When To Hire A Car Accident Attorney After A Fender Bender

Any type of car accident can end up with legal issues. While the crash could have been at a very low speed and the damage minimal, it doesn't mean that one of the parties involved should not have to pay for all repairs or any medical bills. In many instances, the financial amount is not going to add up to much, but things can always change and escalate. To make sure that you receive what you deserve, or are not overcharged for something, here are a few times you should contact an auto accident lawyer, even after a fender bender.

Your Fault

Even though the other party may say no one in his or her vehicle was hurt during the crash, someone may go to a doctor or emergency room the following day or two and find there was something wrong. In many cases, you will not find out about this until your insurance company sends you a detailed report for what they paid out on the accident. This may cause your insurance premiums to increase or even result in being dropped from the company. If there is never any injury reported, being found at fault in an accident can result in more points on your driving record, also making your insurance premiums increase. An experienced car accident attorney may be able to have the fault distributed between you and the other driver or have the charges reduced so your driving record is not as affected. This can be extremely important if your job involves any type of driving for work.

Settlement Offer

When you are not at fault, the other driver's insurance company will make a settlement offer to you. If you accept the offer, you will not be able to sue or ask for more money. It is always a good idea to have an accident lawyer go over the details of the crash, what damages and/or injuries were sustained, and then make sure the offered amount is appropriate. He or she may also advise you to see a doctor just to make sure there is nothing wrong before having you accept the settlement.

The amount of money damage repairs cost can be much more expensive than you would have guessed. Even a small accident that puts a dent in your car and scrapes away some paint is going to cost more than a few dollars to repair. If there are any injuries, reported at the accident or later, you can be sure the cost of the crash is going to be more than you want to pay yourself. Have an attorney go over everything so you are not hit with surprise bills down the road.

Contact a law firm like The Jaklitsch Law Group for more information.

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