If you think you need to hire a car accident attorney, you probably do. Generally, if you or passengers suffered injuries, you should consult a lawyer. This is important if you’re uncertain about your rights or what insurance might cover. The insurer potentially on the hook for paying damages will undoubtedly be looking to avoid a big settlement. Your lawyer’s job will be to shield you from unfair blame and track down every expense that you can legitimately claim.

Start Your Search Right Away
The statute of limitations in Nevada for a car accident lawsuit is two years from the accident date. Although that might seem like a long time, you should start looking for a lawyer as soon as possible. You may need some time to talk to several candidates before deciding who is the best fit for your case.

Another reason to connect with a lawyer right away is pressure from insurance companies. Your insurance company and the insurer for the other driver involved in your accident will contact you quickly. Although you need to acknowledge the crash and speak honestly, you must also be guarded in your responses. A personal injury lawyer will explain how to handle these conversations.

Choose a Personal Injury Lawyer
Some law offices practice in multiple areas of law. However, there is a reason why many lawyers focus entirely on personal injury. These cases can be very complicated, involving expert testimony and arduous negotiations between opposing parties. For this reason, you will benefit by narrowing your search to only injury lawyers. They work day and night with the issues related to motor vehicle accidents. Your interests will be best served by hiring a lawyer dedicated to only accident cases.

When you meet with a car accident attorney, you should treat it as an interview. Standard questions to ask include:

• Are you experienced with injuries like mine?
• Will you personally handle my case?
• How do you structure your fees?
• How many years have you represented car accident victims?

You should also be aware that injury lawyers collect money only if your case settles. This is the norm in personal injury law because accident victims are already under financial strain and likely cannot pay up front.

When You Absolutely Should Get a Car Accident Attorney
The more serious your injuries, the greater your need for legal representation. Your pain and suffering limit your ability to collect evidence and wrangle with an insurance adjuster. In addition, high medical expenses motivate an insurer to challenge your claim and attempt to whittle down your settlement.

Placing a value on your injuries is also more difficult when they are serious. Physicians need time to evaluate your progress and determine if you will be facing any permanent disabilities. You may need care and rehabilitation for months while you continue to lose income and strain your family’s finances.

A personal injury lawyer knows what expenses the law entitles you to claim. A lawyer’s attention can prevent you from missing vital damages that you might not have known that you have a right to collect.

On top of serious injuries, determining fault in a car crash can become a contentious issue. Nevada law allows for comparative negligence because some accidents result from shared mistakes between drivers. The percentage of fault assigned to you will reduce your settlement by that same percentage. If your fault exceeds 50%, then you collect nothing. Although this law is fair on the surface, insurers might try to leverage comparative negligence in an unjust manner in hopes of deflecting some or all financial liability.

The issues of costly injuries and unclear fault increase the chances of going to court. You probably do not have the energy or knowledge to litigate your case successfully without legal representation. When the stakes are so high, you could find that it is worth it to have a knowledgeable attorney communicating your financial needs and humanity in court.

What Your Attorney Needs From You

As a car accident victim, you can help your lawyer succeed. Much of what you do in the early hours and days after the crash can either help or hinder your case.

First of all, you should get medical treatment immediately, which establishes that your injuries occurred at the time of the accident. You should also follow your treatment plan to show that you take your injuries seriously.

The police likely had to respond and write a report of a severe crash. However, if the police were not at the scene, then you should file a police report as soon as possible.

If you are able to at the time of the accident, you should take pictures of the location, damage, and any objects that may have contributed to the crash. This information will aid an attorney in preparing your insurance claim or lawsuit. A law office can also send investigators to follow up on your evidence and search for more details.

How Legal Representation Could Improve Your Settlement
Your car accident attorney may succeed in winning a larger settlement than you could have on your own. Lawyers achieve this by:

• Collecting evidence that you were not able to get at the time of the accident
• Gathering testimony from accident specialists
• Recognizing and counteracting insurance company tactics that harm victims

Legal Help for Car Accidents Victims in Nevada
Lach Injury Law is headed by Darren J. Lach, who applies all of his legal talents for injury victims. Put your claim in the hands of an exceptional lawyer who knows how to hold negligent parties accountable for people’s suffering. Contact Lach Injury Law now for a free consultation.