Getting in a car accident is traumatizing. When you also have to deal with your injuries, hospital expenses, and insurance companies…
It all becomes very overwhelming very fast.
The good news?
A car accident lawyer can alleviate that burden on your shoulders. But what do you even expect from a car accident lawyer in the first place? Most people are left in the dark.
They don’t know what to expect or what their attorney should be doing for them.
I’m going to clear that up for you today.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Why You Need Legal Advice After A Crash
- The First Steps Your Lawyer Will Take
- How Settlements Actually Work
- What Good Communication Looks Like
Why You Need To Hire A Car Accident Lawyer
Ok.
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, I need to say this first…
Car accidents are more common than most people realize.
According to NHTSA estimates, there were about 39,345 people who lost their lives to traffic crashes in 2024.
But let’s not forget the thousands of people who survived yet suffered life-altering injuries.
When you hire a car accident lawyer, you’re not just getting legal representation. You’re getting someone who will fight tooth and nail for you when insurance companies attempt to shortchange you on your settlement.
Let me explain.
Insurance adjusters? Their goal is to pay out as little money as they possibly can. It’s their job. But, without the right legal counsel on your side, you might just take a deal that doesn’t cover any of your damages and doesn’t even come close to what you actually deserve. If you’re in the Pacific Northwest, teaming up with an experienced Bothell car accident lawyer who knows the law and has an in-depth understanding of your case is imperative to help you get the best outcome.
A good attorney balances the scales in your favor.
They understand how insurance companies work and play their games. They have experience in calculating the fair market value of your case. And they have resources and support to gather the evidence they need to build a rock-solid argument in your defense.
The First Steps Your Lawyer Will Take
You’re thinking about hiring a car accident lawyer, or maybe you just did. So, what exactly happens next?
Don’t expect your attorney to simply make a phone call, have you fill out some paperwork, and then sign off on the claim.
Your lawyer is going to jump headfirst into investigating your case. That means:
- Pulling together all of the necessary police reports and accident documents
- Gathering medical records and bills
- Interviewing witnesses
- Reviewing photos or video of the accident
- Understanding the other driver’s insurance coverage
This phase is very important to building a strong case. The evidence your attorney pulls together from the get-go will set the precedent for how solid of a case you have.
Expect your lawyer to ask a lot of questions too.
They need to know everything that happened. The more information your lawyer has, the better equipped they are to represent you.
How Settlements Actually Work
Ok.
Because that’s the one thing everyone wants to know.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average auto bodily injury claim was $26,501 in 2023.
But here’s where most people are completely unaware…
Your particular case could be worth either much less or much more than that.
There are several different factors that go into determining how much you can expect to get from a settlement:
- Severity of your injuries
- Overall medical costs
- Lost wages from being unable to work
- Long-term quality of life
- The insurance policy limits of the other driver
- Clear establishment of fault
Your lawyer will use all of these factors to calculate your total damages and work on putting together a demand package for the insurance company. That’s basically a fancy document that outlines your case and why you deserve the money you’re asking for.
Simple enough right?
Eh.
It’s not really that simple. And this is where it gets interesting…
Insurance companies are rarely going to accept your first demand. Your lawyer will negotiate with them back and forth until you two agree on a number. If negotiations come to a standstill, then your lawyer might recommend that you take the case to trial.
Most car accident cases do settle outside of court.
But knowing that you have an attorney who will not hesitate to take your case to court gives you all the leverage in the world. Insurance companies know which lawyers are going to fight and which ones are going to roll over.
What Good Communication Looks Like
Ok.
This is where things start to trip up a lot of people.
You’ve hired an attorney, so now what? How often should you be hearing from them? What should they be telling you?
Good car accident attorneys will keep you in the loop on everything. You should expect:
- Updates on the status of your case
- Clear information regarding legal documents
- Timely response to any of your questions
- Honest information regarding the strength of your case
- Transparency regarding settlement offers
If your lawyer goes radio silent for a couple of weeks or more and offers no explanation…
That should be a red flag to you.
Communication is so very important when it comes to a legal case. You have every right to know what’s going on with your claim and what your lawyer is doing to help you. Ask questions if you have them. A good, reputable attorney will welcome your inquiries.
Timeline To Expect
Everyone wants to know how long their case is going to take, and I have an answer for that.
The simple answer?
It depends.
Easy-peasy cases with clear liability may settle in just a few months. Harder cases that involve serious injury or disputed fault might take a year or more to reach a resolution.
Your attorney should be able to give you a realistic timeline from the beginning based on the details of your specific situation. Don’t trust anyone who offers to wrap up your case in just a few weeks without knowing the ins and outs.
Patience is a virtue.
Settling too quickly means leaving money on the table. Your lawyer should be the one telling you when to take an offer and when to continue negotiating.
Bringing It All Together
Getting a car accident lawyer isn’t just about legal advice. It’s about having someone on your side who is an expert on the system and can guide you through the process.
Here’s the bottom line on what you should expect:
- Your lawyer is going to investigate your case from day one
- Settlement negotiations take time and strategy
- Communication should be open and frequent
- A fair settlement factors in ALL of your damages, not just medical bills
- Having an attorney who is willing to go to trial offers leverage
The aftermath of an accident is hard enough.
You shouldn’t have to figure out how to navigate the legal system on your own while you’re trying to heal and recover.
Find a lawyer who listens to you. Find a lawyer who is clear with their communication. And find a lawyer who has a history of getting results for clients in similar situations.
That is what you should expect from a car accident lawyer.
Nothing less.
