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A car accident can occur anytime anywhere. If you are lucky enough, you might be slightly hit by another driver and get minor damage to your vehicle. In this situation, a question may pop up in your head—should I get a lawyer for a minor car accident or should I just forget this little thing?
Many people in this situation probably think that they should not make a fuss about the accident, especially if they feel fine and their cars only have minor damage. But according to the law in most states, any car accident must be reported otherwise, it would be considered illegal.
Common Mistakes You Might Have Made After a Minor Car Accident
There are several mistakes that drivers commonly make after a car accident. Avoiding the following mistakes can make a big difference in terms of insurance claims and compensation.
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1. Leaving the Scene
In many cases, drivers involved in minor car accidents choose to leave the scene and forget that the accident ever happened. The truth is that leaving the scene can make it more difficult to get a clear fact, in case you change your mind and need to hire a lawyer.
2. Failing to Report the Accident
Not reporting a car accident is illegal in the United States. Even it can be considered an offense when you just leave the scene and drive away without filing a police report. No matter how minor damage your vehicle has or how minor your injury is, an accident is an accident.
3. Forgetting to Get the Other Driver’s Insurance Information
Should I get a lawyer for a minor car accident? If it comes across your mind but you can’t decide yet, be sure to collect each other’s information between drivers involved in the accident. If you finally choose to find a lawyer, at least you already have the insurance information of the other driver.
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4. Not Taking Pictures of the Scene
Taking pictures of the scene is important to collect physical evidence of the accident. Try to capture the damage to all vehicles, injuries, and any property involved. You are not going to post it on social media instead, it can help you secure a payout.
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Should I Hire an Attorney after a Minor Car Accident?
In most cases, it is highly recommended to get a lawyer for a minor accident. If you are injured in the accident, a car accident lawyer can provide services to help you file insurance claims and get a payout as well as navigate the process of case reviews if desired.
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There are some other reasons why you should get a lawyer after a minor car crash, including:
Your Lawyer Helps Identify Recoverable Damages
When you are asking yourself “Should I get a lawyer for a minor car accident?” then tell yourself that an expert is all you need to identify any recoverable damage. Documentation is required to recover damages whether you want to file a no-fault claim or secure a payout.
The documentation that you need includes medical bills, evidence of missed income, and out-of-pocket expenses receipts. Your attorney, with their experience, will help you identify common expenses.
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An Attorney Can Help with the Investigation
One of the best reasons why you should get a lawyer for a car accident is that they can help with the investigation. A professional lawyer will look into what happened to decide who is responsible, allowing them to prove liability and fault.
This investigation may include, but is not limited to interviews with witnesses, video of the accident (if any), relevant medical records, and a survey at the scene.
You May Get Hidden Injuries
Should I get a lawyer for a minor car accident? Yes, because you may get hidden, unrecognized injuries that do not show up for days after the accident. Even though you feel completely fine, you may suffer from hidden injuries like stretched ligaments or strained tendons.
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If you leave the scene and do not make a report but you feel something wrong a few days after the incident, it is difficult to claim insurance and take your case to court. But with a lawyer on your side, you know what to do after an accident.
A Lawyer Helps You Deal with Unwanted Action from the Other Driver
After a minor accident, you might exchange information with the other driver, and seems like everything is okay. But it turns out that the other driver files a claim against you even though you know their claims are exaggerated.
A legal advocate helps you deal with this situation. Experience allows them to take the right action so the other driver cannot go very far with the lawsuit.
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A minor car accident is still an accident. Should I get a lawyer for a minor car accident? Yes. Getting an attorney helps handle your case and navigate all the processes on your behalf so you can get insurance claims and payout easier.
