Should I Get a Lawyer for a Minor Car Accident?

If you’ve been involved in a fender-bender or other minor collision, you might be wondering if you should get a lawyer for a minor car accident. The short answer is ‘yes.’ 

Consulting an experienced Phoenix car accident attorney can help protect your rights, uncover hidden injuries, and ensure you receive fair compensation. Even minor accidents can have lasting consequences, from overlooked medical issues to vehicle damage that isn’t immediately apparent.

The good news is that most car accident attorneys, including the team at Gage Mathers, offer a free car accident consultation, giving you the opportunity to review your case at no cost and understand your legal options before making any decisions. Taking this step early can help you avoid costly mistakes, maximize your settlement, and navigate insurance claims with confidence!

No-Risk Consultations

Accident victims may hesitate to approach a lawyer because they are worried about paying. They’re rightly worried about how much a car accident lawyer costs, but initially, it costs absolutely nothing. 

A well-qualified car accident and personal injury attorney will often discuss a case for free. Clients should bring any evidence, such as photos, police reports, medical bills, and witness statements. 

After examining the evidence, the attorney will provide their honest assessment of the case and the possible amounts that may be awarded. If it doesn’t make financial sense to pursue, the lawyer will tell you. This is because car accident attorneys are only paid if the client wins.

Hidden Injuries and Damages

Car accidents are sudden and jarring events. The accident victim’s adrenaline is running high, and in this state, many people may not feel any pain. They often decline to visit the hospital. Over the next few days and weeks, however, what felt like simple muscle tightness or minor aches can worsen. Without proper treatment, these injuries may become debilitating. 

By not contacting an attorney and accepting the insurance settlement, victims may lose out on the ability to file a lawsuit or negotiate for additional money. Anyone involved in an accident should immediately be examined by a doctor and receive the appropriate care.

This also applies to injuries your vehicle may have sustained. While a car may look like the bumper simply fell off, there might be hidden damage to the frame or other parts. Frame damage in particular can reduce the value of a vehicle severely, in some cases, making the car unsellable. For this reason, having a vehicle fully inspected after an accident is critical.

Not All Accident Lawsuits Go to Court

Most car accident cases never see the inside of a courtroom–so, why hire an attorney? Hiring an attorney is vital because they can negotiate with the insurance companies and get them to increase their settlement amounts. 

Victims can send medical bills to the insurance company for compensation, but they may overlook things like lost wages, prescription costs, and property damage. A car accident lawyer knows exactly how to find these items and get insurance companies to pay. 

With an attorney’s help, a client can significantly increase their final settlement without ever filing a lawsuit, because it’s often in the insurance company’s best interest. If they go to court and lose, they can be forced to pay even higher amounts, so they often settle to avoid paying their attorneys only to lose. 

Gage Mathers Knows Best

Some clients may already have a car accident lawyer they are unhappy with and wonder whether they can change their car accident lawyer. In almost all cases, you can drop your current attorney, and your new attorney will handle the transfer of case files. 

Here at Gage Mathers, our commitment to our clients is unwavering–we treat each and every client as if they were family. We’ll ask the right questions and make sure you have total confidence in us before you sign any representation agreements!

About the Author

Joseph D'Aguanno

Guided by the belief that being a highly skilled specialist in a narrow field is better than being ordinary in everything, Joseph “JD” D’Aguanno leads Arizona’s best personal injury law firm in Phoenix, AZ. Having extensive cross-training in pre-litigation negotiations and trial lawyer skills, with decades of experience, JD strives to provide clients with the most valuable legal services a personal injury lawyer can provide. Under his direction, Gage Mathers Law Group is an award-winning personal injury law firm providing aggressive representation to victims of a car accident, medical malpractice, dog bite, motorcycle accident, and other injurious events. Gage Mathers is trusted by thousands of lawyers and clients throughout the country because of their reputation for getting clients the maximum compensation they deserve.

Years of experience: Over 24 years
Bar number: 020421
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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