Car accidents happen every day, and almost every driver has had at least a minor fender bender. But when it comes to serious crashes where one or more parties is hurt, things can get extremely complicated. If you’re dealing with the aftermath of such a situation, you may be wishing you could ask accident injury attorneys a few questions. Here are five of the most common, along with their answers:
- Does an Apology Really Count as Admitting Fault?
You’ve probably heard that you should never apologize at the scene of an accident, since the other party’s accident injury attorneys could construe this as evidence of your fault and try to place liability on you. The issue isn’t black and white; expressing feelings like “I’m sorry this happened to you” may be less damaging than a statement such as “I should have seen you coming around that corner.” This is a tricky line, which is why attorneys often give the advice to avoid apologies altogether. This doesn’t, however, mean you should be rude.
- Can I Win a Case If I Am Partially at Fault?
While it’s much easier to get a fair settlement when the other party was entirely at fault for the accident and clearly acted negligently, a good auto injury attorney may be able to get you some compensation even if you share some of the blame for the accident.
- How Are Car Accident Settlements Determined?
There’s no average dollar amount that’s even close to universally applicable, but all kinds of auto injury claims are generally based on the severity of the injury you’ve sustained. This is determined by medical files as well as bills. Lost income may also be taken into account if you’ve been unable to work due to the accident. It’s also possible if the other driver was negligent that you’d be able to sue for damages related to pain and suffering.
- Will I Have to Go to Court?
This is great news for most people: Personal injury claims are almost always settled outside of court. Only somewhere between 2% and 4% go to trial.
- Do I Really Need a Lawyer?
Hiring accident injury attorneys can seem intimidating and stressful, but it’s almost certainly more stressful to try to navigate the legal process without one. It’s easy to make costly errors when you’re relying on advice from books or the Internet. Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney gives you the best chance of winning your case without extended litigation, as well as getting the highest possible settlement.
What are some other questions you’d like to ask an accident injury lawyer? Start the discussion in the comments.
