When someone is injured in a car accident, they are often overwhelmed by the stress and uncertainty of coping with medical care, property damage, lost income, and other costs and expenses. Often, they are also dealing with insurance companies who are constantly trying to low-ball them with offers that do not even begin to cover their losses.
Having an experienced New York Car accident lawyer who focuses on injury claims on your side can help you navigate these landmines and secure full compensation for your injuries and losses. Having an attorney who focuses on injury claims can be the difference between receiving an acceptable settlement and having your claim dismissed or reduced.
A car accident can result in a range of injuries, from minor to catastrophic. The most severe injuries, such as brain or spinal cord injuries, can have life-long consequences that affect the victim’s physical and emotional well-being. These can include loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and limitations in daily activities. Lawsuits can compensate for these losses by awarding damages for past, present, and future monetary costs.
When you hire an experienced NYC car accident attorney, he or she will conduct a thorough investigation of your crash to determine the cause(s) and identify all relevant parties who may be held liable. This can include not only other drivers and/or motorists, but also the vehicle manufacturer if the crash was caused by a defectively designed or manufactured car part or component.
One of the most important things a car accident attorney can do for you is to get your medical records and documentation in order. This not only helps with your recovery, but also provides a solid foundation for the legal aspects of your case. Documentation of your injuries can be a crucial element in proving negligence and establishing causation. An experienced attorney will know the right questions to ask and where to obtain the most valuable information from doctors.
Another important aspect of a New York car accident lawyer’s job is to protect you from the insurance company’s attempts to take advantage of you. This can involve such issues as not requiring you to give a recorded statement that is used against you in court. During these interviews, insurance adjusters can use tricks to have you say something that could be used against you later.
Having an attorney can also prevent you from giving statements to the police and other people who could be used against your case later on. A lawyer can also make sure that vital evidence is preserved and gathered, such as video footage of the accident which is usually only kept for a limited amount of time. Witness statements are essential in determining fault and liability in car accidents and can help clarify critical details that may be missing from the police report.
Many victims do not realize that there are several factors that go into determining how much they are entitled to in a settlement or jury verdict. For example, in some states, if the jury finds that the plaintiff is more than 50% responsible for the car accident, then they are not entitled to any recovery. In other states, however, the jury can apportion the percentage of fault and the amount of damages awarded accordingly.