Dealing with a Car Accident

Dealing with a Car Accident Is Far Easier with an Experienced Lawyer

Being that you were in a car accident, you now have to deal with it. It’s not fair, but it’s an unfortunate reality. You don’t have to deal with the fallout from your car accident on your own, though. A lawyer can help immensely.

You should accept a car accident attorney’s assistance because:

• You didn’t cause the accident, and you shouldn’t have to suffer the headache of the aftermath: Since the accident, you may have thought to yourself, “I shouldn’t have to deal with this.” You’re right, you shouldn’t. Allow an attorney to handle any accident-related insurance claims and lawsuits so you can heal and get back to living life as soon as possible.
• If you don’t secure fair compensation, the consequences can be devastating: Getting “fair compensation” means being able to cover medical costs. It means being able to cover bills if you are unable to work after the collision. It means not worsening your health because you are acutely stressed about post-accident costs. The consequences may be dire if you do not secure the compensation you deserve. Allow a lawyer to fight for you, as the stakes are high enough to let a professional do the job.
• An attorney will have ample experience securing fair compensation for car accident survivors: As you look for an attorney, consider the candidates’ experience. The more car accident cases a lawyer has handled, the more confidence you may have in them. While experience is not the only criterion to consider when looking for your lawyer, it’s certainly important.
• Your health may suffer if you don’t let a lawyer take over your case: Serious car accidents leave victims fragile, with some even experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If you do not protect yourself from added stress, you might fall into a vicious cycle that slows or reverses your recovery. Let a lawyer take the stress of your case out of your life.

Car accident attorneys also offer many resources at no out-of-pocket cost. Your law firm may provide paralegals, hire experts, pay to reconstruct your accident and give you comprehensive financial support. Winning is critically important for law firms, and that winning approach will reflect how your attorney handles your case.

Your Lawyer’s Fee Structure Will Incentivize Success

Your car accident lawyer will extend an appealing offer: Don’t pay any out-of-pocket compensation; get the legal services you seek.

This offer is fairly common among personal injury attorneys. Lawyers are empathetic to car accident victims’ financial uncertainty. Your attorney will only receive a fee if they secure compensation for you. This way, your lawyer will have plenty of incentive to get you paid—and you won’t pay a dime out of your own bank account, even if your lawyer wins.

Finding an Attorney to Lead Your Car Accident Case

The right lawyer will go above and beyond to deliver the compensation you deserve. They will be just as determined to provide you with stellar service, turning an otherwise stressful experience into a painless one.

You might find your lawyer online, through recommendations, or other means. When you are comparing firms that might lead your case, consider:

• Word of mouth about the firm: Look for former clients’ opinions about a law firm. Reviews are available for virtually every business, and law firms are no exception. A simple Google search should turn up reviews, and those reviews can give you a strong impression of how former clients feel about the firm’s service and ability to deliver results.
• The firm’s case results: Law firms often publish case results. They deserve your attention. Keep your eyes open for results a firm has achieved in car accident cases, as these may be especially relevant. You might also consider if the law firm has achieved both settlements and verdicts, as you want to see that a firm is willing and able to succeed at trial.
• Where the firm is: Having your lawyer nearby can be beneficial to your case, your peace of mind, and your recovery. Make sure any law firm you’re considering is within a reasonable distance of Billings, if not in Billings.
• Your impression of the firm during your free consultation: A free consultation is your introduction to a car accident lawyer, and vice versa. Call any firms you want to learn more about, and they will gather basic information about your case. If you click with the firm’s representative and feel comfortable moving forward after the consultation, do so.

You should do your due diligence to ensure your law firm is qualified and that it will be a good fit for your unique needs. At the same time, you need to hire your lawyer as soon as possible. Your legal team may face an upcoming deadline for filing your case and several other time-sensitive duties, so don’t wait to find your attorney.

If You Hire Local, Your Lawyer Will Be Ready to Respond to Your Accident Right Away

When you start looking for a lawyer, consider the benefits of hiring someone familiar with Billings.

If you hire a lawyer who has handled cases in Billings, they will be familiar with common accident sites. Interstate 90 is the principal East-West route in Billings, and it’s one of a few areas in the city where accident risks may be highest. Montana Highway 3 (MT 3) is another that runs parallel to Billings-Logan International Airport and sees its fair share of collisions. This is another route your lawyer will be acquainted with.

