A car accident can leave you in a world of pain and confusion. Medical bills pile up on top of your normal expenses. You may be too injured to return to work for weeks or months and wondering how you’re ever going to get your life back on track.

For many, hiring a lawyer is the first step to getting back to normal. Your legal team can answer any questions you may have and give you guidance.

Protect You From Debt Collectors

After suffering injuries in a car crash, your top priority should be recovering. Your health is more important than your hospital bills. It’s understandable that you could fall behind on payments during this difficult time.

Unfortunately, unpaid bills are often sent to collections or sold to debt collection agencies. Debt collectors can be unrelenting in their endeavor to collect payment from you. They may use shady practices like daily phone calls, share tactics, and threats.

A lawyer who understands the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act can be your frontline defense against daily phone calls and illegal harassment. Your legal representative can share updates on your case’s progress and the status of your pending settlement.

Investigate the Cause of Your Accident

One of the most important steps you can take is letting your attorney investigate the cause of your car accident. This eliminates much of the legwork needed to build a strong case. Your lawyer will:

• Assess the scene of the accident

• Organize your medical bills and records

• Gather accident or police reports

• Obtain eyewitnesses statements

• Check nearby traffic cameras for footage of the accident

This investigation can help your lawyer determine who is at fault for your car accident. This can be especially important before you speak with your auto insurance representative. Your case might not have a good outcome if you are wrongfully found to be at fault.

Communicate With Insurance for You

Anyone who has filed an insurance claim knows the process can be a grueling undertaking. You can let a team of attorneys communicate with insurance on your behalf. An experienced car accident lawyer will streamline the claims process to ensure that your case is handled in a swift and efficient manner.

Your legal representative can maintain open lines of communication with both your auto insurance company and the other driver’s insurer. This protects you from making missteps when you speak with the other driver’s insurance.

Calculate Your Future Medical Costs and Expenses

In order to decide whether your case necessitates an insurance claim or a car accident lawsuit, you need to calculate how much money you need from a settlement or court award. The settlement figure you seek must have specific itemized costs. You could include:

• Lost wages

• Property damage

• Medical expenses

• Future care needs

Your lawyer can assemble a list of your eligible damages with dollar amounts. This helps your case by verifying that you need the settlement amount you are pursuing.

Negotiate for a Better Settlement

Insurance company advertisements would have you believe that they have your best interests at heart. The fact remains that they are businesses. The more they pay accident victims for insurance claims, the less they stand to profit.

Insurance companies often offer settlements for less than a claim is worth. Their hope is that you accept their first offer and waive your right to sue for damages. An attorney can review the offer to let you know if you should accept it or negotiate for a better settlement. If insurance refuses to negotiate, your lawyer can move your case to trial.

Even if your car accident was minor, you might be better off hiring a legal advocate. It will allow you to focus on your recovery while an expert car accident lawyer fights for your right to fair compensation.