Getting involved in a car accident can get you into problems; from potential injuries incurred to physical damage to your car or property, you’ll have your hands full. Even when there is no victim, the ensuing legal process can take longer than you thought. If the accident isn’t your fault, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Or can you? Getting in touch with a car accident lawyer in Las Vegas can help ensure that your rights are protected.
The aftermath of a car accident may not turn out the way you anticipated. You could find yourself in legal trouble even if you think you weren’t at fault. That’s why it’s always prudent to seek legal counsel immediately after a car accident. This article will explain the importance of getting a lawyer even when you’re not at fault.
Reasons to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer Even When You Aren’t At Fault
In an ideal world, people would own up to their actions, thereby saving all parties a lot of inconveniences. This means that if someone is responsible for a car accident, they would admit their fault. However, this rarely happens in the real world.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, your natural inclination is to assume that everything will be okay because the other party is at fault. This is naïve thinking because the other party may not share your view of how the accident happened. In some cases, you could even find yourself on the hook for the whole accident.
Hiring a car accident lawyer is important after every car accident, regardless of your innocence. The following are the reasons:
1)Crucial Intervention in Case Your Claim is Denied
Just because you think the other party was in the wrong doesn’t mean they’ll share your view. You’ll likely expect a smooth accident claim process if you feel you weren’t to blame for the car accident. However, the other party (or their insurance provider) may have other ideas. The at-fault driver’s insurance party may deny any claims you file. It then puts the burden on you to prove your innocence. You’ll need to gather the necessary evidence to support your claim. Such evidence is usually in the form of:
i)Witness statements
- ii) Video footage of the crash site at the time of the accident
iii) Photos showing the accident scene and the extent of car damage
- iv) Police report
Following up on all these things and collating them to form a comprehensive legal claim is why you need a car accident lawyer. With such evidence, your lawyer can confront the other side and help you get justice.
2) Providing Legal Defense in Case You’re Blamed for the Accident
The worst-case scenario in a car accident is when you’re blamed for it even when it’s not your fault. In addition to the emotional turmoil and physical trauma you may have suffered, you’ll now be looking at possible criminal charges and making a payout to the other party. Of course, what matters is what can be proven in court, not what you believe happened. Unless you’re an experienced car accident lawyer yourself, you’ll find yourself overwhelmed with the whole situation.
Hiring an experienced lawyer in such situations helps ensure that your rights (and freedom) are protected. After all, if the said accident resulted in a fatality and you’re now being blamed, you could find yourself in jail as you await trial.
Your lawyer will help to establish all the facts of your case and find weaknesses in the other side’s claims.
3) Negotiate With the Insurance Company
After a car accident, the at-fault party’s insurance company will send an adjuster. This is the person tasked with investigating the car accident to determine if the company’s policyholder is at fault. Even when the adjuster finds their client to be at fault, they may not want to settle the claim fairly. A common tactic is to present you with an undervalued settlement package. Having an experienced car accident lawyer representing your interests ensures that you do not fall victim to such underhanded tactics by the insurance company. Your lawyer will negotiate a fair settlement with the adjuster. If the adjuster knows that your lawyer is willing to take your case to trial, they’ll usually think twice about cheating you.
Ultimately, it’s advisable to contact a car accident lawyer soon after the accident. Regardless of whether you believe you’re at fault or not, having legal representation ensures that you avoid costly mistakes that could get you into deeper legal trouble.