What Does a Car Accident Lawyer Do?

A car accident lawyer represents clients injured in car accidents. This type of personal injury law requires a deep understanding of state, local, and federal traffic laws, how to gather compelling evidence, and how to negotiate fair settlements with insurance companies.

Read on to learn more about what car accident lawyers do — and how they can help you. 

What Do Car Accident Lawyers Do for Clients?

An accident lawyer provides legal representation for victims in a personal injury lawsuit. While every case is different, most car accident claims involve similar steps in the legal process. 

Examples of what an accident lawyer can do for you include:

Investigate Your Accident

Often, police reports don’t tell the whole story. A car accident lawyer digs deeper to gather evidence about every factor that contributed to your accident and determine who is liable for your injuries. 

As part of the investigation process, a car accident lawyer may interview witnesses, review traffic camera footage, and look at factors like road conditions at the accident scene. Your lawyer may also hire accident reconstruction experts to help support your case. 

Calculate the Value of Your Claim

After conducting an investigation, your attorney will estimate the total costs of your losses and medical bills and may enlist the help of experts to project your future medical expenses. In Massachusetts, personal injury lawyers can ask for a specific figure based on your actual damages. 

The value of your claim may also include non-economic damages like pain and suffering. This type of subjective loss is more common in cases where extreme negligence exists, like crashes in which a drunk driver caused someone’s injuries. 

Negotiate With Insurance Companies

Insurance companies are known to put the company’s interests above all else, sometimes even participating in bad faith tactics to avoid paying, or using your own words against you. Your attorney will handle all communications and negotiate with insurers to seek compensation.

Represent You at Trial

Most personal injury cases settle during pre-trial and never reach the courtroom. However, should settlement negotiations fail, your attorney will be prepared to represent you in court and pursue compensation.

4 Key Features of Car Accident Lawyers

When comparing car accident lawyers, there are four key features to consider: 

1. Geographic area 

National law firms may focus on accidents that occur on federal highways and involve vehicles from multiple states. But if you’re looking for a car accident attorney familiar with Massachusetts insurance and traffic laws, it’s best to choose a local firm. 

2. Personalized support 

Large law firms may have thousands of attorneys, and sometimes working with one of these firms can leave you feeling like “a number.” Small and mid-size firms — especially those with lawyers who live in your hometown — typically offer compassionate, personalized support and frequent case updates. 

You can learn a lot about how firms prioritize and support their clients by looking at their testimonials.

3. Experience

Negotiating with insurance companies is a skill that requires practice. Look for experienced car accident lawyers that have a proven track record of getting fair compensation for their clients.

4. Fee structure 

Some firms may charge you for your consultation and bill you for legal expenses while working on your case. Always ask about potential costs before partnering with a car accident lawyer.

Jason Stone Injury Lawyers offers free no-obligation consultations, and you pay nothing unless we win! Contact us now, and get the help you need. 

When Do You Need to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?

Some motor vehicle accidents do not require the help of an injury attorney. For example, if you sustain minor property damage and no bodily injuries in a low-speed collision, a simple insurance claim should be enough to resolve the issue and cover your vehicle repair or replacement costs. However, if you suffer serious injuries in a crash, you need to hire a car accident lawyer.

Should I Get a Lawyer for a Car Accident That Wasn’t My Fault?

Yes! If you suffer physical injuries in a car crash, you should hire an attorney regardless of whether you think the other driver is at fault. Without legal guidance, you’re significantly less likely to get fair compensation.

Even if you are partially responsible for your accident, you could still have legal options for receiving financial compensation equal to your percentage of fault.

What Is a Car Accident Lawyer’s Fee?

Most car accident lawyers charge a certain percentage of the final settlement or court award, which can be between 33-40%30%. That fee is deducted from their client’s payout.

Why Hire Auto Accident Lawyers Near Me?

When you consider all that a car accident lawyer does to build your case, it makes sense to hire a lawyer who understands local laws and has a great reputation. 

For more than 20 years, Jason Stone Injury Lawyers has represented the people of Boston and Massachusetts in car accident cases. We understand the physical and emotional distress that comes with serious injuries, medical debt, and lost wages, and to provide some financial relief, we charge no upfront fees. The first element of the Stone Cold Guarantee states that we only get paid if we win your case.

Contact Jason Stone Injury Lawyers today to request your free consultation with an experienced accident attorney. We can answer your questions and help you make the next best move. There’s No Obligation, Just Information Ⓡ.