Should I Hire a Lawyer After a Car Accident?

By Zane T. Cagle | February 13, 2021 | Car Accidents

Being involved in a car accident is traumatic, difficult, and confusing. It can be hard knowing what your rights are, and it can be even harder dealing with uncooperative insurance companies.

In instances like these, you may think to yourself: Should I hire a lawyer after a car accident? Is it really worth it? Can’t I trust the insurance company to take care of me?

The truth is, only you can decide if hiring a personal injury attorney is right for you. Before you make that decision, though, here are some things to keep in mind:

Is Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer Worth It?

The two biggest things a car accident lawyer brings to the table are knowledge and experience. The world of personal injury law is tricky and full of pitfalls. It’s easy to make mistakes when you’re out of your comfort zone. The problem is that making even a small mistake when pursuing a car accident claim can be a disaster for your case.

For example, the average person may not realize how important evidence and eyewitness accounts are in pursuing personal injury compensation. More so, they may not realize just what kind of evidence is crucial to a case or how to go about contacting witnesses. A good car accident attorney collects evidence, often hires investigators, and assembles this crucial information to support your claim.

These are not things you want or should worry about while recuperating from car accident injuries, but they’re essential elements of building a case. The longer you wait to obtain evidence and talk to witnesses, the more likely those things won’t be available. Memories and tire marks fade. Traffic surveillance camera footage is deleted. If you hire a lawyer quickly, your lawyer can quickly collect and record these things for you to ensure you have the strongest case possible.

Why Can’t I Trust Insurance Companies?

Having good insurance can make all the difference when recovering from a car accident, but that doesn’t mean the auto insurance companies are always on your side. It’s important to remember that car insurance is a for-profit business, one in which companies make the most of their money by not paying claims and selling many policies.

Insurance companies have a wide range of tactics they use to avoid compensating car accident victims. They may delay responding to your inquiries while they wait for the statute of limitations to pass, freeing them from their responsibility. They may try to deny your claim outright by claiming that the accident was caused by your own inattentive driving, even when that’s not the case. They may dispute the severity of your injuries or that said injuries were caused by your car accident.

Even when insurance companies express a willingness to compensate you, the amount they offer to pay is often far less than what you’re legally entitled. A good personal injury attorney knows how to negotiate a better settlement for you and how to spot the various tricks that companies may employ against you.

Call a Car Accident Attorney in St. Louis Today

For some people, the stress and hassle of filing a personal injury claim is something they’d rather avoid entirely. However, at The Cagle Law Firm, we believe that attaining justice for our clients is always worth the effort. A St. Louis car accident lawyer from the Cagle Law Firm will happily walk you through every step of the process, provide valuable advice, and take the bulk of the stress and hassle upon themselves so that you can heal in peace, knowing your case is in good hands.

To discuss your case with a personal injury attorney, contact The Cagle Law Firm now. Call toll-free 1(800) 685-3302 or locally (314) 276-1681.

About The Author

Zane T. Cagle

Zane T. Cagle is the founding president and lead trial attorney at The Cagle Law Firm. With a strong dedication to his clients, he has built a reputation for his tenacious representation in personal injury cases, ensuring each client's unique story is heard. Areas of Practice: Personal injury, motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death. Bar Admissions: Supreme Court of Missouri, Illinois & Kentucky. Superior Court of U.S. Virgin Islands Education: Washington University School of Law. Awards: Super Lawyers, Top 40 Under 40 by The National Trial Lawyers Association, 10 Best in Missouri for Customer Satisfaction.

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