Reasons to Hire an Attorney After an Accident

Jun 30, 2021 - Car Accidents, Personal Injury by Cross & Smith

Work With a Skilled Tuscaloosa Injury Attorney

If you’ve been injured in an accident due to the fault of another, then you may be entitled to sue and recover damages under Alabama law.  In pursuing a lawsuit against the defendant(s), however, you’ll want to work with an experienced attorney who can help you navigate the ins and outs of litigation.

Litigation is complex and can be rather overwhelming.  From the beginning, you’ll want to know whether you actually have an actionable case.  Past that, however, there are many other reasons as to why it’s worth hiring an attorney.

Let’s briefly explore some of those reasons.

Managing Procedural Requirements

Civil lawsuits have a number of procedural barriers, including documentation requirements and statute of limitations deadlines.

As a fundamental matter, the statute of limitations deadline should not expire before you file your claims.  If it does, then the court is entitled to dismiss your claims outright, and you will have no legal option for recovering damages.

Seeking the aid of an attorney early on in the process is a good idea.  Your attorney will evaluate whether you have a claim and will file the claim before the statute of limitations deadline passes, thus preserving your legal rights.

Acting as a Careful Communicator

Sometimes, prospective plaintiffs can disclose damaging details to insurers, defendants, and/or opposing counsel.  If you — the plaintiff — admit fault to the insurer, for example, then they may reject your claim submission on the basis that your “contributory fault” disqualifies you from recovery.  These disclosures might be spur-of-the-moment communications that you have not properly reflected on.

Attorneys act as communicative middlemen.  They will ensure that all communications are “safe” and that no disclosures are being made that could undermine your overall case.  Further, your attorney can speak on your behalf, saving you from the frustration and anxiety of communicating with the other parties in the case.

Gathering and Preserving Evidence

Attorneys play a fundamental role in investigating the case at hand — gathering and preserving all relevant evidence.  This is critically important to a successful lawsuit.  An experienced attorney will work tirelessly to identify potential evidence and preserve it at all costs.

For example, if you’ve been in an auto accident, and there is video evidence of the accident in a nearby shop’s security camera footage, the attorney can act to secure such evidence and preserve it for your benefit — without the attorney’s assistance, the footage might be carelessly deleted and your case could become that much more difficult to litigate.

Negotiating a Resolution with the Defendant

Most cases are resolved before they ever get to trial — ultimately, they are resolved through a negotiated settlement, in which both parties agree to a compromise solution.  This is almost always preferable to trial, as it avoids the uncertainty, frustration, and expense of extended litigation.

Skilled attorneys prepare for the possibility of trial but use that “trial readiness” to negotiate a favorable settlement at an earlier stage.

Contact a Tuscaloosa Injury Attorney for Legal Assistance

Here at Cross & Smith, our team has represented plaintiffs for decades, helping them secure damages in a variety of personal injury disputes.

We understand how challenging it can be for injured plaintiffs to pursue recovery, and so we work closely with our clients from beginning to end, striving to keep them informed and aware of case developments.

Ready to speak to an experienced Tuscaloosa injury attorney?  Call us at 877-791-0618 or send us a message online to schedule a free and confidential consultation.