When you can usually handle it yourself
- Nobody was hurt.
- The damage is only to your car.
- The other driver's insurer accepts fault and pays for the repairs.
When it's worth talking to an attorney
- You were hurt, even if it seemed minor at first.
- You've had medical bills or missed work.
- The insurer says you were at fault, or partly at fault.
- You've been offered a settlement quickly.
- The crash involved a truck, a rideshare car, a work vehicle or more than two vehicles.
- The other driver has no insurance, or not enough.
The 3-Point Claim Check
- 1
An injury
You were hurt, even if it didn't seem serious at first.
- 2
Someone else at fault
Another driver or company caused the crash.
- 3
Insurance coverage
There's a policy that may cover what happened.
What an attorney actually does
An injury attorney gathers the evidence, such as police reports, medical records and bills, and works out what your claim includes.
They deal with the insurer for you, so you don't have to handle calls and paperwork while you recover. If the insurer won't make a fair offer, they can file a lawsuit before the deadline.
What it costs
Participating attorneys work on contingency. That means no upfront attorney's fees, and they're only paid if you recover.
The fee is a percentage of what you recover, agreed in writing before you sign anything. Ask how case costs are handled too.
How injury lawyers get paidYou can talk first and decide later
A first call doesn't commit you to anything. You can explain what happened, ask questions and hear your options before you decide.