July 23, 2019
Should I Get a Lawyer for a Car Accident That Was My Fault?
Have you been involved in a car accident that was your fault?
If it turns out that you were clearly at fault in a car accident, you may be wondering whether you should bother hiring a lawyer or not. The answer is, of course, yes. Causing a car accident isn’t the end of the world, but it could end up costing you a significant amount of money—and hassle, depending on the circumstances of the accident.
If you are being sued by the other party to the accident, your insurance company will help you defend that claim. They will appoint an adjuster and a lawyer to help you through that process. But what about your own injuries?
Even if you are 100% at fault for the accident and not able to sue the other party, your insurance provides you with accidnet benefits which give you access to treatment you require, and possibly income replacement benefits or even attendant care services. A lawyer can assist you in dealing with your own insurance company for your accident benefits claim and give you advice on all the benefits available to you.
Let’s understand more about why you should hire a lawyer for a car accident, even if it was your fault.
How Do I Know Who’s At Fault?
First, it’s important to establish whether you’re entirely at fault for the car accident. While in some cases liability is apparent from the circumstances, in many others it’s difficult to determine. It may only be partly your fault, or it may even be the fault of another driver. The laws and rules that relate to this can be complicated, and in many cases, it won’t be obvious who’s at fault or not and whether you’re eligible to make a claim.
Fault within car accidents is decided in percentages. So, it’s possible that more than one driver can be considered at fault for an accident. The result of the insurance decisions will be based on the amount of responsibility assigned to each individual involved.
For example, if more than 25% of the fault is yours, your insurance premiums are likely to be affected, but you can still receive compensation from the other driver if their negligence also contributed to the accident. Your insurance can pay benefits to you, whether you’re partially or wholly responsible for a car accident. It’s essential to understand that your payments going forward are likely to increase if you are assigned at fault.
If you’re confused as to whether you’re wholly or partially accountable for the accident and whether you’re able to make a claim, you should find a car accident lawyer to assist you in the circumstances of your accident.
How Can a Lawyer Help Me If I Was at Fault?
If a car accident is wholly or partially your fault, a lawyer can help you in dealing with your insurance company—even if your case doesn’t go to court.
Having legal support on your side can help you receive what you’re entitled to. If you’re looking for the other at-fault driver’s insurance to pay your claim, having a lawyer is even more beneficial to you. You can hire a legal professional who knows and understands the law and can support you in your circumstances.
A lawyer can make sure you receive the compensation you deserve and require, even if you’re at fault for the car accident. Instead of letting yourself be bullied and maltreated by insurance companies, a lawyer can defend you and save you significant money, time, and headaches.
Your lawyer will advise you of how much responsibility your insurance will need to take, along with how much compensation you’re entitled to obtain.
How Do I Know If My Case Entitles Me to Benefits?
Which benefits you can receive entirely depends on the nature of your situation. However, regardless of whether the car accident was wholly your fault or not, in most cases you’re still eligible to receive benefits.
After all, car accidents occur in a variety of different ways, in varying degrees of severity so in almost any event you can still receive benefits for any injuries. Even if you struck a pedestrian or cyclist or were involved in an accident that didn’t involve any other vehicles, you can still receive support for your experience. Moreover, if you were injured, you should be eligible to receive benefits. This is especially the case if a car accident leaves you in a condition where you’re unable to return to work. If you require support in getting yourself dressed, bathed, or fed, you should receive financial compensation in such circumstances.
Your total payment will be based on the damages of your loss of income while you’re injured, any expenses incurred as a result of the accident, and the pain and suffering experienced throughout the ordeal. If any or all of these situations apply to your case, you’ll be eligible for payment of benefits.
How responsible you are for the car accident also determines the award you’ll receive.
If you are wholly at fault for causing an accident, you will not be able to sue another party for pain and suffering. For instance, if you were in a situation where you lost control of your vehicle as a result of your own error and had an accident where no other vehicles were involved..
As there is no other person or company to bring a claim against, it gets more complicated. In such cases, you should discuss a plan with your lawyer.
If you were partly at fault along with another driver or organization, making a claim is simpler. Compensation is paid when a person suffers loss or injury as a result of a negligent act or breach of duty by another individual or company. So, if your injury was negligently caused by someone else, you can go ahead and claim compensation. The claim is brought against the other person, however their insurance company will assign a lawyer on their behalf.
Are You Ready To Hire An Accident Lawyer?
If you’re looking for a car accident lawyer in Richmond Hill, Michelle Linka and her team can help.
Whether you’re wholly or partially responsible for a car accident, Michelle will be able to guide you through the process of making a claim and will help you seek the right damages for your case. Whatever your situation, Michelle is the car accident lawyer for you!
Get in touch with your story by calling the Toronto head office at 416-477-7288. Alternatively, you can contact us online by filling in our online form. We look forward to hearing from you!
