Car Accident Attorney

What a Car Accident Attorney Can Do for You

Just recovering from your injuries can take the entirety of your focus. You shouldn’t also add on fighting a car insurance company for the compensation you need for your losses. Let a car accident lawyer handle that on your behalf. Your personal injury attorney can:

• Obtain evidence that establishes the other party’s fault (e.g., eyewitness testimony, expert witness testimony, photos and videos of the scene, the police report)
• Establish all your damages
• Determine a fair settlement value
• File all necessary paperwork
• Manage communication with the insurance company and other liable parties
• Negotiate for a settlement that covers all your losses
• Manage deadlines and file a lawsuit (if necessary) before your state’s statute of limitations expires
• Prepare your case for trial
• Represent you and your case in front of a judge and/or jury

Why You Want to Work With The Goldwater Law Firm

We bring the Gold Standard of Injury Law to each client—the Goldwater Law Firm partners with some of the country’s largest and most successful firms. We will pair you with one of our co-counsels we trust to fight for every dollar you need.

Results are the most important thing to you, so they are the most important to us. We only partner with firms that share our passion for getting clients the compensation they need.

Damages a Car Accident Lawyer Can Recover for You

The damages you can recover depend on the specifics of your case. However, common damages our co-counsels recover for clients include:

• Medical bills, such as emergency transportation, emergency care, prescription medications, hospitalizations, surgeries, future care, assistive devices, and co-pays
• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work long-term
• Miscellaneous expenses, such as childcare if you were your child’s primary care provider before your accident, housekeeping or cleaning services, yard maintenance services, transportation to and from your treatment, parking at the hospital, and home or vehicle renovations to accommodate your injury
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Inconvenience
• Emotional distress
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of enjoyment of life

If you lost a loved one in a car crash, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim and recover compensation for:

• The medical care your loved one required before their passing
• Lost support and services
• Loss of benefits, such as health insurance
• Loss of guidance and instruction
• Loss of parental love and care
• Loss of consortium
• Funeral and burial costs
• Pain and suffering
• Grief and mental anguish
• Sorrow

Can I Recover Compensation If I Was Partially At Fault?

It depends on the state. Each state has its own negligence law, which dictates whether an injured person is able to recover compensation.

• Pure comparative negligence: This law allows you to recover compensation as long as you were not entirely at fault for the accident.
• Pure contributory negligence: This law states that you cannot recover compensation if you contributed to your accident or injury in any way.
• Modified comparative negligence: Modified comparative negligence allows an injured person to recover compensation as long as you are under a certain percentage of fault.

The percentage of fault you are assigned will determine the total compensation you can recover. Your lawyer can help you decide which law may affect your ability to recover compensation for your injuries.

How Long Do I Have to Take Action After a Car Accident?

How long you have to take legal action depends on the state. Each state has a statute of limitations determining how long the injured party has to file a lawsuit. Some states have time limits as short as one year, while others give injured parties up to six years.

We encourage you to contact us as soon as possible so we can connect you with a lawyer who can handle these deadlines. Building a strong case takes time, and getting started early ensures your attorney has the time needed to advocate for you effectively.

How to Protect Yourself After a Car Accident

You can do several things after an accident to get the care and compensation you need.

• Call 9-1-1. The dispatcher can send both police officers and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to the scene. Law enforcement will create a police report that your lawyer can use as evidence.
• Allow paramedics to examine you. The adrenaline from a car accident can cover up symptoms of serious injuries. You may have broken ribs or internal bleeding, but only feel a bit of discomfort. EMTs can identify these injuries and begin to treat them at the scene. Getting medical care at the scene of the accident also helps link your injuries to the crash.
• Report your car accident to your insurance company. Most companies have apps that allow you to report from the side of the road.
• Do not give a recorded statement. The other driver’s insurance company will likely call you soon after the accident to hear from you. It may seem like the insurance adjuster just wants to be helpful and get you the compensation you need, but this is often a trap. They will ask you for a recorded statement so they can ask leading questions and twist what you say against you. Even innocuous statements like “I’m okay” and “I’m sorry” can jeopardize your case.
• Don’t discuss your car accident with anyone but your lawyer. Many people vent about their accident on social media, but this can give the other driver’s insurance company ammunition to deny your case. We recommend that you don’t post on social media and don’t allow others to tag you in posts. The insurance company can use these against you if you are doing something that your injuries should prevent (e.g., holding a baby if you suffered a back injury).
• Do not accept a settlement offer without first running it by your attorney. The first offer is often much lower than you deserve. If you accept an offer, you cannot ask for more later, even if you determine that your injuries will cost you thousands more than you thought.
• Remember that you can negotiate for more compensation. You can always negotiate for a higher settlement. Better yet, you can have an attorney do it for you.
• Get help from a lawyer. Call our team to get connected with an attorney near you.

You Can Afford Legal Help

People often forgo getting legal help after car accidents, truck crashes, and motorcycle wrecks because they think they need to have thousands of dollars set aside. This isn’t true. Personal injury attorneys take cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay no upfront fees and only pay your attorney if they recover compensation for you. Your attorney will take their fee from your settlement or award. When you enlist the lawyer’s help, they will detail this fee agreement and percentage so there are no surprises.

Common Causes of Car Accidents

According to the National Traffic Safety Administration’s Traffic Safety Facts Annual Report, over 5.9 million police-reported accidents occurred in 2022. Over 39,000 people lost their lives, and more than 1.6 million people suffered injuries.

Negligence is the most common cause of accidents. Examples of negligence include:

• Driving while intoxicated or under the influence
• Driving while distracted
• Driving while fatigued
• Reckless driving
• Aggressive driving/road rage
• Speeding
• Tailgating
• Inexperienced driving
• Failing to check blind spots before merging or changing lanes
• Ignoring stop signs or traffic signals

Regardless of how your accident occurred, we want to connect you with an attorney in your area who can help you fight for the compensation you need.