Do You Need an Attorney If You Were in a Car Accident?

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Navigating the aftermath of any car accident can be difficult, confusing, and time-consuming. People often ask us if you need an attorney if you got in a car accident, and a lot of that depends on how bad the accident was and other crucial factors. 

What Are Your Specific Damages?

When you first get contacted by the other party’s insurance company, it’s trying to make you commit to how injured you are and what property damage you suffered. A lot of us, unfortunately, have been through that process with car damage. The other party’s insurer sends out an appraiser to figure out and assess what repairs have to be done or if your car is totaled, and that's one part of the legal side of what you have to deal with when you get into a car accident.

Sometimes, you don't need an attorney for that portion. We call that the property damage portion of your claim. But if you were injured, we call that the personal injury portion of your claim. A lot of times, you do need an attorney to help you when you've been in an auto accident because the insurance company often devalues the personal injury side of a claim. This is especially true if you don't have a broken bone or any visible injuries.

If your neck hurts or if you need a chiropractor, or maybe you need to go see a massage therapist or an acupuncturist to help you get back to where you were before the accident, you may have suffered soft tissue injuries. The problem with soft tissue injuries and other invisible injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, is that they may take some time to exhibit symptoms.

Put simply, any car accident case that involves injuries must be evaluated by an attorney. The damages you can recover may not only include your medical bills, car repair costs, and lost income, but also financial compensation for reduced quality of life, pain and suffering, and other negative consequences resulting from the car crash and your injuries.

How a Santa Barbara Car Accident Attorney Can Help With Your Claim

Car accident attorneys have the necessary skills, experience, and resources to deal with insurance companies and their legal teams effectively. When you work with our Santa Barbara car accident attorney, they will settle your claim and ensure that your compensation covers all your current, past, and future expenses and take your case to court when the insurance company isn’t playing fair and refusing to offer a fair settlement.

Should your claim head to trial, your attorney will anticipate and deal with all procedural and legal obstacles and ensure that you have a strong claim for financial compensation to secure the most favorable outcomes for your case.

Discuss Your Case With an Experienced Santa Barbara Car Accident Attorney Now

Ultimately, the only way to know if you need an attorney after a car accident is to speak to one about the specific circumstances of your case. At Bamieh & De Smeth, we offer a free initial case review with one of our Santa Barbara car accident attorneys, in which an experienced attorney can assess your case and determine whether it is worth pursuing.

You can arrange your appointment with our Santa Barbara car accident attorney by reaching us online or calling 805-643-5555.