When to Call a Lawyer After a Car Accident

If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you likely have a great deal of questions that are weighing heavily on your mind. Your first concern should always be your health, wellbeing, and safety and the health and safety of those around you. Make sure everyone gets the medical attention they need—even if injuries are not immediately obvious—and make everything else a secondary priority.

After everyone involved in the crash has received the medical attention they need, you may wonder what actions to take next and under what circumstances it makes sense to call a car accident attorney—and when they should be notified. In general, calling a lawyer as soon as possible after a crash is highly recommended. Not only can an experienced lawyer help you navigate every step that comes afterwards including dealing with pesky insurance agents, but reaching out to one can bring peace of mind.

When you have a lawyer on your side, they will be happy to deal with any insurance matters on your behalf. Additionally, you’ll be able to defer to them if any questions about the accident arise or if the other driver’s insurer tries to insist that you settle early.

How Do I Know if I Need an Attorney?

If you’re questioning whether it’s a good idea to call a personal injury attorney after your accident, there are a few situations where a lawyer can help you the most. Here are just some of those situations:

• When you or your loved one’s injuries were severe (this can include anything from broken bones to back injuries, internal organ damage, serious burns, or spinal cord injuries)
• When a loved one’s life was lost
• It’s not clear how the accident was caused or who caused it
• The police report does not accurately state what happened
• You have concerns about your insurance status, liability limits, or about the other driver’s insurance status or liability limitations
• You have concerns about how your insurance company is treating you or handling the accident
• You have concerns about how the other driver’s insurance company is treating you or handling the accident
• The accident occurred in a protected zone or may have been caused due to an unmaintained road condition or defective vehicle
• The accident involved multiple victims

In addition to the above situations, you should consider contacting a lawyer after an accident if your instincts tell you—in any way—that something seems “off” about the crash, how it happened, how the police handled it, how your insurer handled it, or how the other driver’s insurance company proceeded to handle it. Our first instincts about situations are often correct, and if something seems off to you or not right, you have every right to seek the aid of an attorney.

At Urban & Taylor, S.C., our attorneys are happy to speak with you about your accident at no obligation or cost to you. If you were injured in a car crash in Milwaukee or anywhere in Wisconsin, we encourage you to give us a call today or contact us online. With our help, you can potentially learn how and why the accident occurred and get help to aid your recovery process.