In the time it takes you to read this post, someone has probably gotten into a car accident somewhere in New York State. In fact, there are approximately 12,000 trips to New York hospitals because of traffic-related injuries each year. In New York City, there are over 600 car accidents daily. 

If you get into a car accident, the first call should always be to 911. Once the police officers write their reports and you tend to any injuries, you might ask yourself, "do I need a personal injury lawyer?" 

The aftermath of a car accident needs to be handled correctly to protect your physical and emotional well-being and your financial future. Speaking with an experienced New York personal injury lawyer about the accident provides you with the information and support you need to consider all the options for moving forward.

To help you make an informed decision about your car accident resolution, here are five reasons you may need a New York personal injury lawyer:

#1: Recouping Medical Bills and Lost Wages

Every car accident can potentially cause physical injury to the driver and passengers. In addition, those injuries can trigger medical expenses starting with that initial trip to the emergency room or family physician.

It is not just the medical bills for initial care that you receive after an accident to consider but also any ongoing recovery bills. For example, it is common for motorists who experience soft-tissue injuries involving muscles and ligaments to require prescribed physical therapy. 

Medical professionals can also prescribe ongoing physical therapy for other types of severe injuries, such as broken bones or head trauma. Those physical therapy sessions can last for several months, if not an entire year.

As you recover from your car accident injury, you might be unable to work. In addition, lost wages can have a severe impact on your entire family's finances. These are the monetary issues that a skilled personal injury lawyer will consider when developing a settlement offer for your personal injury case.

#2: Compensation for Intangible Losses

A financial remedy for a car accident will include tangible losses that are easy to calculate. These tangible losses would be things like medical bills and lost wages. But what about the intangible losses? That is where the "pain and suffering" category comes into play. Intangible losses can include the following:

• Emotional distress
• Loss of consortium
• Impairment
• Disfigurement

As with ongoing physical therapy, there might be a need for ongoing psychological counseling due to a car accident. There is no formula to determine a specific intangible loss. It is different for each individual. However, an experienced personal injury attorney will know how to apply the range of values for these matters.

#3: Dealing With Insurance Companies

The default position for any insurance company is to deny a claim against the company. However, if the evidence of neglect for a policyholder is insurmountable, an insurance company might want a fast settlement to "close the books" on the incident. That could result in putting pressure on you to accept a settlement offer.

The pressure to settle can be intense when the full weight of an insurance company's legal division targets you. When you retain the services of a New York personal injury lawyer, your response to those insurance company attorneys can be, "talk to my lawyer." That takes the pressure off you and allows the settlement negotiations to proceed.

#4: Access to Legal Expertise

An experienced New York personal injury lawyer will have the legal expertise to find a fast and equitable resolution for your case. That expertise is essential when gathering evidence, such as witness statements, police reports, and medical records. There may also be a need for expert witnesses to support all of that evidence.

An experienced personal injury lawyer knows where to find those expert witnesses and how to build an ironclad case. The expertise of an experienced lawyer is also vital for meeting filing deadlines and understanding how court procedures like depositions work.

#5: The Potential of Higher Settlements

A New York personal injury lawyer takes on a case because that case has merits. The goal is to find a fast resolution that involves a fair settlement. With the backing of an experienced attorney, those settlements could be higher than an insurance company's first offer.

The vast majority of personal injury lawsuits operate on a contingency basis. That means the attorney's fee will come out of the settlement. The higher the settlement, the more beneficial for everyone involved.

Brandon J. Broderick, New York Car Personal Injury Lawyers that Turn Setbacks into Comebacks

We get it. An injury accident can have an impact on your health, well-being, and finances which can cause worry, fear, and anxiety -- for you and your family. Wouldn’t it be a relief to know you could count on a trusted friend and advisor to passionately champion for you? Someone who’s got your best interests in mind? 

At Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, we believe in exceptional client care, empathy, and results. With our long track record of success, you can count on us to take the best strategy and work tirelessly for your quality of life. Our New York personal injury lawyers have decades of experience representing victims from car crashes to construction accidents and other workplace incidents. We’ve helped people just like you move forward after sustaining an injury that was caused by another’s negligence. Contact us today for a free consultation.

New York locations across New York State and New York City, including Manhattan, Queens, The Bronx, and Brooklyn.