Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer for a Minor Accident?

When you are involved in a car accident, you and the other people involved may not suffer significant harm. You may be relieved and just think about moving on after the accident since no one was seriously injured. However, you may find out later that failing to hire a car accident lawyer for even a minor accident can leave you paying out of pocket for your suffering.

After a car accident, taking the proper steps to ensure you can obtain the compensation you need is vital. Getting the funds for a full recovery can be challenging, and accepting the damage as minor may leave you struggling financially. Read on to learn more about how a minor car accident can become a major problem.

Minor Accidents Are Not Always so Minor 

When you are involved in a car accident, you may believe the damages are not so bad. Even if the accident seems minor, it is essential to act now and get the help you need following an accident. 

That is because even a small fender-bender accident can come with severe penalties, losses, and pain. You may not know how severe the damage is until later. Here are a few reasons you may struggle to recover following what you may think is a minor accident. 

Unexpected Injuries 

Sometimes, you know right away that you are severely injured. You may be in pain, you may have lost consciousness, or you may have been taken to the hospital right away for the suffering you experienced. However, not all injuries are so obvious. 

For example, in the most severe cases, you may have suffered internal bleeding you cannot feel. If left untreated, internal bleeding can turn deadly. 

In less severe cases, you may have whiplash and not know you are injured for weeks or months following your accident. At that point, you may notice pain in your neck and stiffness that makes turning your head difficult. If you do not seek medical treatment, your injuries may worsen. 

You may also face consequences to your insurance settlement if you do not act quickly and get medical attention. If you wait, the insurance company may claim you must have been injured later in an unrelated accident. If you do not have legal support, it can be challenging to get the coverage you are due. 

Costs of Car Repairs

When your accident first happens, your car may seem to be in acceptable shape. It may be scratched or dented, but you can drive away in your vehicle. However, you may find out later that your car suffered severe damage in the accident, which you did not notice and may cost thousands of dollars to repair. 

Because of this, you need to ensure you have all relevant evidence to prove the damage to your car happened because of the accident, not in an unrelated incident. Your lawyer can help you gather this evidence, prove the other party caused the accident, and get you the due compensation. 

Insurance Companies May Not Be on Your Side 

After what seems to be a minor accident, you may think your insurance company should cover the costs of your injuries anyway. We pay premiums to maintain our insurance coverage, and we expect that coverage to cover at least a certain amount of the costs of our recovery. 

However, insurance companies are also for-profit companies. That means they may be more interested in protecting their profits than they are in helping you overcome the injuries and costs of your injuries. They may even act in bad faith about your claim. 

For some, that means an outright denial of the benefits you need to recover. For others, it means you may face difficulties getting answers, forcing you to accept their settlement offer (no matter how low) in desperation. 

A car accident lawyer can ensure you get the settlement you need to recover following a car accident, no matter how minor it may seem. Your attorney can negotiate with the insurance company to get the coverage you are due. If the insurance company refuses to cooperate, your lawyer can represent you in the courtroom and seek the funds you need to cover your damages. 

A Better Chance at Compensation 

Even a minor collision may call for financial aid. Just because you do not need round-the-clock care following an accident does not mean your medical bills cannot be costly. You may still face financial strain and need the help you are due. 

However, when your accident is minor, it does not mean it will be easier to get compensated for your injuries. The at-fault party or their insurer will likely still try to protect their interests before accepting liability for your damages. 

That is where your lawyer can step in and ensure you are asking for funds that cover all your losses before they represent you in the courtroom. They will help you gather evidence for your injuries, giving you a chance at success you may not have had without a lawyer’s help. 

Injured in a Minor Accident? Seek Legal Aid 

Accidents can range in severity, and sometimes, you may walk away from an accident with no injuries or significant costs. Unfortunately, many believe this is the case, only to find themselves suffering severe injuries, expenses, and trauma they were not expecting. When you are injured in an accident, take action for your health, no matter how minor the accident may seem. 

At Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC, we understand that you are in a difficult position and may have discovered that your minor accident was not as insignificant as it seemed. If you are unsure how severe your accident was, reach out for a free consultation about your case and your opportunities to get compensated for all your damages, no matter how minor. When you are ready to take advantage of your free consultation, call us or fill out our quick contact form to learn more.