One of the fastest ways to get around the city is if you drive your own car. It is fast, it is efficient and it is even enjoyable. But, with so many different vehicles on the road every day, traffic can be very hectic at times. During those hectic moments, there is a very high chance that you could have a car accident. I assume that most people’s reaction to a car accident is calling an attorney. That is a great reaction, but it may not always be the best answer.
Believe it or not, but there are some cases of a car accident where you simply do not need to call on an attorney. Everything can either be settled between the two drivers or with the help of witnesses and a police officer. This effectively reduces the time needed to settle the case. There will be no unnecessary expenses in the future, no need to pay a lawyer or to waste time in court.
However, not calling an attorney can also be a risky move. This is why it is so important to learn in which car accident cases you need or do not need an attorney. It is essential that you have this ability to decide whether such a professional is needed or not. In this article, I am going to help you with exactly that.
1. No injuries
Most car accidents that happened throughout the city are pretty minor and are not serious in any way. For these, I believe that there is no need to call a lawyer because everything can be settled right there at that moment.
Of course, if you have endured some kind of injury and an ambulance has been called, you will definitely need some professional legal help. Because without one, you may have to pay for your hospital bills by yourself and you know how expensive those can get.
You will also need help from a lawyer if the other driver was injured or the passengers in that other vehicle. Without a lawyer, you might have to pay for their hospital bills which can be up to thousands of dollars. If you are not the person at fault, why should you be paying for those bills?
However, if there no injuries and if only properties were damaged, you can both come to an agreement and pay for your damages. Who pays what will depend on who is the person at fault. If both of you cannot come to an agreement, a police officer might examine the scene and decide for you.
2. The insurance company offers you a fair settlement
Obviously, there are sometimes accidents that are much more serious with worse injuries and even worse damage to property. In such a collision, your car can be completely destroyed. It might not even be possible to repair it. That kind of expense can be up to tens of thousands of dollars. If you need to buy a new car, that can be several tens of thousands of dollars.
Naturally, if you are not the person at fault, you will not be willing to pay for your vehicle since you are not in the wrong. In that situation, it is time to call the insurance company.
If it is obvious that the other driver is at fault, the insurance company will be more than willing to provide you with a fair settlement. By fair settlement, I mean an amount of money that will satisfy all your needs. An amount of money that will be able to cover your medical bills and the expenses for your vehicle. If that is the case, there really is no need to call for a lawyer. You have settled for a great amount, that is it.
Although, the story can be quite different sometimes. Even though there is clear evidence that you are innocent in this car accident, the insurance company will try to go against you and will try to reduce the settlements considerably. If the amount of money is not acceptable, it is time to call for a lawyer.
If you or some of your passengers have endured a serious injury and the insurance company is not willing to pay for the settlement, you should definitely call an attorney as suggested by Eric Ramos Law, PLLC.
3. If the other driver is willing to pay for the damage
In certain states, you are legally obligated to call 911 after any kind of car accident. Whether it is minor or major, it does not really matter.
However, there are some states and countries that allow you to determine whether calling a police officer is needed or not. In some minor accidents, it is completely acceptable to skip that part of the process and the situation can be settled by both parties (the drivers).
For example, a person bumps the back of your vehicle and does some minor scratches and dents. The cost for the repair of such damage can be summer around a few hundred dollars. In other words, it is not that expensive. If the person that hit you accepts that it was their mistake, you have already settled the situation. The person can offer settlement through their insurance company or they could even pay in cash.
Keep in mind, whether paying for property damage in cash is legal depends on the location. Certain states and countries may have laws against that.
If that is legal, you cannot just accept the money and there will be no need to call for an attorney. It is a case that can be quickly resolved.
4. You do not need the money
If the car accident was pretty minor and there have been no injuries cost to you or your passengers, is there a need for a settlement? Is the damage to your vehicle bad enough that you need a settlement to repair it? If you do not need the money for the repairs then there is no need to contact a lawyer or insurance company.
I believe there are a few other cases when you do not need to call for an attorney, but these four situations are probably the most common.
