It’s not a trick question. If you’ve broken a bone, you’re going to want to look for a doctor who knows a lot about fixing broken bones. The same logic applies to hiring a lawyer after a serious car accident. If you or a loved one was hurt in the collision, you probably shouldn’t call your tax attorney for help, though this person should be able to refer you to someone who can. You should hire an experienced attorney specializing in personal injury law.
Personal Injury Law is Complex
Some people may think, “car accident cases are easy, any lawyer can handle them.” But like tax law, insurance policies and personal injury law is full of its own unique complexities. For example, if you were involved in a multi-vehicle collision, there are could be multiple insurance carriers that need to be contacted to determine available coverage and which party is liable for the harms caused by the wreck. There is vital evidence that must be collected and you can be quite certain each insurance company involved is going to have a defense attorney ready to try to minimize your claim.
What if the driver who hit you does not have auto insurance, or has minimal coverage? A general practitioner may not understand the nuances of uninsured and underinsured motorist law. What about potentially stacking your medical expense benefits? Again, this is where hiring an experienced Bellingham personal injury lawyer pays dividends.
Lawyers are not “one-size-fits-all.” In fact, most attorneys are specialists. When a lawyer specializes in personal injury law, it means they spend the majority of their days representing injured folks in their time of need. They understand how to negotiate with claims adjusters and are not afraid to take your case all the way to trial.
Reputation Matters to the Insurance Companies
If you file an injury claim with an insurnace company, even your own insurance company, a component of their evaluation of your claim may be the experience and success rate of the attorney you hired. If your lawyer has a track record of taking cases to trial and getting large verdicts, that is likely to play a factor in the insurance company’s calculus for whether to settle your claim or not. This is why hiring a highly experienced car accident lawyer is such a tremendous benefit. Luckily you have one right here in Bellingham, yours truly. Check out my Avvo rating here, and a video on why this rating is important.
I’m on a Budget – Can I Really Afford an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer?
Yes. The vast majority of personal injury attorneys in Bellingham and across the Whatcom county region work on a contingency fee basis. This basically means that you can hire an experienced car accident lawyer without paying anything up front and your lawyer will only get compensated when, or if, your case gets resolved through a settlement, judgment, or jury verdict. This means hiring a seasoned personal injury attorney is a low risk, high reward proposition.
I’ve been practicing personal injury law for twenty plus years. I’m happy to call Bellingham my home and to serve this community. My practice relies on doing good work, because I believe that it’s this kind of track record that builds relationships. Check out what others have to say about my law practice here, and view my case results here. When you’re ready, call me and we’ll set up a free consultation.