Should I Call a Lawyer After a Car Accident?

Car accidents can result in devastating damages and injuries. If you have suffered a car accident through no fault of your own, you can file a claim against the negligent party to recover compensation. In most instances, you should definitely call an experienced Los Angeles car accident lawyer to help you do this.

Insurance companies are not on your side and will likely seek to give you the bare minimum in compensation, hoping you will accept it. Instead of settling for less than what your damages are worth, working with an attorney from MKP Law Group, LLP in Los Angeles can significantly increase your capability to fight back and get the award you deserve. This is why it is essential that you get in touch with a lawyer to review your case, especially if you were injured.

Do I Need a Lawyer for a Fender Bender?

It does not matter the severity of the accident: if you are injured, you should call a car accident lawyer. Even minor injuries at the moment can lead to long-term issues down the road. The truth is you never know how deep your injuries and losses can go after a car accident, so it is best to err on the side of caution and get a case review.

However, for truly minor fender benders with no injuries and clear fault established, you may not need a lawyer and can likely handle your claim on your own with relative ease. In these instances, insurance companies are not likely to put up much of a fuss. For all other instances, it is best to reach out to an attorney

How Soon Should I Call a Lawyer After a Car Accident in LA?

As soon as you are able to, you should call a lawyer after a car accident. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes for us to collect critical evidence that can help ensure you get a proper settlement. It is also important to remember that there is an “expiration date” to when you can file your claim. In California, the statute of limitations for car accident cases leading to injury is two years – and claims involving federal vehicles may have a time limit of only a few months. On the other hand, minor children may have longer to file a claim, depending on the circumstances. You should speak with one of our Los Angeles car accident attorneys as soon as possible just to make sure you are not time-barred from collecting compensation.

What Does a Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer Do, Exactly?

Our car accident lawyers in Los Angeles can help you in several key ways:

• Access and collect important evidence. After getting hurt, it may be difficult to recover critical evidence related to your car accident claim on your own. Things like dash cam footage, CCTV footage, medical documentation, and witness testimony are all things our team of car accident lawyers can help obtain on your behalf.
• Calculate the true costs of your damages. Our car accident lawyers calculate all of the damages you sustained. We will ensure that both economic damages, such as medical bills and vehicle repairs, and non-economic damages, like pain and suffering, get properly taken into account.
• File the claim and the complaint, if necessary. There’s more to a claim than just filling out a piece of paper for the insurance company. Your lawyer can file the claim, but will also send the demand letter to the insurance company. If your case goes to trial, we are the ones who will file the complaint and all motions – and ensures they are filed completely, accurately, and on time.
• Negotiate with the insurance company. Part of our job is negotiating and communicating with the insurance company on your behalf. We do not let you settle for a less-than-optimal amount and ensure that your best interests are represented at all times.
• Represent you in court. While the majority of car accident claims settle out of court, there are some instances where a trial is necessary. One of our Los Angeles car accident lawyers can represent you in court and fight for you at trial.

While you focus on recovery and healing from your accident, we work on protecting your rights, because our firm is all about making you whole.

What If I Can’t Afford a Car Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles?

Cost in the #1 concern for folks looking to hire a Los Angeles car accident lawyer, but you shouldn’t worry. MKP Law Group, LLP works on contingency, which means our pay is contingent upon, or dependent upon, winning your case. There are no upfront costs with us.

Once you’ve been awarded a verdict or settlement, only then do we get paid. We take our fees and costs out of that final package, so there’s never any money that comes out of your pocket.

Can’t I Just Settle My Car Accident Claim on My Own?

Yes, it is possible for you to settle your car accident claim on your own. However, it is ill-advised to do this. Insurance companies are more likely to try and take advantage of your situation and try to get you to settle for the bare minimum. If you are not an experienced personal injury lawyer, you will likely find it difficult to negotiate with them.

This is why it is critical to speak with a lawyer. Do not let insurance companies strong-arm you after your accident. It is worth the time and effort to seek out a lawyer to make the settlement process easier.

A Quick Note About Medical Liens

Once your case has settled or a jury has rendered a verdict, it can take a few weeks to get your award. This is because any outstanding bills (usually medical) you have may need to be paid first. If you need long-term care, for example, the provider may place a lien against your award to get paid back for the care it provided. In this way, you can get the care you need when you need it without having to worry about those bills.

We can negotiate with hospitals and care providers for lower rates on your medical bills. If successful, this could means you’ll get a greater share of your award. We also know which care providers are willing to place liens in lieu of immediate billing. That can be helpful information to have if you need long-term care and you know your claim or lawsuit will not resolved right away.

How Do I Know Which Lawyer to Hire to Represent Me?

There are a lot of car accident lawyers in Southern California. Choosing the right one can make a real difference – but how do you know who’s best for you? Here are some things you can do:

• Ask around for recommendations. If someone you know and trust has used an attorney before, ask about their experience. If you like what they say, schedule a free case evaluation.
• Look at the law firm’s website. Specifically, look at their case history to see if they handle car accident cases. Their past successes don’t guarantee a win for you, but at least you’ll know they know how to handle a car crash case.
• Look at the law firm’s reviews. Make sure to read the good and the bad, but focus on the ones that apply to car accidents (if possible). Make note of any patterns you see in praise or complaints.
• Schedule a free consultation, and ask questions during it. Some people get intimidated by lawyers, but remember: you need someone who feels right to you. If you don’t like the answers they give, or if you feel uncomfortable in any way, you don’t have to hire them.

Ultimately, we hope that you’ll choose MKP Law Group, LLP to represent you, but it’s important that you take time to make a decision that’s best for you.

What Do Your LA Car Accident Lawyers Need From Me?

Here’s what we need to get started:

• Any police reports of your accident.
• Medical records and documents showing the severity of your injury or injuries.
• Any financial records or documents that demonstrate hardship directly because of the car accident.
• A full breakdown of your car accident and the involved parties.
• Any photos or videos of the accident, either during or after.

If you don’t have access to all of these things, don’t panic: our team can help you get at least some of them. But bring what you do have to your initial consultation so we can talk about it.

Living with an injury is hard. Choosing a team that sees you for you shouldn’t be. At MKP Law Group, LLP, we are highly experienced in handling auto accidents of all kinds, and have secured substantial awards on behalf of our clients. You have enough to deal with; let us handle your case so you can focus on yourself. Call us in Los Angeles or fill out our contact form to get started.