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Auto Accidents

Auto Accidents If you've recently been in an auto accident, you may be concerned about working with insurance companies, recovering from any injuries you suffered, and repairing your car. But if you were the victim in an automobile accident, you should also be thinking about whether an auto accident lawyer can help you recover money to pay your accident-related bills and compensate you for pain and suffering. When an accident is serious enough to cause fatal or severe injuries, or if alcohol was involved, the state will probably prosecute the driver who was at fault. But for all other car accidents, you, the other driver, and your insurance companies may be left to deal with medical bills and car repair expenses. Often these issues are ultimately resolved in court. Causes of Automobile Accidents There are many causes of automobile accidents. Among the more common: Distracted drivers, including drivers who are talking on the phone or texting, rubbe...
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Who Pays for the Medical & Car Repair Bills After an Auto Accident?

Who Pays for the Medical & Car Repair Bills After an Auto Accident? The answer to this question depends on your own financial resources and the circumstances of the accident. Typical sources of compensation for damages sustained in a car accident include: damages sustained are minor and do not cost a lot of money, paying for the loss out-of-pocket should be considered. There is no third party involvement when you pay for your own loss, no long investigation, no change in your insurance and generally less hassle. When your losses exceed what you can handle, other sources of compensation should be explored. In the case of minor injuries in a car accident, you can likely represent yourself in the claim as opposed to hiring an attorney. Your Car Insurance Company  -  Whether your insurance will compensate you for your loss depends on the insurance contract. In many contracts, there are considerations for both first party (you and ...
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Types of Car Accident Compensation

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Types of Car Accident Compensation Millions of car accidents occur each year injuring people and damaging property. Where an accident is minor, many people simply file police reports, inform their insurance company, but pay the losses out of their own pocket. However, when an accident isn't minor, it's important to realize that you can be compensated not only for the damage to your vehicle, but for other damages as well. If you're injured in a car accident, you'll likely incur expenses related to the accident such as medical treatment, rehabilitation, renting a car or using a taxi while your car is being repaired. It's likely that while your expenses increase, you may lose income due to your inability to work. In addition, you may also lose the ability to perform various activities of normal daily living, in both the short and long term, and may also endure pain and suffering as a result of the accident. You can be compensa...
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How Insurance Companies Calculate Car Accident Settlements

How Insurance Companies Calculate Car Accident Settlements You were just in a car wreck. You call in the accident claim and a few days later, you receive a settlement letter from the insurance company. The amount of the settlement is far less than you expected, and certainly less than you need for a replacement vehicle. Your next thought is, “How can this be?” When it comes to calculating settlements, the insurance industry does not have a precise mathematical formula because each case is different. They do, however, use a variety of factors to determine the amount of compensation they are willing to pay on a certain automobile accident claim. These factors include the nature of the property damage in a car accident, whether the claim involves a personal injury, and the policy limits of the applicable insurance policies. Settlement Factors for Damaged Vehicles Settlement Factors for Injuries Settlement for Pain and Suffering If your claim only in...
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Auto Accident Insurance Claims Process

An auto accident insurance claim always begins with an accident. If you are involved in a car accident, there are some very important things you should do at the accident site to the extent you can. At the first opportunity, you should report the accident with your insurance carrier and begin the process of filing a claim. After you have submitted your claim, a claims adjuster (someone who works for the insurance company and deals exclusively with claims) will either call, write or email you regarding your claim. He or she will then look at your policy to determine the types of coverage you have, deductibles, and any coverage limits that may affect your claim. If your claim is simple (i.e., fault is not at issue, the damage was minimal, and little or no medical treatment was necessary), the adjuster may have you get an estimate for repairs and then send you a check. You will have to fill out some paperwork, but you may not have to meet with the adjuster in person. If ...
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How to Report Your Car Accident to the Insurance Company

How to Report Your Car Accident to the Insurance Company   After a crash, one of your top priorities is to report the car accident to the insurance company. This will prompt the insurance company to open a claim and begin investigating to determine who is at fault for the accident, and who should pay for the damages. After you report a car accident, you will be asked questions about the details of the crash and it is important to know what to say, and what  not  to say, as your claim is being investigated. What to Collect at the Scene of the Car Accident After a car accident, you need to know what information you should gather at the scene of the accident. It is important to obtain all the necessary personal and insurance information from the other driver(s) involved. This includes: The driver's name The owner of the car (if not the same) The passenger's name and address The year, make and model of the vehicle(s) involved Th...
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How Much Lawyers Cost: 5 Factors That Affect Lawyers’ Rates

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How Much Lawyers Cost: 5 Factors That Affect Lawyers’ Rates “How much do lawyers cost,” you ask?  Great question. The answer (like the answer to most legal questions) is, “it depends.” To find out how much lawyers cost, you must turn to a number of different factors that affect the pricing.  The top 5 factors that determine how much lawyers cost are as follows: Billing method and pricing structure The size and prestige of the law firm The area of law, or the type of legal work being done The experience level of the lawyer The location where the legal services are being performed Lawyers’ Billing Method Billing in the legal industry is typically done hourly.  This means most of the time, lawyers cost an amount proportionate to the time they spend working on your case.   A particular lawyer’s hourly rate will depend on the other 4 factors discussed below.  In general, hourly rates will vary between $150-5...
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