In 2024 alone, Ohio saw over 249,000 auto accidents that involved serious or minor injuries and/or property damage. Statewide, motor vehicle accidents claimed 1,146 lives. While compensation won’t heal a serious injury or undo the devastation of losing a loved one after a car accident, it can make the road to recovery a little easier.
If you are considering filing a claim, it’s natural to wonder whether hiring an auto accident attorney is necessary. Will a car accident attorney increase your chances of filing a successful claim?
The short answer is a resounding yes. Take a closer look at how an experienced attorney fights for their client’s rights to receive fair financial compensation.
3 Ways Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer Strengthens Your Claim
Life can feel overwhelming after any type of motor vehicle accident, especially trucking accidents, which can be catastrophic. Dealing with a painful injury may require multiple medical appointments, and you may be dependent on friends for transportation if your vehicle was damaged. If your injuries cause you to miss work, the medical bills and loss of wages can impact your financial stability in no time.
Hiring a lawyer may seem like one task too many, but the truth is that working with a car accident attorney can help relieve your stress and allow you to focus on recovery. Hiring an accident attorney can also increase your chances of filing a successful claim.
Consider these three key reasons a lawyer is essential:
1. Access to Extensive Legal Knowledge
Car accident lawyers have studied and applied the laws of their state in court. Attorneys know the difference between at-fault and shared-liability laws. They know which papers must be filed and when. There are many elements involved with filing a claim and proving negligence so that victims can receive compensation.
Attorneys also know how to effectively negotiate with representatives from big insurance companies. Your car accident attorney has a realistic estimate of what your claim should be worth and will fight to make sure you receive a just settlement.
If no settlement can be reached, an attorney can leverage their skills to represent you in a court trial.
2. Investigation Skills and Resources
Car accident lawyers have hands-on experience investigating accidents. Some of the tasks your attorney might perform include:
- Obtaining and reviewing traffic footage
- Analyzing details of the police report, including any citations
- Collecting and examining physical and photographic evidence from the scene
- Speaking with witnesses and verifying their statements
- Reviewing and organizing medical records and related expenses
- Working with experts like accident reconstruction professionals
All of these efforts help your attorney build a strong case to prove accident liability. Stronger legal cases often lead to larger settlements.
3. Powerful Negotiation With Insurance Companies
A person who’s been injured in a car or motorcycle accident may feel pressure to take the first settlement offer they receive to move on with their lives. Accident claims can be time-consuming, and injury victims need time to rest and focus on their recovery. Hiring a car accident lawyer means you have an experienced professional to deal with insurance companies instead of having to do so alone.
Insurance representatives know their chances of taking advantage of an experienced attorney are low. Negotiation skills and industry knowledge means an attorney is typically more likely to get a fair settlement than the average citizen.
Have You Been Injured in an Auto Accident?
If you’ve been injured because of another driver’s negligence, the last thing you want to worry about is learning how to navigate the Ohio legal system. Working with a car accident attorney can relieve your stress and allow you more time to focus on what matters.
At Schiff & Associates, we’ve protected the rights of injured victims in Central Ohio for over 40 years. Call us today to schedule your free consultation.