Don’t Handle Your Car Accident Claim Yourself: 10 Reasons Why

A car accident can change your life in an instant. Medical bills, lost wages, and ongoing pain can overwhelm anyone. Even with all the uncertainty that follows, some people opt to handle their claim themselves, believing it will save them money. Usually, the opposite is true.

Insurance companies have teams of professionals protecting their interests. Without the proper legal knowledge and experience, you risk making mistakes that could cost you dearly. Knowing why you should work with a qualified car accident lawyer is the first step toward protecting your rights and potential compensation. Please keep reading to find out the ten reasons why you should not handle your car accident claim by yourself.

If you were seriously injured in a car accident, the personal injury lawyers at The Dominguez Firm are here to help. Call us for a free consultation today at (800) 818-1818.

1. The Insurance Company is Not Your Friend

Insurance companies work to minimize payouts on car accident claims. They are businesses focused on profits, not handing out big payoffs. Adjusters may appear friendly and even offer a quick settlement, but these offers often undervalue your injuries and ignore future needs. Accepting too soon could leave you without compensation for long-term pain, therapy, or ongoing care.

Common ways insurance companies try to pay less include:

• Delaying your claim to pressure you into accepting the first offer
• Trying to shift some of the blame for the accident onto you
• Requesting a recorded statement, which you are not required to give in California

When you hire a California car accident lawyer, you do not have to deal with these tactics. An experienced injury attorney knows these strategies. They take over all negotiations and communication. Doing so helps protect your rights and improves your chances of receiving full and fair compensation for your car accident claim.

2. Establishing Fault Can Be Tricky

Sometimes, it may not be clear who or what led to the accident. In this scenario, insurance companies will often try to challenge your version of events. They may claim shared responsibility in an effort to pay out less. In California, comparative negligence laws affect compensation. If you share blame, you can still present a car accident claim, but your award will decrease according to your percentage of blame.

Instead of hoping for the best, you should work with a car accident lawyer who knows how to handle complex car accident claims and gather evidence. They can gather all the necessary evidence, like:

• Gather witness statements right away
• Request police reports
• Send an investigator to the accident scene to take detailed photos immediately after
• Call in accident reconstruction experts if needed

These steps are vital for building a strong auto accident claim, especially if there are questions about who caused it. Any mistakes at this stage can greatly weaken your case. Also, most people don’t have access to some of these important resources.

3. A Car Accident Lawyer Can Value Your Claim Accurately

The severity of your injuries is the most crucial factor in determining your car accident claim’s value, and it’s something you can’t properly assess on your own. More serious injuries typically lead to higher compensation because of greater medical expenses, longer recovery times, and more significant impacts on your daily life.

You shouldn’t try to calculate your claim’ because it involves far more than adding up bills. A complete valuation includes:

• Medical expenses and lost wages
• Pain and suffering you have endured
• Future costs like ongoing treatment
• Reduced earning capacity
• In the case of permanent injuries, the need for special accommodations

Many people underestimate their damages because they overlook these future costs. If you have suffered major or catastrophic injuries, you’re probably not well enough to evaluate every factor.

An experienced car accident lawyer relies on medical records, expert opinions, and industry data to calculate damages accurately. In cases involving catastrophic injuries, they consider long-term needs like extended medical care, rehabilitation, or home modifications. These expenses can reach hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of dollars over a lifetime.

You also shouldn’t represent yourself when it comes to pain and suffering damages, which usually make up the bulk of a settlement or verdict. A personal injury attorney knows how to present compelling evidence of how the accident has affected your life.

Don’t risk undervaluing your claim. Proper valuation considers both current and future losses, leading to stronger results in negotiations or at trial.

4. Your Car Accident Lawyer Provides Valuable Legal Knowledge

Car accident cases involve more than just knowing the statute of limitations. An experienced lawyer understands the full range of laws, procedures, and rules that apply to your accident injury case. In California, that can include not only filing deadlines, but also comparative negligence rules, requirements for proving liability, and laws governing the admissibility of evidence.

Your lawyer can interpret complicated insurance policy language to determine the coverage available and identify potential exclusions. They know how to challenge an insurance company’s attempts to deny or limit your claim, such as arguing your injuries were pre-existing or unrelated to the collision.

