About Me

From Traditional to Innovative: Blogs About Legal Matters

There have been a few times in my life that I have needed a lawyer, and during those times, their help was invaluable. I worked with lawyers during the custody battle for my kids, when I dissolved the partnership for my business and after I suffered an injury at work. In this blog, I plan to write about the law from a range of angles. I may share posts inspired by my personal experiences, what's popular in the news or what strikes my fancy when I'm writing. I have a daughter, Oliva. I manage a medical clinic, and I love blogging. I hope you like the results. My name is Melinda, and thanks for reading!

From Traditional to Innovative: Blogs About Legal Matters

When You May Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident

by Júnia Melo

It may not be necessary to contact a lawyer after every minor fender bender, if you can easily get your car fixed and aren't suffering any types of injuries. However, this doesn't mean that you should go without legal counsel if the accident has been serious and if you are injured, even if you have insurance and are getting medical treatment. Note when it may be good to call a lawyer after a car accident and why their advice can be so valuable.

1. If your injuries may be long-term

An insurance company may be paying your medical bills now, but if your injuries are long-term, you may find that they soon stop paying sometime down the road. It can be complicated to have a lawyer step in long after the car accident happened, which is one reason why it's best to involve him or her from the very beginning. This can ensure that the insurance company doesn't stop reimbursing you for those costs, no matter how long after the accident you need to continue receiving medical care.

2. If you or the other party doesn't have adequate insurance

If the other party involved in the accident doesn't have adequate insurance or had no insurance at all, your own insurance company may not want to pay for all damages to the car and for all your medical care. You may need to actually sue the other driver for reimbursement for expenses beyond what their minimal insurance policy covers or because they didn't have insurance to protect them against liability.

If you have very minimal insurance or went without insurance at all, you also may need to sue the other driver for costs beyond what your minimal policy will cover. You may also face a liability suit if you were at fault and your own insurance won't pay the full cost of their damages, or when you have no insurance at all. In any case, if the insurance policies are not adequate to cover the cost of damages and medical care, a lawyer's help and advice will be needed.

3. If the roads or signs were inadequate

In some cases, your accident may not have been caused by another driver but because the roads were not safe, there was not proper signage or lighting in an area, and the like. In those cases, the city or state may be liable for the damage to your car and your injuries. Rather than trying to figure out how to get them to reimburse you for any costs not covered by your own insurance, you would do well to speak to a lawyer and have him or her file a claim for you.

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