December 1, 2021 | Car Accident
Were you involved in a car accident in or around Lexington, Kentucky? It is important to know your legal rights.
Kentucky is a no-fault state. It doesn’t matter who caused your accident; your primary means of seeking compensation for your medical bills and other losses will be through a claim with your insurance.
You should strongly consider hiring an attorney for your insurance claim. Insurance companies have a tendency to lowball claimants in an effort to limit how much they have to pay. An attorney can help improve your odds of recovering a fair payout.
Minor Car Accidents and Insurance
Car accidents range in severity. You might wonder whether it’s necessary to hire a lawyer if your accident was minor. You may even think your accident doesn’t warrant compensation.
However, failing to take certain steps after a car accident can be a mistake. First, you should call 911 to report the accident — even if the damage to your vehicle is minimal and you feel unharmed. You may be legally required to file a car accident report, regardless of whether the accident was minor. Taking this basic step can help you avoid future legal trouble.
You should also exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver or drivers involved in the accident. Although your main source of compensation is usually your own insurance, victims can also file claims against another driver’s insurer in certain circumstances.
You should document the scene as well. Again, the accident may have been minor, but you don’t want to miss an opportunity to gather evidence that could help your future case. Along with taking pictures, you may want to gather the names and contact information of any witnesses at the scene. You should avoid making any statements that suggest you caused the accident.
Next, you should see a doctor — even if you do not believe you have been harmed. It is possible to be hurt in a motor vehicle accident without realizing it. You need to err on the side of caution and ensure you didn’t sustain any injuries with delayed symptoms.
You are more likely to enjoy a quicker recovery if you receive necessary medical treatment sooner rather than later. Moreover, if you do end up filing a claim, you need documentation linking your injuries to your accident. If you don’t see a doctor right away after the collision, it can be more difficult to prove your accident caused your injuries. This can limit your chances of recovering compensation.
Contacting a Lawyer
Once you’ve taken all these steps, it’s wise to schedule a consultation with an attorney. After reviewing your case, a lawyer may determine that you don’t need legal representation due to the minor nature of your accident. However, there’s no harm in going over the details to learn more about your options.
Keep in mind that a lawyer will review your case for free. If they agree to represent you, they will also enter into a contingency fee agreement with you. This arrangement ensures they will not charge for their services unless they recover compensation for you first. Therefore, you are not taking a financial risk by talking to a lawyer.
A minor car accident may seem like nothing more than a basic inconvenience. You might think there’s no need to hire a lawyer in these circumstances. That said, you may have grounds to seek compensation without realizing it. Having a lawyer on your side will make recovering compensation a much easier task.
Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm in Lexington Today To Get More Information
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, please call Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC for a free case evaluation with a personal injury lawyer or contact us online.
Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC
325 W Main St #210, Lexington, KY 40507
(859) 550-2900