Should i hire a lawyer after a minor car accident? Many car accidents might seem minor at first. For example, you may be able to drive your car home safely from the accident scene. But, it is still possible you may later develop some severe symptoms of injuries that require medical treatment or have expenses to repair your car. Therefore, it’s best to hire a car accident lawyer in St Petersburg, even if it’s minor.
A car accident lawyer can help you claim compensation for those expenses when the other driver is at fault. In this article, find out why it is important to hire a lawyer, even if it’s a minor car accident, and how they can help you with your case:
Should I hire a lawyer after a minor car accident? You Might Have Hidden Injuries After A Minor Car Accident
Many car accident injuries do not show up right away. It might be possible you may feel lightheaded after the accident. You may chalk this up as you are just shaken up after the accident.Â
After a few days, you might realize that you cannot move your neck or wrist. Next, you find out that the medical care you’ll need is expensive, and the insurance or the at-fault driver may not cover the costs.Â
Another typical injury after a car collision is a concussion, and those symptoms don’t always appear right away. As a result, you risk further injury, including brain damage, if you don’t receive the right diagnosis, treatment, and rest.
When you dial 911 as soon as a car accident occurs, you’ll receive the necessary emergency medical care and a police report that can support any claim you make and increase your chances of making a full recovery.
The Other Driver Could File A Claim Against You
A couple of days after the incident, you might notice a small dent or scratch on your car. However, it is promptly rejected when you claim with the other driver’s insurance company, and the insurer blames you for the collision rather than their client.
Even worse, the other driver can hire a lawyer and file a lawsuit against you for damages.
Of course, you are free to retain your car accident attorney to represent you and defend against the lawsuit. But, doing so may result in higher costs than if you had hired a lawyer immediately following the accident.
What Injuries Can One Get After A Minor Car Accident?
Here are some of the injuries that can result from minor car accidents:
- Whiplash
Any unexpected jot from a sudden impact or stop can overextend the ligaments, tendons, or small muscles that make up the cervical vertebrae, resulting in whiplash. Similarly, these neck tissues and muscles might be sensitive to the accident, which can cause spine misalignment.Â
One can experience pain and stiffness in the shoulder and neck. Also, the headaches emanating from the skull base are most likely to occur after a minor car accident.Â
- Head Injuries
Head injuries can range from relatively minor to severe. For example, a car’s unexpected change in direction or stop can cause the driver’s or passenger’s head to move suddenly and unnaturally. In such a scenario, the head can be injured badly. It can result in tearing and bruising of the brain tissue and blood vessels. In addition, many head injuries can result in concussions, and the severe impacts can be lasting brain damage.Â
- Lower Body
Your lower body could have severe issues from a car accident. Like the spine, the complex network of muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and bone holds the knees together. Any twisting movement during a collision might cause the knee to become misaligned. Meniscus tears are frequent and frequently require a long recovery time. When an injury occurs, pain or range-of-motion problems may start right away or may take time to manifest.
Other injuries might include:
- Pulled or strained ligaments/muscles
- Broken bones
- Severe bruises
- Traumatic brain injury
- Scratches
Hence, a victim must seek medical attention instantly after the accident, regardless of how minor the injuries are. Also, file a claim immediately after the accident to save yourself from all the bills with the help of a St. Petersburg car accident attorney.
How Can A Car Accident Attorney Help You After A Minor Car Accident?
The role of a car accident lawyer varies depending on the situation of the accident. Here’s how an attorney can help you with your case:
- Analyze Your Case Thoroughly
Most car accident victims do not understand how to analyze and value their cases. Therefore, if your case is undervalued, the insurance companies will take advantage of the situation and offer you the least compensation.Â
A car accident lawyer can help you analyze your case and value them accordingly. They will outline the property damage, check the injury’s severity, and then give you the rough estimate you’re entitled to claim against the responsible party.Â
- Proper Handling Of Documents
The success of a car accident lawsuit largely depends on proper documentation. Documents are a vital part when it comes to dealing with insurance companies and court trials. If your case makes it to court, you will be asked to tender the documentation to prove your case.Â
Further, insurance companies often give documents to victims to fill out in preparation for receiving compensation. To avoid making the mistake of missing documents, you need a car accident lawyer to handle all the documentation involved in the case.Â
- Gather Relevant Evidence
No matter how minor the accident is, there will always be evidence to prove it. A victim might overlook the evidence, but a professional lawyer never ignores evidence that can prove the other driver’s fault.Â
Your car accident lawyer will help you gather all the relevant evidence to prove your case, including pictures of injuries sustained, damaged properties, receipt of medical bills, and so on.Â
With all the evidence in place, the victim can ensure they are on the right track to receive the rightful compensation.
- Knows The Law
Hiring a car accident lawyer to represent your case means you’ll have an expert working for you. They know everything about the relevant laws and rules that impact your case.
Your lawyer can file a lawsuit on your behalf and will know how to respond to the defenses raised by the other side. They also are familiar with the time limits that can bar you from filing a lawsuit against the responsible party. For instance, in St. Petersburg, you must file your lawsuit within four years of your accident, or you will lose the right to claim compensation.Â
- Allows You To Focus On Recovery
If you’ve been injured during the accident, you will need time to recover before you claim your injuries. Then, when you hire an attorney to handle the case, you can focus on your recovery while they will focus on getting you the claim you deserve.Â
An experienced lawyer knows everything about filing for compensation and how to deal with insurance companies. Plus, they have all the experience and exposure needed to overcome any challenges that might come as the case proceeds.Â
Types Of Compensation You Can ClaimÂ
Victims of minor car accidents are liable to claim compensation for the following injuries:
- Property Damages
The compensation for property damage covers the expense of your damaged laptop, phone, or any other gadget that might have been destroyed during the accident.Â
- Vehicle Repair
The compensation for vehicle repair includes repairing damaged parts of your car.
- Medical Expenses
You might be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses if you were hurt in a small auto accident. The payment will cover things like doctor visits, tests, and X-rays.
- Lost income
You could receive compensation that covers the wages for the days you lost from work if the accident forced you to miss one or two work days.
File A Claim With Coleman Law Group
Getting involved in a car accident does not only cause physical injuries and can be mentally exhausting, even if the accident is minor. In addition, you might not understand where to turn after the accident, especially if you are injured. That’s where Coleman Law Group comes in.Â
Our team of skilled lawyers will help you get the claim you deserve. Additionally, we will deal with all the communication with insurance companies and adjusters, allowing you to concentrate on healing and returning to your life.
We understand the importance of obtaining fair compensation because we have represented so many victims of traffic accidents in St. Petersburg. If you need legal assistance following an automobile accident, you can rely on the Coleman Law Group to:
- Assist you in understanding your legal options and rights
- Obtain proof to back up your allegation.
- Confront the insurance provider in negotiations on your behalf.
- If required, take your case to trial.
