Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious legal offense that can cost the driver hefty fines and their driving license. In fact, in severe cases, they can become a criminal record for the responsible person.
Almost 28 people expire every day in car crashes that involve drunk drivers. According to statistics from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, people operating vehicles under drug influence cause one-third of automobile fatalities in the U.S.
Being a victim of intoxicated driving can leave you fighting for your health and with hospital expenses. In such a situation, an expert car accident lawyer can advocate on your behalf and ensure compensation for your misery and suffering.
How Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help You?
The complexity and specifications of each situation make the case unique. In general, a car accident lawyer will:
- Open up a line of communication with the other driver’s insurer.
- Obtain all the vital information to prove liability in an automobile accident claim. It includes photographs of the crime scene, accident history, and medical receipts.
- Communicate with healthcare providers to obtain health records.
- Organize your data in a way to build a strong claim on your behalf.
- Communicate with the lienholders to get them to reduce their lien.
- Negotiate a satisfactory settlement with the other party’s defense attorney.
The DUI laws in Vegas are comparatively more liberal than in other large cities around the country. On every street, it is common to find people with all types of alcoholic drinks in their hands. Therefore, intoxication is one of the many causes of car crashes in the town. Victims of intoxicated driving might need a highly skilled car accident attorney in Las Vegas to make their point in court.
Being Your Own Personal Injury Attorney
If your injuries are not that severe and you are confident about gathering necessary evidence and documents, you can handle your own case. However, it does not imply that you must take this risk. There is no substitute for experience and skill. Every claim, its negotiation, and settlement process is different.
Unfortunately, an average person cannot understand the intricacy of court systems and legal matters. The accused party can take advantage of any weakness, use it against you, and deny you compensation.
How to Choose the Right Attorney for Your Lawsuit?
All personal injury attorneys are not the same, so you must find one who knows their job well enough. A person unfamiliar with the legal system might not know which lawyer to trust with their case.
Here are a few things to address while separating the wheat from the shaft when looking for legal assistance.
- Create a List of Suitable Car Accident Lawyers
The first step in the selection process is to make bullets. Conduct your research and organize a list of professionals with expertise in your case. A wise way to start is by asking your friends for recommendations. If the odds are on your side, someone from your network will give you a good suggestion.
A lawyer cannot possibly have all good reviews. Still, reading them helps. Public opinion about an attorney will help you with your research. A lot of bad reviews should be a strong indicator not to trust the specific person with your case.
- Schedule a Consultation Session
Once you have a couple of names on your list, schedule a meeting with each one of them. An ideal way is to meet the candidate in person, but a video call works if you are in a hurry.
Most lawyers have a free consultation session, so you would not have to worry about the fee.
Consider the session as an interview and ask everything that concerns you. Roughly, a consultation session should address the following questions:
- How much of the attorney’s experience comprises compensation for vehicle crashes, especially DUI accidents?
- How do they plan to handle your case? Do they have a specific strategy for cases of such sort?
- What are their charges, and how do they calculate their fee?
In addition to these initial questions, you might find yourself confused about so many things. So, it is essential to find an attorney who communicates with you in a way you understand. The fancy terminology and legal jargon might impress you for a while, but you will find yourself lost later.
- A Professional Office
A personal injury attorney will need resources to handle your case. The resources include everything from a professional office to staff capable of carrying out investigative work. You will most probably interact with some of the members as your case progresses. So, they should be competent enough to address the issues as they arise.
An organized space is a clear indicator of an attorney’s professionalism. Regardless of the experience, it is hard to trust someone who keeps flipping through the files when you go for a meeting.
Staying Upfront About Everything
Staying honest and upfront with your attorney is crucial in legal proceedings like drunk driving and intoxication crimes. From police reports to medical receipts, your personal injury lawyer will need every minute detail to build a lawsuit. Skipping such critical details may risk your claim being denied or devalued.
Knowing more about your situation will help them come up with a strong claim. Besides, openness can help protect the value of your lawsuit and your credibility as an injury victim.
Your attorney does not get their payment unless you receive your compensation. So, your interest has to be their priority.
Wrapping up
Time is an essential factor when it comes to personal injury and automobile accident cases. It will not be wrong to say that the clock starts ticking right when a mishap occurs. By hiring a lawyer as soon as possible, you can maximize the value of your case.
Some injuries are not noticeable in the beginning and appear after a while. So, even if you think your accident was minor, you might still need to consult with a skilled professional. Delaying the process makes the concerned authorities suspicious of what took you that long to make a claim, thus affecting your credibility as an injury victim.
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