Experienced personal injury attorney Doug Lauenstein discusses what you should consider when it comes time to hire a personal injury attorney.

People are injured in car accidents every day and the result is often a series of stressful factors including not only the injury itself, but loss of a vehicle and missing time from work to recover. Having a personal injury attorney to assist you throughout this difficult time can be extremely beneficial, especially if you are suffering emotional anxiety or stress. A personal injury attorney can help accident victims handle insurance claims and other important aspects of the case. Here are a few instances when you may want to call in a personal injury lawyer.

Personal Injury
If you are injured as a result of an accident, it is vital that you immediately seek medical care. This is important for both your health and your claim. Any delay in seeking medical attention can be used against you or raise questions as to whether your injuries were actually associated with the accident.

Medical expenses are situational. Compensation will depend on the details of your own insurance coverage if you were at fault. However, if the accident is deemed to be the fault of the other driver, his or her liability coverage may pay for your medical treatment. Your uninsured motorist coverage may take effect if you were hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, and also applies if you were the victim of a hit and run.

Property Damage
A considerable portion of your damages claim may be for the loss of property. In some accident cases, the vehicle may be substantially damaged or may even be considered a total loss. The insurance company responsible for compensating the victim for property damage may pay for auto repairs. If the accident was caused by someone else, that driver’s insurance company will be responsible for handling this process.

Keep in mind that if you were a victim of a hit and run accident, the other driver was uninsured or you live in a no-fault state, you will generally seek compensation from your own insurance company.

A personal injury attorney may help ensure that an insurance company fully covers the repair or replacement costs. Many times, the initial offer from an insurance company is not sufficient and having a lawyer on your side may help you achieve a better outcome.

Additional Damages
A personal injury attorney can assist accident victims in recovering compensation for other types of losses beyond initial medical bills. Damages such as pain and suffering, permanent disability, loss of consortium or loss of earnings are just a few of the instances where additional compensation may be appropriate.

Even when working with your own insurance company, it’s important to understand that you have very different goals. A personal injury attorney’s aim is to help you fully recover all of the damages you have suffered while the insurance company’s ultimate goal is to limit the amount of payout for each claim.

A personal injury attorney may advise you to take certain steps to help increase the likelihood of success in your case. For example, retaining all receipts and documents or seeing certain medical specialists can help to authenticate your claim if any aspects of it are questioned by the insurer.

Time Limit
It’s important to consider hiring a personal injury attorney immediately following an accident. A personal injury attorney will explain the statute of limitations for filing a complaint in regard to your accident, and will instruct you on the likely sequence of events in achieving a successful resolution. The clock begins ticking the day of your accident, so don’t delay.

These are helpful considerations that can assist you in your personal injury claim. However, the wisest plan of action is to hire a personal injury attorney after an accident as each case is unique. For more information, contact experienced personal injury attorney Doug Lauenstein in Maryland today.