If you’ve just been in a car accident, you’re likely thinking about your health and safety first. Finding a great lawyer might not cross your mind until weeks (or in some cases, months) down the line. However, Matt Dolman and Stan Gipe remind us that time is of the essence when retaining an auto accident attorney.
You should hire an attorney within one to two days of the accident. Why? There’s an incredible amount of evidence available at the time of the accident that may not be there if you wait. Attorneys immediately begin to gather facts about the accident — like who was at fault or what sort of insurance coverage is available — to maximize a client’s financial recovery and create a roadmap for the best possible plan of action.
What if you want to represent yourself? Matt and Stan warn that the appeal of self-representation is deceiving. Studies show that the individual who is represented by counsel has three times the net recovery than the individual who’s unrepresented, while Insurance companies will take advantage of individuals who choose to represent themselves.
As Stan explains, insurance companies are bullies. There’s going to be a certain number of fights, but they won’t settle every claim. So which fights are they going to pick? They’re going to pick the person who’s least prepared, the person without documentation, and the person without an attorney.
So how do you find the best accident lawyer for your case? Matt and Stan suggest searching locally. An auto accident attorney near you knows the doctors, the documentation, and the key figures who will likely be involved in the case. A local attorney will quickly form a plan of defense and shape a path to help you receive the compensation you deserve.
In this episode:
- [0:34] Why you shouldn’t wait to hire an auto accident attorney
- [1:51] Why is it dangerous to represent yourself in a car accident claim?
- [4:57] How insurance companies will prey on the victim without an attorney
- [6:07] Why it’s important to hire a local car accident lawyer
