When you have been injured in a car accident, the lifetime cost of your injuries could be higher than you anticipate. In the aftermath, you may find yourself wondering, “Should I get a lawyer for a car accident?” The answer is yes.
Although Minnesota law does not require you to hire an attorney, you may be unable to recover your full damages without an experienced car accident lawyer working on your behalf. We are here to help. Schedule your free, no-obligation consultation today by calling (651) 437-3148 or filling out our contact form.
Do I Need to Hire a Lawyer After an Accident?
Car accident victims with minor injuries often assume they can handle their own insurance claim, especially because Minnesota is a no-fault state. You can file a no-fault insurance claim on your own and still receive compensation, but you only have one chance to get it right.
Once you accept an insurance settlement, you cannot ask for more if your injuries turn out to be more severe than you originally thought. This is common in car accidents, and it is one reason insurance companies pressure victims to settle quickly.
If your damages exceed your no-fault insurance coverage, your case instantly becomes more complicated because you will have to deal with the other driver’s insurer in addition to your own. You will bear the burden of proving the other driver was to blame for the accident and your injuries. You should hire an experienced car accident attorney if:
- Insurance adjusters blame you for the accident.
- Insurance adjusters ignore your claim.
- Your injuries are permanently disabling.
- You miss work because of your injuries.
- You have a hard time finding a doctor.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Car Accident Attorney?
Insurance companies enjoy many unfair advantages, such as vast financial resources and deep knowledge of their internal claim procedures. Our seasoned car accident attorneys can level the playing field and fight the insurance battle for you while you focus on recovering from your injuries.
Insurance companies quickly send their investigators to accident scenes in the hope of finding evidence they can manipulate in their favor. Our attorneys will hire our own investigators to visit the scene of your car accident and gather evidence that will support your claim.
When you have our experienced car accident lawyers on your side, you won’t have to worry about saying the wrong thing when conversing with defendants and insurers. Our skilled car accident attorneys know how to protect your claim and maximize your compensation. They will:
- Help you understand your legal rights.
- Handle your insurance claims and protect your interests.
- Calculate the lifetime cost of your injuries.
- Help you find the medical care you need.
- Interview witnesses and gather all available evidence in your case.
- Negotiate a fair settlement, refusing unfair offers that do not meaningfully compensate you for your damages.
- Take your case to trial if needed to recover the full and fair compensation you deserve.
When Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Contact our car accident lawyers as soon as possible after you are injured. The car accident statute of limitations in Minnesota normally gives you six years to file an accident claim, but depending on the circumstances of your accident, your deadline may be shorter. For example, if a defective device in the car caused the accident, you will have four years to file. Further, if a victim is killed in a car accident, surviving loved ones have just three years to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
To ensure your attorney has plenty of time to investigate and build your case, reach out as soon as possible after being involved in a crash. Important evidence in car accident claims is often only available for a short time. For example, the following evidence may disappear within a matter of days or weeks:
- Skid marks
- Vehicle wreckage
- Video footage
- Electronic data
- Witness recollections
Without this evidence, you may not be able to prove the other driver was at fault, and the insurance company will have little incentive to compensate you fairly. The sooner you contact an attorney, the sooner they can start gathering evidence to protect your claim and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Get a Free Case Review From a Minnesota Car Accident Lawyer
If you or your loved one were injured in a car accident, you have nothing to lose by reaching out to our experienced Minnesota car accident lawyers. At Sieben Polk, we offer free, no-obligation consultations. Further, because we work on a contingency basis, you pay nothing unless we secure compensation on your behalf.
We are dedicated to providing high-quality legal counsel and representation tailored to your unique needs at no upfront costs to you. Though we are a small firm with local roots, we provide high-caliber legal services comparable to that of large national firms. We will ensure you get the best of both worlds.
Schedule your free consultation with our car accident attorneys at Sieben Polk today by calling (651) 437-3148 or filling out our online contact form. We are a nationally recognized firm dedicated to protecting the rights of injury victims throughout Minnesota.
