Is It Worth Getting a Lawyer for a Minor Car Accident?

Published October 14, 2021 by Scott Gottlieb, Injury Law Attorney

If you’ve been involved in a minor car accident in Binghamton, NY, the idea of getting an attorney may seem like more trouble than it’s worth. Maybe you’re confident that your insurance policy will cover all of your medical bills and other accident-related expenses. Or, maybe you’re concerned that the cost of hiring a lawyer will exceed any money you could receive from any financial recovery you receive.

Depending on the circumstances of the particular accident, you may be right. However, in many cases, hiring a car accident lawyer could be in your best interest — and much easier and more affordable than you assume. You should consider consulting with an attorney after a minor car accident because:

You May Have Hidden Injuries

In the aftermath of a car accident, you may be so shocked that you don’t notice certain injuries. Whiplash, mild concussions and other so-called minor injuries from a car accident may not present symptoms for hours or even days after a crash.

However, even a seemingly minor injury may require significant, costly medical treatment. It may have a serious impact on your quality of life and your ability to work. If you feel pain or notice any other symptoms after a minor car accident, a lawyer can help you access the care you need and then seek the compensation you need.

Some Other Guy Did It

You shouldn’t be on the hook for expenses stemming from a car accident that someone else caused. An experienced auto accident attorney can help you receive the financial compensation you deserve for injuries and property damage that wasn’t your fault.

New York is a no-fault insurance state, which means that you will need to go through your own insurance carrier for compensation unless you’ve experienced one or more of the following:

Broken bones
Significant disfigurement
Dismemberment
Permanent damage to a body organ or member
Significant limitations in a body function or system
Substantial disability for 90 days
Death or loss of a fetus

Some of the effects of seemingly minor car accidents may not be immediately apparent. An experienced attorney can help you schedule an examination with a physician or specialist to assess if you have a qualifying injury of which you were initially unaware. After that examination, your attorney will determine whether you can file a third-party claim against the other driver or seek further compensation through a settlement or lawsuit.

Lame Car Insurance Company Tactics

At the end of the day, insurance companies are out to turn a profit. Even your own insurance provider has a bottom line to protect. As a result, any settlement offers you receive are unlikely to be the maximum you deserve for the losses you have suffered.

Insurance companies will use all sorts of excuses to reduce or eliminate the money they owe you. With a seasoned lawyer on your side, you can fight back against these tactics and seek fair compensation for your losses.

You Don’t Have Time for All That

After a minor car accident, painful and lingering injuries can make it difficult to attend to your career, your family, and your other daily responsibilities. It can be difficult to find the time needed to prepare a sound compensation claim.

A Binghamton car accident attorney can manage important documents, paperwork, and deadlines on your behalf while you focus on healing and moving forward.

Attorneys Are Free

If you’re worried about the expense of hiring a lawyer, you should know it’s unlikely you will have to pay any upfront costs. This is because most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis — including Scott C. Gottlieb.

In a contingency fee arrangement, a lawyer agrees to represent a client at no upfront cost and is instead paid a percentage of any money they win for their client. Scott C. Gottlieb, Injury Law Attorney, will answer all of your questions in a free initial consultation. If you decide to hire us afterward, we can get started on your case immediately at no charge to you. You’ll only pay us a percentage of the compensation we secure on your behalf.

How Our Car Accident Attorney Can Help You

At Scott C. Gottlieb, Injury Law Attorney, our full-service law firm can handle every aspect of your Binghamton personal injury claim. We have a long track record of securing favorable results for clients just like you, and we’re eager to place our considerable experience and resources at your disposal.