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When should I hire an attorney after a car accident in Paoli, PA

You Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident in Paoli, PA

You’re sitting at a stoplight at E. Lancaster and Leopold, eager to get home after a long day of work. Traffic has been annoying, but nothing you can’t handle. After all, you’re a responsible driver, and you’re always careful behind the wheel. As you’re waiting for the light to finally turn green, it happens. BAM! Someone who was distracted by their phone slams into the back of your car! Your car lurches forward, your drink spills all over your shirt, and you jerk forward against your seatbelt. What do you do now?

Accidents happen. It’s one of the annoying truths of life that something, somewhere is going to go wrong sometime. Car accidents are one of the most frustrating kinds of accidents you can experience, especially when you’re a careful, considerate driver and someone else isn’t paying attention. Knowing what to do in case of an auto Accident can save you a lot of hassle in the long run. There are a lot of misconceptions about what you should and shouldn’t do after an accident, especially when you live in a smaller town like Paoli.

Make Sure You’re Alright

First and foremost, make sure you’re okay! Your safety comes before anything else. Cars can be replaced; you can’t! It’s important to remember that even if you feel fine now, injuries can sneak up on you after even the most relatively minor fender benders. While you will probably know right away if any bones are fractured or broken, other injuries can take longer to make themselves known. Symptoms of concussion can start within a few minutes but may take a few hours to show up. Similarly, whiplash symptoms can take up to twenty-four hours to appear; you can learn more about whiplash at https://www.healthline.com/health/whiplash. You can’t always rely on your initial feeling that you’re alright, but as long as you aren’t in immediate danger you can move on to the next step.

Document and Exchange Information

Anyone who’s been in a car accident knows this stage of the accident all too well. You step out of the car to survey the damage. Maybe the back bumper is cracked or busted, maybe a window is broken, or maybe there’s just a tiny scratch that the other driver insists you can buff out. Even with a minor accident, there could still be more serious damage under the hood, or in the undercarriage. You’re going to need to get a mechanic to look things over if you want to be safe.

You know what happens next. You call the police, you and the other driver exchanged insurance information, exchange phone numbers, and part ways to let the insurance companies figure out what happens next, right? Not if you’re smart! For starters, you usually don’t need to call the police for a minor incident. If there’s serious damage or someone needs to be towed, calling the police is a good idea, but for a minor fender bender, you aren’t required to involve the cops. You’ll probably just be told to exchange information, and might not even get a police report for your troubles.

What you do need to do is document everything thoroughly! If you have a smartphone, you have a good quality camera in your pocket, and you should absolutely use it. Take pictures of everything, not just where the vehicles impacted. Get pictures of every angle of both vehicles, including the other driver’s license plate. The more photographic evidence you have, the stronger your case will be moving forward. You can find more guidance by clicking here.

You’ve taken pictures and exchanged information. So, you’re done now, right? Not quite. There’s one more step you should take: contacting an accident Lawyer. You may think you don’t need an accident lawyer over something minor, but neglecting to obtain legal counsel is one of the most common and avoidable mistakes for anyone who’s been in an accident.

When Should I Call an Accident Lawyer?

One of the biggest misconceptions people have about auto accidents is that lawyers should only be involved in the direst of accidents. This simply isn’t true. It’s always good practice to get legal representation in an accident, regardless of how minor you think it may be. While it may seem like it’s no big deal to handle it all on your own, the fact is that there are too many things that could go wrong after you drive away. Making sure that an attorney has your back is never a bad idea, especially when irresponsible drivers are involved.

It’s obvious that you should contact a lawyer if you have any injuries whatsoever, but that’s not the only reason to get representation. You don’t know what the other driver will be doing after you leave, or what they will or won’t report to the insurance company. Plus, having good documentation and a good legal advocate can help you review legal options to avoid common pitfalls in dealing with insurance companies, mechanics, and any medical issues that arise. The absolute first step you should take in any incident is contacting an attorney right away. The earlier you get represented, the smoother the aftermath will be!

You may feel like you have no choice but to look outside of Paoli to find representation, but that’s another common misconception. Firms in bigger cities like Philadelphia like to try to convince you that they’re the only ones that have what it takes to represent you, but you’ll find that accident lawyers in Paoli can not only get the job done but provide local, personal expertise. Generally, it’s better to get a lawyer who knows your town and its quirks than a big city firm that only sees you as a small-town revenue stream.

You owe it to yourself to get good legal representation. There are too many unknowns in any accident, and too many ways insurance companies can screw you over to leave things to chance. A good lawyer can and will make all the difference in the world when it comes to navigating the frustrating, stressful events of an auto accident.

The post When should I hire an attorney after a car accident in Paoli, PA appeared first on Find US Lawyers.



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