Examples of the legal guidance an injury attorney can provide include:

• Present medical documentation that will carry the most weight with an insurer or court
• Ensuring all required forms and evidence are submitted in the correct format and on time
• Preparing you for depositions or statements so you do not inadvertently weaken your case
• Knowing when to file motions to exclude irrelevant or prejudicial evidence

Without this depth of knowledge, you risk procedural mistakes that can delay your case or reduce your compensation. A personal injury lawyer’s expertise ensures your claim is handled correctly from the start, strengthening your position in settlement negotiations or trial.

5. Your Accident Attorney Will Know How to Maximize the Value of Your Claim

Maximizing a car accident claim requires a strategic approach. An attorney will first identify all potentially liable parties, which can include other drivers, vehicle owners, or even manufacturers if a defective part caused your accident. They also look for every possible source of compensation, so no opportunity is overlooked.

As previously mentioned, the extent of your injuries is the biggest factor in determining the value of your claim. More serious injuries, such as spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, or multiple fractures, typically require longer recovery times, more medical care, and may lead to permanent limitations. These factors can significantly increase the amount of compensation you may be entitled to.

A skilled lawyer will also account for both economic and non-economic damages.

• Economic damages cover measurable financial losses, such as medical bills, damage or loss of your vehicle, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity.
• Non-economic damages address the harder-to-measure effects, like pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.

To strengthen your claim, your attorney may:

• Collect complete medical documentation to show the full impact of your injuries
• Use expert testimony to explain long-term care needs or future complications
• Present evidence to counter low settlement offers from the insurance company

This thorough approach helps ensure you are compensated for the full scope of your losses, now and in the future.

6. An Experienced Auto Accident Attorney Can Help Injured Clients With Their Medical Needs

Injuries from car accidents need proper care. A car accident lawyer who works for a well-established personal injury law firm has the medical resources their clients need at their disposal. This includes a wide network of medical professionals ready to aid in the injured person’s recovery with no upfront costs.

Auto accident attorneys also coordinate with doctors for accurate reports. This supports your claim’s validity. For traumatic brain injuries or fractures, ongoing care is crucial.

Your car accident lawyer will strongly advise you to keep all of your medical appointments. Missed appointments allow insurance companies to question the severity of your injuries in an effort to pay out less.

7. You Will Avoid Making Costly Mistakes

Representing yourself in a car accident claim can lead to costly mistakes. Something seemingly harmless can damage your ability to recover the proper compensation. A prime example is posting on social media. It could provide the insurer with damaging information they can use against you.

Another common problem is failing to complete treatment because you feel better. The insurance company will argue that your injuries weren’t so bad or were caused by something else.

A knowledgeable car accident lawyer helps you avoid these missteps. This guidance protects your rights and strengthens your position during negotiations or in court.

8. Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer Takes the Stress Off

Handling a car accident claim while trying to recover adds unnecessary stress. It is difficult to heal when you are juggling legal paperwork, gathering evidence, and fielding calls from insurance adjusters. This extra burden can leave you feeling overwhelmed and may even slow your recovery.

An experienced personal injury lawyer takes over every part of the claims process, including dealing with the insurance company and opposing counsel. With a legal professional managing your case, you can concentrate on what’s most important: regaining your health.

9. Your Car Accident Lawyer Can Effectively Take Your Case to Court if Needed

If the insurance company refuses to make a fair offer for your car accident injuries, an experienced litigation attorney has the means to take the case to trial.

Examples of these resources include:

• Subpoenaing records from parties who will not cooperate voluntarily
• Retaining medical experts to provide testimony
• Covering the costs of trial preparation and litigation when necessary

These capabilities are especially important in serious injury cases, where the stakes are high and the outcome can affect you and your family’s financial stability for years to come.

10. Your Car Accident Lawyer Has Your Best Interests at Heart

During this difficult time, your car accident lawyer provides compassionate support while fighting for what you need to move forward with your life. Unlike insurance companies that prioritize their profits, your accident attorney genuinely cares about helping you obtain compensation after a car crash.

And if you think you can’t afford to hire a car accident lawyer from The Dominguez Firm, quite the opposite. We work on contingency basis. That means we don’t charge anything upfront. You also don’t have to worry about attorney fees or out-of-pocket expenses. Instead, we receive a percentage of your final compensation. That percentage is clearly stated in your representation agreement. And if there is no recovery, there is no fee!

If you were seriously injured in a car accident, the California accident injury lawyers at The Dominguez Firm can help. You don’t have to go it alone. Call us for a free consultation at (800) 818-1818 today.