Car accidents affect nearly everyone who drives and are often caused by other drivers or outside factors. According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, nearly 20,000 accidents happen every day on U.S. roads. If you are among the many who find themselves in an accident, you should retain an experienced car accident attorney. Here are six reasons why you need the help of an attorney after a car accident.

1. File Strongly Supported Insurance Claims

Your attorney can help you gather the evidence needed to support your auto insurance claims and any others you might need to file due to the accident. If you were injured and missed work, your attorney can help you file claims for your out-of-pocket medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Your attorney can help you obtain medical treatment as needed, including physical therapy that helps track your healing process, the extent of injuries, and the level of pain. If you suffer a temporary or permanent disability, your attorney can help you include that in any insurance claim or seek compensation in court when possible.

2. Help Hold Liable Parties Accountable

Many drivers who cause accidents lie to elude liability. If you are injured and riding to the local emergency room in an ambulance, a driver who might have caused the accident is the first person talking to any responding police. The offending driver might claim you caused the accident and lie about the details. If that happens to you, a car accident attorney can help you challenge any false information that might be included in a police report and oppose any wrongfully issued traffic tickets. Your attorney also can help identify any potentially liable third parties, such as a negligent road construction crew that created a dangerous condition.

3. Depose Witnesses and Offending Drivers

An experienced car accident attorney also can depose any witnesses who might have been in one of the vehicles involved in the accident or witnessed it from outside your vehicle. Your attorney can question the offending driver and anyone that driver might claim witnessed the accident. If their stories contradict one another or evidence shows they lied or otherwise provided false information, that could be used to strengthen your case while holding the liable motorist or another party accountable for causing the accident.

4. Ensure Fair and Prompt Insurance Settlements

Whenever someone is injured in an auto accident, there's a good chance an insurance representative will try to offer a substandard settlement. Insurers know that many people who are injured in accidents experience short-term financial trouble due to an inability to work for a while, unpaid medical costs, and possibly paying at least a deductible amount to fix or replace the wrecked vehicle. Your attorney can help stop an insurer from lowballing the settlement amount hoping that you accept it and save them some money. Your attorney also can help make sure an insurer pays a fair settlement promptly in accordance with state law.

5. Stop Unwanted Contact From Insurers and Attorneys

When you're in a car accident that involves one or more vehicles or parties, there's a good chance they'll obtain legal help. They likely will file insurance claims, and that will trigger calls from insurance adjusters. When you retain the services of an experienced car accident attorney, your attorney can stop calls from insurers, opposing attorneys, and others until the case is resolved. You just need to tell anyone who calls that you retained an attorney and give them your attorney's contact information. The same goes for any opposing attorneys, who will have to communicate through your attorney's law firm instead of contacting you.

6. Prevent Related Debt Collections Activities

While your case is being resolved, your attorney can stop any related debt-collection activities. You only need to contact any parties that are trying to collect debts that are directly related to the accident and provide them with your attorney's contact information. Once the matter is settled, your attorney can use any settlement money that you might get to pay off the remaining debts after first deducting the legal fee.

If you were in an accident, you can call our friendly staff at The Law Office of J.C. "Pit" Martin, P.C. to schedule an initial consultation with an experienced car accident attorney to review your case. We look forward to hearing from you and working with you in the near future!