Do I Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident?

Car accidents are unsettling experiences.

In the blink of the eye, your entire world can be turned upside down.

You might suddenly end up with life-altering injuries and be confused about what to do or who to call.

You are not alone. Each year, Colorado sees around 27,000 car crashes, according to statistics kept by the Colorado State Patrol.

As an established Denver personal injury law firm, our skilled car accident lawyers field many questions from the public, and one of the most common is, “Do I need a lawyer after a car accident?” The answer is “possibly.”

Read on for more information for help analyzing your situation. Depending on the circumstances, it may not be necessary to hire a lawyer after a car accident in Colorado.

You May Not Need a Lawyer if You Only Suffered Property Damage

Some car accidents cause only damage to your vehicle.

For example, you might have parked your car to run into the grocery store when someone else slammed into it. In this example, you have suffered only property damage, and you can usually make a claim yourself with the at-fault driver’s insurer.

Why can people get by without an attorney in a property-only accident?

In accidents that only caused property damage, they are generally more straight-forward and are not as aggressively defended.

There is rarely a dispute about how much it costs to fix the car. Instead, you’ll either take it to a body shop recommended by the insurance company or submit receipts for repairs done.

The process is fairly simple, and most people can handle it themselves.

You Might Need a Lawyer if You Suffered Bodily Injuries

If you were in the car at the time of the crash, then you could benefit from hiring a car accident lawyer. Insurance companies treat bodily injury cases much more seriously, usually because more money is at stake.

Analyze the severity of your injuries. For example, if you only suffered a bruise and small cut, then your medical expenses might have been minimal, and you might not have missed any work. In this type of case, you can probably submit a claim yourself.

However, if you have serious injuries or require medical care, then you may need to hire an injury attorney after an auto accident.

An attorney is definitely worth the cost:

• Your car accident attorney can determine fault, which is necessary since the driver at fault for the accident pays compensation.
• Your lawyer can gather evidence to help establish fault.
• Your attorney can negotiate with intimidating insurance companies and increase the amount of compensation you receive.
• Your lawyer can handle filing a lawsuit if negotiations break down. Lawsuits are incredibly complicated, and members of the public can make critical errors when they try to handle their own cases.
• Your lawyer is the only advocate you have. Don’t expect an insurance adjuster to look out for your best interests.

Contact a Skilled Denver, Colorado Car Accident Lawyer Today

If you are in pain and need assistance, please call us.

One of our lawyers can meet with you for a free consultation and analyze whether you have a valid legal claim. We can also discuss your options and whether you should handle your case yourself.

Contact the legal experts at Denver Trial Lawyers ® by calling (303) 647-9990 for a free consultation. Let us help you get started on your case today.