Can I File a Car Accident Claim Without a Lawyer?
Filing a car accident claim without a lawyer can jeopardize your chance of recovering the full value of your claim. When you get seriously injured in an accident, hiring a car accident lawyer is the best way to protect your legal rights. If someone else was at fault for the accident, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation; an experienced attorney will be able to effectively fight for the full amount to which you may be entitled under the law.
But, can you file a car accident claim without a lawyer?
Technically, the answer to this question is, “Yes.” When you have a car accident claim, you have every right to represent yourself if you choose to do so. But, the more important question is: Should you file a car accident claim without a lawyer? The answer to this question is a clear, “No.”
Why You Should Hire a Lawyer to File Your Car Accident Claim
There are several reasons why you should hire an attorney after suffering a serious injury in an accident. These reasons have to do with both the benefits of hiring a lawyer and the risks of trying to handle your situation on your own. For example:
1. You Need To Make Sure You Have a Claim
Before you devote months of time and effort to seeking financial compensation for your injuries, you need to make sure you have a claim. The fact that you got injured in an accident does not necessarily mean that you are entitled to financial recovery – although it will in many cases. When you hire a car accident lawyer, your attorney will thoroughly assess your legal rights, and help you decide whether it makes sense to move forward.
2. You Need to Know Where (and How) to File Your Claim
If you have a personal injury claim, you need to know where to file it. In other words, you need to know who (or, more likely, what company) is legally responsible. For example, let’s say you were injured in a car accident. Was the other driver at fault? Or, was a vehicle or road defect to blame? If the other driver was at fault, should you file a claim with the driver’s insurance company, the driver’s employer, your insurance company, or all of the above?
You also need to know how to file your claim. Dealing with insurance companies and going to court are two very different matters. If you have a claim against a government agency, this is an entirely different matter, as well.
3. You Need to Accurately Calculate Your Losses
When you have a claim, it is up to you to decide how much financial compensation to pursue. Determining how much you are entitled to recover for your current and future medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other losses requires a comprehensive understanding of every way the injury has affected your life – as well as your rights under Mississippi law.
4. You Need the Insurance Company To Take You Seriously
While most successful car accident claims result in settlements, to obtain a fair settlement, you will need the insurance companies (or the at-fault company’s defense lawyers) to take you seriously. This means that you will need a personal injury lawyer with a reputation for success on your side.
5. You Need to Be Prepared To Go To Court if Necessary
Finally, you need to be prepared to go to court if necessary. If the insurance companies (or the at-fault company’s defense lawyers) know that you are not prepared to go to court, they will not offer to settle your claim for fair compensation. This means that you will have to go to court to assert your legal rights. Without a lawyer, you won’t have the knowledge and insights you need to pursue a lawsuit effectively.
It is also important to note that you only get one chance to file a personal injury claim. If you make mistakes while trying to handle your claim on your own, you could lose your ability to hire a lawyer to fight on your behalf. Additionally, if you receive an offer and end up settling for less than you deserve, accepting the offer means that you won’t be able to go back and ask for more.
Talk to a Car Accident Lawyer in Mississippi
If you were hurt because of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to damages for your physical, financial, and emotional losses. The knowledgeable car accident attorneys at Roberts Wilson, P.A. have extensive experience in a wide range of complex cases.
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Contact Roberts Wilson, P.A. today online or at (662) 533-9111 for a FREE case evaluation. We proudly serve clients in Oxford, Holly Springs, Batesville, Pontotoc, Desoto & Tate counties, and other areas throughout Mississippi and beyond.
