If you’ve ever talked to a car wreck attorney, you know that a lot of their job involves sorting through paperwork. This is because any car wreck immediately generates a whole host of documents. There will be statements taken by the police and, even if there are no legal issues with the crash, these notes will be extensive. There will be reports filed with and by the insurance companies involved and these can very detailed. If there are criminal aspects to the case, there is another layer of complexity that the lawyers have to tackle to represent their clients.
One of the advantages of hiring a good attorney is the fact that the lawyer deals with the insurance companies. These companies have one mission and it’s not to serve their client. In fact, their mission is to pay as little as possible in claims related to the accident. Of course, this mission is rather at cross-purposes with their client’s needs. Attorneys know all their games and, on behalf of their clients, they make sure that insurance companies end up cutting all the checks that they’re required to cut.
Your vehicle accident lawyer may need much more documentation than you may think. Consider, for instance, if you’re involved in a big rig crash. This will involve investigating the trucking company for compliance with state and federal law and making sure that your crash wasn’t the result of something like the company failing to inspect their air brakes or properly train their personnel. Without a competent attorney, it’s very easy to miss things that would define you as at fault or as the victim of an accident. Obviously, this has serious implications for your future.
Your vehicle accident attorney should be your first call after the police and rescue personnel. Don’t talk to your insurance company without speaking to the attorney first. If you don’t have one, there are firms that work for free unless you win your claim. These are not sub-par firms. They are simply offering their services to those who cannot afford to pay upfront and, therefore, they are protecting everyone’s interests on the road and off. These firms, obviously, depend on winning cases and, to that end, they’re usually very willing to fight hard for their clients. This starts with investigating the paper trail; it’s not glamorous, but it’s very effective nonetheless.