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Attorneys Answer: When Do You Need to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?

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Attorneys Answer: When Do You Need to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?

If you have been hurt in an auto accident, you should consult an experienced car accident lawyer as soon after your accident as possible. A lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and help protect your right to recover compensation.

When someone else’s negligence is responsible for your injuries, you could be entitled to significant compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. However, the insurance company will not make it easy for you to get paid. An experienced lawyer can help you combat the insurance company’s tactics and get the money you deserve.


Here are answers to common questions regarding when to hire a car accident lawyer.

How Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help Me?

How Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help Me?

It is always a good idea to consult an auto accident lawyer after being involved in a crash. After all, most of them offer free consultations anyway. Madison car accident attorneys can advise you of your legal rights and help you put together the best strategy to be successful with your claim. They can also:

Investigate Your Accident

Some accidents result in many questions about what really happened. To succeed with a personal injury claim, you must prove that the other driver was at fault. An experienced attorney can help investigate your accident to determine exactly what caused it and who was responsible.

Gather Evidence and Interview Witnesses

Proving your case usually requires presenting as much evidence as possible. A lawyer can help you gather evidence from the scene, such as photos and potential surveillance footage. Additionally, your legal team can talk to witnesses who were present and can use their testimony to help prove your case.

In some situations, your car accident lawyer might decide to hire experts to help bolster your case. This could include crash reconstructionists who can reliably testify about how the accident occurred.

Calculate the Value of Your Damages

By filing a personal injury claim, you are seeking compensation for your damages. This can include both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are fairly easy to prove, and they can include:

  • Medical bills
  • Lost wages
  • Property damage
  • Physical therapy
  • Rehabilitation

Non-economic damages can be more difficult to calculate. These damages compensate you for your pain and suffering. An experienced attorney can help you accurately determine the value of all your damages to ensure the insurance company does not take advantage of you.

Negotiate a Full Settlement

Many car accident claims settle out of court. Avoiding a trial can help you get your settlement check quicker and keep your expenses lower. A car accident lawyer can negotiate with the insurance company to settle your case out of court for an amount that fully compensates you for your injuries.

File a Lawsuit

There are times when the insurance company simply refuses to make a fair offer to accident victims. Your lawyer can file a lawsuit and litigate your case when that happens. Going to trial is necessary in some cases, and it may be the only way that you can receive a full and fair recovery.

How Do I Know if I Should Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?

Insurance companies often make quick settlement offers to victims. This may be done in an effort to avoid hiring a lawyer. However, the settlement offer may be much lower than what your case is actually worth.

There are several factors that can make a car accident case complex. Although it is a good idea to always talk to a lawyer after an accident, there are some situations in which you should definitely hire a car accident lawyer. Those include:

  • You suffered complex or catastrophic injuries.
  • There are multiple defendants or at-fault parties.
  • You have injuries that have permanent effects or require ongoing treatment.
  • The insurance company denied your claim or refuses to negotiate.

Although it is possible to handle a simple claim on your own, you should always talk to a lawyer about more complex claims.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?

Accident victims often worry about the cost of hiring a lawyer. They are often dealing with a pile of medical bills, and they may be missing time from work because of their injuries. Thankfully, hiring a car accident lawyer does not cost anything upfront.

Car accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means that their fee is taken as a portion of any compensation the victim is awarded. If the lawyer does not win the case, they will not receive a fee.

Contingency fees in car accident cases often range from 33% to 40% of the total compensation granted to the victim. These fees can vary based on:

  • Location
  • The lawyer’s track record
  • The lawyer’s experience with similar cases
  • The complexity of the case and injuries
  • Whether the case settles or goes to trial

Contingency fee agreements in Wisconsin must be in writing and signed by the client. The agreement should clearly state how the fee will be calculated and specify any additional expenses that will be deducted from the case’s proceeds.

How Can I Get Help After a Car Accident?

If you have been hurt in a car accident in Madison, you should seek the help of an experienced car accident lawyer right away. You have a limited amount of time to file a claim for damages after an accident, and waiting too long can cause you to lose your right to compensation. At Eisenberg Law Offices, S.C., we can help you through the claims process from start to finish. 

Contact us today at (608) 256-8356 to schedule a free consultation with a Madison car accident lawyer, and let us get started helping you.

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