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Do I Need a Lawyer for a Minor Car Accident?
The words “minor car accident” might bring to mind no-harm, no-foul depictions of parking lot fender-benders. However, looking deeper beneath the surface, these situations can be fraught with unforeseen consequences.
In the following article, we’ll be exploring the situations when you might want to consider bringing in legal assistance. Particularly, it occurs in situations that result in any of the following:
- Medical visits
- Hospital overnight stays
- Prescribed medicines
- Vehicle repairs
- Lost wages due to injuries incurred in the accident
In other words, minor accidents aren’t that minor at all, even if they seem that way at first. If you experience any of the following situations, it’s time to consider an attorney.
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Chronic Pain
According to this firm based in San Francisco, minor car accident injuries may be the beginnings of chronic pain and other injuries. If you fail to connect the two early, then you could be paying for a lifetime of medications and medical treatments.
It’s important to closely monitor your body’s aches and pains in the days following the incident. Don’t try to “tough it out” if you suspect something is wrong. Get a medical opinion at once, and then go see what your legal options are.
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No Longer Being Able to Work
The rapid growth of blue-collar jobs in the United States since 2018 has underlined the importance of people who use their hands and bodies to earn a living. It’s estimated that around 14 percent of the workforce does so.
Any kind of accident can place these workers’ livelihoods in jeopardy. The threat of that means that any minor car accident settlement should value the earning power of those individuals.
If you can no longer do the job you were doing before the accident, you must be compensated for that. Even if you can still work, you should be entitled to something if the accidents result in employment for diminished capacity.
Read Also: What Are Punitive Damages? Everything You Need to Know
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Punitive Damages
Sometimes a minor car accident insurance claim will pay for damage to the vehicle. However, it fails to consider the ongoing pain and suffering that you might experience as a result of the other negligent driver(s). Attorneys can go to bat for you with the insurers to ensure this entitled part of the settlement isn’t overlooked.
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Fault Disputes
Even in situations of a minor car accident with little damage, you might need an attorney. Particularly, this is true if the other party (or parties) is disputing that they were at fault in the accident.
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Stress
Finally, you should consider hiring an attorney for your minor accident if you feel under too much pressure to represent yourself. For example, you might be experiencing a number of life circumstances that are too stressful to give your full attention to aspects of the accident where you would be entitled to much more. You have nothing to lose by consulting with an attorney to see what your options are.
Hiring the Right Attorney Ensures a Minor Car Accident Falls in Your Favor
A minor car accident can lead to a host of major issues if you try to brush it off. Do your homework, and meet with an attorney to discuss the case before accepting what the insurance company offers you. For additional legal information and considerations, check out some of our additional posts.
