A car accident can change everything.
One minute, you are going about your day taking a scenic drive through the beautiful town of Portland, ME. With no warning, some joker runs a stoplight and you are left with severe injuries fighting for your life. If you are lucky enough to survive, the days ahead could be filled with pain and worry unconnected to your injuries.
Unable to return to work, you are left without a car and an ever-growing mountain of medical bills. On top of that, the insurance company is causing you headaches. The best course of action is to contact an auto accident attorney as soon as possible. An experienced lawyer will work on getting you maximum compensation while you focus on healing.
Options Following a Car Accident
When you are involved in a car accident through no fault of your own in the Portland, ME, area, it is important that you understand your rights. Maine follows the traditional “fault” system after an accident, meaning the person who is responsible for the mishap is also responsible for any injuries and damages.
If you are injured because of someone else’s negligence, you have the following options:
- File a claim with your insurance company.
- File a claim with the other driver’s insurance company.
- File a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver.
If you file a claim with an insurance company, it will open an investigation into your claim and calculate the amount of damages. The problem with going this route, is that the insurance company may underestimate your damages. If you choose to dispute an offer made by either driver’s insurance company, you probably should get legal advice.
To get the money you deserve faster, contacting a lawyer before filling out any claims forms is often the best course of action.
Securing Legal Representation
In the state of Maine, typically you have six years from the time of the accident to file a lawsuit for personal and property injury. However, there are a number of exceptions with much shorter deadlines for car accidents. Once that period ends, you can no longer file a claim to recover the damages you suffered, so it’s important to know and pay attention to your deadline. An experienced attorney can help you determine when your deadline is and get to work on your case right away so you don’t lose precious time.
To file a personal injury lawsuit, you must be able to prove negligence on the part of the other driver. If you can show that their irresponsible actions led to the accident and your resulting injuries, you have a legal case against them. A car accident attorney is experienced at proving negligence and protecting your rights.
Getting the Compensation You Deserve After a Car Accident in the Portland, ME, Area
Damages common to a car accident include:
- Car repair
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
How much your case is worth depends on the severity of these issues, plus how long and to what extent your injuries have impacted your life. Most car accidents don’t go all the way to a court hearing, but are in instead, settled out of court. The help of an experienced car accident lawyer can increase the figure you are awarded.
Put Lowry & Associates On Your Case Today
The attorneys at Lowry & Associates have developed methods to maximize settlements by focusing on what matters in each case to judges, juries, and insurance companies. We take the time necessary to get fair compensation for our clients.
To get the most amount of money after you’ve been in an accident, contact us today and get started with a free case review. We have the knowledge and experience to stand up to insurance companies and getting those we represent the compensation they deserve.
