- Car Accidents
When you’re involved in a car accident, you may feel angry, scared, and confused. You aren’t sure what to do or who to call. This is especially true if you weren’t physically hurt. You aren’t sure if you need a Douglasville car accident lawyer or not. The best way to find out is to call our office and talk to an attorney who can let you know what your options are.
Most Car Accidents Result in Some Physical Injury
When one of our Douglasville car accident lawyers meet with a plaintiff, it is usually because they were physically hurt in their accident. Perhaps they suffered broken bones or whiplash. They may have been seriously hurt with a traumatic brain injury. These types of physical injuries usually require medical treatment. You may need surgery or long-term physical therapy. This can cost an awful lot of money. If the other driver was at fault, then they should be responsible for these expenses. It would make sense for your attorney to contact the insurance company to negotiate payment of your claim. If need be, they’ll even file suit on your behalf.
Was Your Car Damaged or Destroyed in the Crash?
If you reach out to a Douglasville car accident lawyer to file suit against the other driver, there must be a reason. If you weren’t hurt in the accident, then the only type of damages you can demand would be for your vehicle. This means that your vehicle was either damaged or destroyed in the crash. If there are only a few thousand dollars in damages, it may not make sense to sue. Or, if the only expense you’ve experienced in relation to the crash was your deductible, you wouldn’t want to take legal action. This doesn’t mean your car accident lawyer won’t be able to send a simple demand letter to the defendant’s lawyer or insurance company. However, that may be all they are able to do.
Your Douglasville Car Accident Lawyer Must Prove Damages
In any lawsuit, a plaintiff must prove damages in order to recover compensation. In most cases, this means your attorney can submit proof of the following damages:
- Medical bills and future medical bills
- Property loss
- Lost income and lost future income
- Pain and suffering
In cases where an accident victim is seriously hurt, the lion’s share of their damages may come from pain and suffering. If you weren’t physically injured, you won’t be entitled to pain and suffering. Your recovery will be limited to the damages your attorney can prove. For example, if your car was destroyed in the crash, they’ll have to submit proof of what it’ll cost to replace your vehicle. This will be comparable to the money your own insurance company would pay for a total loss. It will not be equal to the amount it will cost to purchase a new vehicle.
Your Attorney Will Evaluate What Your Case is Worth
During your consultation, your attorney will review your case to see what it’s worth. Just because you didn’t suffer physical injuries doesn’t mean it isn’t worth anything. If your car was totaled and the insurance company won’t pay to replace it, you may have a valid legal claim. The same is true if your car was damaged and it’ll cost thousands of dollars to fix it. Just keep in mind, your Douglasville car accident lawyer can only sue for damages they can prove. Once your case is settled, your lawyer will be entitled to a third of your settlement proceeds. This means you will not walk away with the same kind of damages you would if you had been hurt. For example, you won’t be entitled to pain and suffering damages if you weren’t hurt. Your damages will be limited to the value of your vehicle.
Call to Schedule Your Free Consultation with a Douglasville Car Accident Lawyer Anyway
It is true that your Douglasville car accident lawyer only accepts cases that have merit. But the only way to know if your case is worth enough to sue is to meet with an attorney. The best thing to do now is to call our office and schedule your free, initial consultation. You can sit down with an experienced attorney who will give you an idea of what your case is worth. Without any physical injury, there’s a chance your case isn’t worth enough to warrant legal action. Your attorney will be honest with you. If they don’t feel it makes sense to sue, they’ll tell you. The last thing they want to do is waste your time or their time.
