You should get a personal injury lawyer after a car accident if you were injured, the other driver disputes fault, the insurance offer seems low, or multiple parties were involved.
While minor accidents with no injuries might not require legal representation, most motor vehicle collisions benefit from professional legal guidance.
A personal injury attorney can protect your rights, negotiate with insurance companies, and help you recover the full compensation you deserve.
Key Takeaways After a Car Accident
- Hire a lawyer if you were injured or if fault is disputed, the insurance offer is low, or multiple parties were involved.
- Monge & Associates has recovered over $1 billion for injury victims nationwide and holds a 10.0 Avvo Rating for excellence in personal injury law.
- An experienced attorney protects your rights and ensures you don’t settle for less than your case is worth.
- Early legal help matters: evidence fades quickly, and your lawyer can preserve crucial proof to strengthen your claim.
- No upfront fees: you pay nothing unless Monge & Associates wins your case.
Free consultation · No upfront fees · No obligation
When You Definitely Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident
If any of the following circumstances apply to your accident, contacting a car accident lawyer should be your priority:
- You Sustained Serious Injuries: If your accident resulted in significant injuries requiring medical treatment, hospitalization, surgery, or ongoing care, you need an attorney. Serious injuries lead to substantial medical bills, extended time off work, and lasting physical or emotional effects. Insurance companies often minimize the severity, but a lawyer will properly document and value your injuries.
- Fault Is Being Disputed: When the other driver denies responsibility or claims you were partially at fault, you need legal representation to protect your interests. Insurance adjusters may try to shift blame to reduce their liability, even when the evidence clearly shows the other driver caused the collision. An attorney will gather police reports, witness statements, traffic camera footage, and accident reconstruction expert testimony to establish fault and counter false claims against you.
- Multiple Parties Were Involved: Accidents involving several vehicles or parties create complicated liability questions. Determining who is responsible and to what degree requires careful legal analysis. A personal injury lawyer navigates these complex situations and helps hold all liable parties accountable.
- The Insurance Company Offers a Low Settlement: If you receive a settlement offer that seems inadequate given your injuries and losses, do not accept it without consulting an attorney. Insurance companies can make quick offers, hoping you will accept before understanding the full extent of your damages. A lawyer knows the true value of your claim and won’t let you settle for less.
- Your Claim Was Denied: If the insurance company denies your claim entirely, you need legal help immediately. Denials can happen for various reasons—some legitimate, others not. An attorney can review the denial, identify weaknesses in the insurance company’s reasoning, and appeal the decision or pursue legal action to get you the compensation you deserve.
- You’re Dealing with a Commercial Vehicle: Accidents involving commercial trucks, delivery vehicles, or company cars involve different rules and often multiple liable parties. The trucking company, vehicle owner, maintenance provider, or cargo company might all share responsibility. These cases require knowledge of federal and state commercial vehicle regulations that most people aren’t familiar with.
What a Personal Injury Lawyer Does for Your Case
A personal injury lawyer serves as your advocate throughout the entire claims process.
From the moment you hire them, they take over communication with insurance companies and conduct a thorough investigation of your accident.
They will also document your damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering.
Many people underestimate the full value of their claim, but an attorney knows what compensation you are entitled to receive.
Throughout negotiations, your lawyer will handle all the legal paperwork and meet important deadlines.
Personal injury cases involve strict time limits called statutes of limitations, and missing these deadlines can cost you your right to compensation.
Your attorney verifies that all documents are filed correctly and on time.
If negotiations do not result in a fair settlement, your lawyer will be prepared to take your case to trial.
While most car accident claims settle out of court, having an attorney who’s ready and willing to go to trial strengthens your negotiating position.
Perhaps most importantly, your lawyer provides objective guidance during a stressful time.
After an accident, you are dealing with injuries, medical appointments, vehicle repairs, and more.
Having someone who can objectively assess your case and advise you on the best course of action is invaluable.
How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?
Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not pay anything upfront.
Instead, your attorney receives a percentage of your settlement or court award, typically between 33% and 40%.
If you do not win your case, you don’t owe attorney fees.
Beyond attorney fees, there may be case expenses such as court filing fees, expert witness fees, medical record retrieval costs, and investigation expenses.
Some law firms cover these costs upfront and deduct them from your settlement, while others may require you to pay them regardless of the outcome.
Make sure you understand your firm’s policy on case expenses during your initial consultation.
How Soon After the Accident Should You Contact an Attorney?
You should consult a personal injury attorney within days or weeks of your accident.
Early involvement allows your attorney to preserve important pieces of evidence before it disappears.
Skid marks fade, witnesses’ memories become less reliable, and accident scene conditions change. The sooner your lawyer can investigate, the stronger your case will be.
There are also legal deadlines to consider. In most states, you have between one and three years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit.
While that might seem like plenty of time, the claims process often takes months or even years to resolve. Starting early prevents you from missing these deadlines.
What to Do After a Car Accident
If you are involved in a car accident, here is what to do:
- Check for injuries and call 911 if anyone needs medical attention
- Call the police to file an official accident report
- Exchange information with the other driver
- Take photos of vehicle damage, the accident location, road conditions, and any visible injuries
- Gather witness contact information if anyone saw the accident
- Seek medical attention right away
- Avoid discussing fault or apologizing at the scene
- Contact a personal injury attorney before accepting any settlement offers
Get in Touch with Monge & Associates Today
If you have been injured in a car accident, trust Monge & Associates to fight for you.
Our personal injury attorneys have the experience and resources to handle your case while you focus on recovery.
With a 10.0 Avvo Rating and thousands of five-star reviews, we know what it takes to help car accident victims move forward with their lives.
Contact us today at (888) 477-0597 to schedule your free consultation and take the first step toward justice.