Being involved in a car accident can be a traumatic and life-changing experience, especially if you suffer serious injuries. Depending on the extent of your injuries, you could be dealing with the effects of your accident for years. Navigating the aftermath of any car accident can be incredibly difficult, but what happens if the accident was caused by someone else’s carelessness?
If you’re in this situation, one of the many things you may be wondering is “When do you need to hire a car accident lawyer?” Knowing when it’s time to consult a legal professional can make all the difference in your claim.
Continue reading to learn when it’s best to call an experienced attorney after a car accident in Portland, ME.
When You’ve Suffered Serious Injuries
If you’ve suffered serious injuries in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you’ll want to call a lawyer as soon as you can. Serious injuries typically lead to large medical bills and other expenses that can continue piling up long after your accident.
To make matters worse, insurance companies do not have your well-being in mind and will likely try to withhold as much coverage as they can from you. Without an experienced attorney on your side, you run the risk of being low-balled by the insurance company and left to pay expensive medical bills and other financial losses out of pocket.
Serious injuries usually require serious legal help. A lawyer can help calculate the true cost of your injuries, accounting for any future expenses you may have, and argue for your right to full compensation.
When You Need to Navigate Complicated Laws
The laws surrounding car accident cases in Maine can be complicated and difficult to understand without a legal professional. This is especially true when issues regarding negligence or fault arise.
Maine operates under the comparative negligence law, which refers to each driver’s degree of fault contributing to the cause of an accident. Under this law, if it’s determined that you share some level of fault for the accident, any amount of compensation you may be entitled to from the other party’s insurance company may be reduced by your percentage of responsibility.
Navigating this law and understanding how it may affect your unique case is not easy. The right car accident attorney can be your compass throughout this difficult process, guiding you every step of the way and ensuring you aren’t taken advantage of by an insurance company.
When You’re Approached by an Insurance Company
Anytime you have to deal with an insurance company after a car crash that wasn’t your fault, it will likely be in your best interest to speak with an attorney. Insurance companies are notorious for making quick settlement offers in an effort to close the case for as little money as possible.
If you’re approached by an insurance adjuster from the other driver’s insurance company and they’re pressuring you to accept an offer, it’s important to remember that their initial amount is almost always going to be less than you actually deserve. In the chaos and confusion that follows your car accident, you may not recognize how unreasonably low their settlement offer may be. Having a lawyer review your claim before you accept any offers from an insurance company will always be to your advantage.
When Your Injury Puts You Out of Work
Without a source of income while you’re trying to recover after your car accident, even your basic living costs can take a detrimental toll on your finances. In this situation, hiring a lawyer can give you the best chance of recovering the money you need for any lost wages that you incurred as a result of your car accident.
Lowry & Associates Is Here for You
If you’ve been hurt in a car accident in Portland or anywhere in the state of Maine and are wondering when you need to hire a car accident lawyer, give our team at Lowry & Associates a call today.
In many cases, the sooner you have an experienced lawyer review your claim, the better. Our team of dedicated legal professionals is ready to take on the insurance companies and fight for every penny you’re owed, so you can focus on getting better.
Give us a call at 207-775-3819, or contact us online to get your free case review today!
