to preserve your rights
Filing a lawsuit does not necessarily mean that a trial will occur, but it does indicate that your attorney is ready to ask a jury to assist you in winning your case if necessary.
If your car accident case ends up in litigation, your attorney will:
- File the lawsuit within the legal deadline.
- Handle the discovery, including the exchange of documents and the process of taking depositions.
- Continue negotiating with the insurance companies.
- Provide evidence in court if the case comes to trial.
Throughout the process, your car wreck attorneys should explain each step of the legal process so that you understand what is happening and why.
How Goldman Daszkal and Stallone Helps Victims of Accidents
At Goldman Daszkal and Stallone, we are dedicated to helping people rebuild their lives after a serious accident. Our attorneys handle many personal injury cases, especially those involving car, truck, motorcycle, and other motor vehicle accidents.
Our law firm is dedicated to working with victims of accidents to determine what happened, document the injuries from the accident, and help them receive compensation for the damages.
We understand how you feel when you are overwhelmed by the consequences of a motor accident. Our attorneys are dedicated to communicating with insurance companies, gathering evidence, and helping you move forward with the legal process, one step at a time.
If you or a family member has been injured in a car accident, talking with a qualified attorney can provide you with more information on how personal injury laws can help you in a difficult situation.
The First Step After A Car Accident
The days immediately after an accident can often be chaotic. Medical visits, car repairs, and insurance claims can quickly spiral out of control. However, an experienced accident lawyer can help bring order to the situation and make sure that all legal requirements are met.
An experienced car accident lawyer can evaluate the circumstances of your case with you and explain how the laws of personal injury apply to the facts of the case. They can then assist you in determining the best course of action for your case.
If you are struggling with accident-related injuries, increasing medical bills, or fighting with insurance companies, obtaining the advice of an experienced accident lawyer may be one of the most critical decisions that you can make.
At Goldman & Daszkal and Stallone, we offer a free consultation so accident victims can speak directly with an experienced attorney about their case.
