April 1, 2025 | Car Accidents
Personal injury attorneys and the people they represent often get a bad rap. Many accident victims may feel like hiring a lawyer is the extreme option, especially after a minor car accident. You may not need a lawyer for every accident, but consulting a personal injury lawyer may be the difference between getting compensation to cover your injuries and losses and ending up more injured and left to fend for yourself. Even minor accidents can cause substantial harm. This article will explore when you should consider hiring a lawyer after a minor car accident.
Addressing Common Misconceptions About Hiring a Lawyer After a Minor Car Accident
Many people try to weigh the inconvenience of making an insurance claim for compensation and avoiding the hassle by fixing or replacing damaged pieces and using their health insurance to treat minor injuries. Ensure you are truly making the best decision for you by addressing some of these common misconceptions.
Car Accident Attorneys Are Expensive
Most car accident attorneys do not charge upfront for their services. Instead, they often work on contingency, which means they do the work upfront and collect a previously agreed-upon percentage of the compensation recovered. This percentage is generally 30% to 40%, but this can fluctuate depending on the service and firm.
I Feel Fine After My Accident, So I Don’t Need Medical Attention
Injury victims may often feel fine after an accident, only to realize they have injuries days or weeks later. When you don’t receive a medical evaluation, you lose the chance to identify and document injuries that resulted from the accident. You may also unknowingly exacerbate them, which can cause you more pain and hassle for an injury that may be more difficult to attribute to the accident.
The Accident Was So Minor That I Don’t Need a Lawyer
While you can always try to navigate an insurance claim without the help of an attorney, this can leave you vulnerable to exploitation by insurance companies and can inadvertently harm your case. The insurance representative’s only goal is to reduce the payout. This may be by making low offers for a settlement amount or discrediting your claims by claiming your injuries are not as severe as you claim or that the accident did not cause them. Remember, they have an attorney on their side, and you deserve the same benefit.
How a Lawyer Can Help You After a Minor Car Accident
A car accident lawyer can support you in many ways that you may not expect. You may think you don’t have injuries severe enough for a lawyer or lawsuit, but even minor accidents can have consequences that deserve compensation.
Some of these include:
- Property damage
- Emotional distress
- Soft tissue injuries that affect the neck and spinal cord
Though you may not recognize some of these injuries immediately, they can be expensive to treat and affect your quality of life.
When you work with a lawyer, they will help you value your losses, including pain and suffering. While the compensation you recover from a minor accident may be less than someone who suffered life-changing injuries, you still deserve compensation for losses someone else caused.
Get the Help You Need After a Car Accident, No Matter How Minor
The benefits of an attorney are undeniable. They can help you account for your eligible losses and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. If you are uncertain whether your situation warrants an attorney, you can call one today for a free case evaluation with no obligation. This consultation allows a chance to discuss what happened and explore your legal options.
Contact our Car Accident Law Firm at Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Chicago, IL, don’t navigate the legal process alone. Our dedicated team is here to provide the expert guidance you need to secure the compensation you deserve. Contact our experienced attorneys at Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers for a free consultation.
We serve Cook County and its surrounding areas:
Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers
875 N Dearborn St 4th Floor
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 635-5400
Open 24/7