Is It Worth Getting A Lawyer For A Car Accident?

In the immediate aftermath of a car wreck, it can be difficult to know what to do next. You may be facing pain, injuries, high medical bills, and time away from work you and your family cannot afford.

Some accident victims believe that handling a car accident case is a relatively straightforward process and that hiring an attorney may simply be an additional, unnecessary expense. This, however, is often not the case. After suffering a serious injury, it is almost always in your best interest to discuss your case with a seasoned attorney. A lawyer can assess the merits of your case, explain your rights, and clarify your legal options.

Injury victims who hire lawyers tend to obtain considerably higher settlements in auto accident lawsuits than people who choose to handle their claims alone. Knowledge and experience make a significant difference when pursuing full and fair compensation.

The Bishop Law Group has been serving clients in Baltimore, Ocean City, and other Maryland areas for years. Accomplished car accident lawyer Brian Bishop is committed to helping his clients recover the justice and compensation they need to move forward with their lives.

Why hire an attorney for your car accident case? A car accident lawyer can help by:

1. Assessing The Merits Of Your Claim

During an initial consultation, an experienced car accident lawyer will listen to your side of the story and assess the merits of your claim. Most personal injury firms, including The Bishop Law Group, charge no fee for this initial discussion.

Brian Bishop believes in providing honest feedback to every prospective client. If he determines that you do not have a strong case, he will tell you right away; you won’t be led on with vague expectations and false hope. If he believes you have a valid claim, and you choose to work together going forward, he will handle your case on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you will not be charged attorney’s fees unless a favorable outcome is achieved in your case.

2. Applying Knowledge Of Maryland Laws

The vast majority of people who suffer injuries in traffic collisions do not fully know and understand the Maryland laws that apply to their situations. Car accident lawyers can review complex cases and determine which laws factor into your specific claim. A lawyer benefits your pursuit of justice with a comprehensive understanding of Maryland’s traffic and insurance laws and how those laws are interpreted in the courts.

When recovering from a serious injury, all of your time and effort should be focused on healing, not researching how to file a personal injury claim and looking up what evidence is admissible and what legal precedents to cite. The legal process is complex, and you only have a limited amount of time in which to get it right.

A car accident lawyer can provide a wealth of knowledge regarding applicable laws and help you present your best case.

3. Investigating The Facts In Your Case And Gathering Pertinent Evidence

Personal injury cases hinge on proving negligence. This requires evidence. Law firms that regularly handle car accident claims have access to investigative resources and subject-matter experts that can make a significant impact on your case.

An attorney will oversee a thorough investigation and gather pertinent evidence to support your claim, such as:

• Photographs
• Security camera videos
• Witness accounts
• Medical records
• Police reports
• Police body-worn cameras
• 911 recordings

At The Bishop Law Group, our lawyers utilize private investigators to take photographs of accident scenes and interview defendant drivers. We also issue preservation letters to drivers to inform them of their obligation to preserve all communications they have made after the wreck.

4. Evaluating The Extent Of Your Injuries

It is essential that injury victims receive prompt medical attention after a crash and follow their doctors’ instructions closely. While doctors are skilled at determining how injuries affect a person’s health and body, car accident attorneys take a close view at how injuries affect the full scope of a person’s life.

A seasoned car accident lawyer has seen a wide range of severe injuries caused by traffic wrecks, such as:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Neck and back injuries
• Soft tissue damage
• Broken and fractured bones
• Damage to internal organs

In fatal crashes, a car accident lawyer can help surviving family members seek justice after the loss of a loved one. Wrongful death claims are intended to help the families of those killed by someone’s negligence recover damages for their considerable losses.

5. Calculating The True Value Of Your Claim

Most people who handle their own car accident claims tend to focus only on their immediate financial losses. They look at their medical bills and property damage and take whatever low settlement the insurance company offers.

A skilled car accident lawyer looks at every way a wreck impacts your life, accounting for the physical, financial, and emotional losses that affect you today and will continue to impact your life and wellbeing in the future. This can include losses such as your current and future:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Diminished earning capacity
• Disfigurement and scarring
• Disability
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life

The first step toward recovering justice for your injuries is understanding the full scope of how your injuries have impacted – and will impact – your life. A knowledgeable attorney will help you understand the true value of your compensable damages.

6. Negotiating With The Insurance Company

Insurance companies are in the business of making money, not paying out claims. If you’ve been hurt in a wreck, the insurance company will do everything it can to give you the lowest settlement possible. The insurance company knows you may be frightened and desperate during this difficult time, and they use this to their advantage to delay, devalue, or outright deny your claim.

At The Bishop Law Group, we know the tactics used by insurance companies, and we are committed to fighting for the maximum compensation to which you may be entitled under the law. We are not intimidated by large insurers and their vast legal teams. We meticulously prepare every case as though it will go to trial, and we leverage our knowledge and determination to help our clients recover fair compensation.

Insurance companies know what attorneys and law firms tend to settle. However, The Bishop Law Group has built a reputation as a trial attorney law firm. We achieve exceptional results because when our attorneys say they will file a lawsuit, the insurance companies know we mean it.

7. Taking Your Case To Court If A Fair Settlement Cannot Be Negotiated

If a fair outcome cannot be achieved through negotiation, your attorney may recommend taking your claim before a judge or jury. If your case goes to trial, it is crucial that you do not face the legal system alone. An experienced attorney knows the timelines and processes of legal actions. A lawyer knows how to effectively prepare for trial and how to present your most compelling case.

The Bishop Law Group is a trial law firm. From the very beginning of every case, we prepare for the possibility that the claim will ultimately go to court. We take pride in our history of successful litigation and the difference we have made in the lives of our clients.

Call A Baltimore Car Accident Lawyer Today

Don’t face your injuries and legal process alone. If you have been injured because of someone’s reckless or careless actions, you deserve justice. The experienced car accident lawyers at The Bishop Law Group can help.

See what our clients say about us.

Contact attorney Brian Bishop today online or at (410) 680-3617 for a free initial consultation. The Bishop Law Group serves clients throughout Maryland, including Baltimore, Ocean City, and other areas.