Getting Legal Advice May Be Helpful

It’s a question people often ask after an automobile accident. Do I need a lawyer? Generally speaking, the more significant your injuries are, the more you should consider getting a lawyer on your side. A lawyer can guide you and offer you strategic advice, whether or not you choose to hire a lawyer. Insurance companies have trained automobile adjusters, and their interests are not aligned with yours. No matter how nice the insurance adjuster seems to be, his or her interests are not congruent with yours.

As a general rule, it’s never a bad idea to consult with a lawyer after an automobile accident, even to get general advice. I spoke today with a client today who does not need an attorney. The accident was minor and all he needed was some general advice so he could approach the insurance company with eyes wide open. There were many things he did not know about that I was able to explain to him.

If this is not your world, there is nothing wrong with seeking the advice of someone who has been part of that world for years.  A good lawyer should tell you when involving an attorney would be a good idea.  Sometimes, it’s not a good idea to get the lawyer involved at the beginning.  Sometimes, you can wait a little while to evaluate your case. Either way, engaging in lengthy discussions with an insurance adjuster about your injuries is rarely in your best interest.  You may end up doing more harm than good to your case. 

So once again, the more serious your injuries are in the more serious the accident is, the more it makes sense to involve a lawyer. If you have nominal damage and nominal injuries, it doesn’t really make sense to involve a lawyer although a lawyer's advice may still prove to be helpful.