That said, car accidents can happen anywhere in Billings. Every corner of the city can become a crash site from Cameron Park to North Park, South Side to West End. Local lawyers know this, so they are ready to respond to any accident site at any time.

Familiarity with local surroundings is just one of several benefits of hiring an attorney who works near your accident site. By hiring a law firm that is familiar with and conveniently located near (or in) Billings, you also ensure that:

• Your legal team will waste no time responding to and documenting your accident.
• Your attorney will know how to acquire evidence from traffic cameras, local law enforcement agencies, and other sources with which local lawyers are familiar.
• You get the medical treatment, mental health services, and other care you need, perhaps because your lawyer refers you to trustworthy local providers.
• Your legal team will understand local courts’ procedures and be comfortable leading a lawsuit and trial in the local justice system.

When an attorney regularly handles cases in Billings, they cannot help but care for local clients and the city itself. It becomes important for the lawyer, on a personal level, to get justice for the car accident victim—and hold at-fault parties accountable for making Billings less safe.

Attorneys Take Complete Ownership of Their Clients’ Cases—Get Better While Your Lawyer Performs These Duties for You

Hiring a lawyer may provide your first chance to breathe after the accident. You will no longer have to spend time or energy worrying about whether you’ll secure fair compensation or how you’ll do it. Your lawyer will take on every detail of your case, including:

Proving Fault for Your Car Accident

Auto insurance is mandatory in Montana. Insurers generally determine whose insurer will cover which damages based on fault. If another motorist (or some other party) is at fault for your accident, their insurance company may cover some or all of your damages.

You can also sue the party who caused your accident. These are reasons why your lawyer will use all available witness testimony, video, photographs, and other relevant evidence to prove fault for your car accident.

Proving Damages (Liable Parties May Contest Them)

Damages are the harm you suffer because of someone else’s negligence. Proving those damages may require your lawyer to:

• Gather and analyze medical records
• Secure financial records that indicate lost income
• Obtain receipts for repairing your vehicle, getting rideshare services or other temporary transportation, and replacing damaged property
• Get experts to testify about your economic and non-economic damages (including symptoms of physical injuries and pain and suffering)

You have suffered harm. Your lawyer will know what documentation will prove that harm.

Determining Your Case Value

Your lawyer will negotiate on your behalf. To do so effectively, they must know how much compensation you deserve. Your lawyer’s case valuation will include both your current and future damages.

Obtaining a Settlement or Taking Additional Steps (Like Suing)

Insurance companies and other liable parties often know they’re responsible for accident victims’ damages. The question is whether those liable parties will do the right thing.

If those who are liable for your damages are willing to negotiate, your lawyer will do so. These negotiations can produce a fair settlement for you. If liable parties would rather place their own financial interests over their financial obligation to you, you may decide to sue those liable parties.

Your Financial Recovery Must Equal or Exceed the Cost of Your Car Accident

The nature and cost of your damages will be a key focus throughout your case. The steps your lawyer takes—or doesn’t take—will depend on whether liable parties are willing to cover the cost of your damages, which may include:

Economic Damages

Economic damages have a clear financial component. Your attorney can add up these costs to determine their value, and examples include

• Lost income
• Lost earning power
• Medical expenses
• Medication costs
• Rehabilitation costs
• Caregiver costs
• Vehicle repairs
• The replacement cost of a totaled vehicle

You may face a significant financial burden if you do not receive fair compensation for these damages.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages don’t have as clear a monetary value as economic damages. Yet, these damages are just as important to your case as economic damages. Pain and suffering is the most common example of non-economic harm, and this category of damages can include:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Pain
• Emotional anguish
• Psychological distress
• Lost quality of life
• Many other challenges that can result from traffic accidents and injuries

Non-economic harm can be more challenging to calculate than economic damages, which is why many accident survivors hire a lawyer to calculate their damages.

You May Have Questions. Let a Billings, MT Car Accident Lawyer Answer Them

If you or a loved one suffered an injury in a car accident, your attorney can be responsible for every step in your case. Their first means of helping you, though, will be to answer your questions, which may include:

• How much is my case worth?
• Who will pay for my damages?
• Will I need to sue for the compensation I deserve?
• Will my case go to trial?
• How long will my case take?

Let a Billings, MT car accident attorney answer these and any other case-related questions you have. There is no time for delay in cases like yours, so hire your injury lawyer in Billings as soon as possible and start your search today