I know it sounds dumb. People get in a car accident (we prefer to call it a collision, since someone is at fault for it) and I suggest they call an attorney. But, maybe no one is hurt. Or maybe its a small fender bender.
That is absolutely true. You do NOT need an attorney for every case. In fact, I turn away about half of the people who call me or email me. There are simply times it does not make sense for them to hire an attorney.
However, there are plenty of times it does make sense. For example, today I received a call from a woman whose fiance was involved in a motor vehicle accident. No one was hurt. However, it had been two weeks since the collision, and her insurance company had denied coverage for a very obscure reason. Now, she has a car that is probably a total loss and she may not have coverage for this car crash.
There are things we can do now. However, had she come to me two weeks ago, it would have been significantly easier to help her. Remember, personal injury attorneys (trial lawyers, if you prefer) generally do not charge for a consultation. I have never charged anyone to talk about their accident and whether they need an attorney. I won’t charge you either.
Pick up the phone within a day or two of the accident and call. It will take 5 or 10 minutes of your time and you will learn what to expect and whether you need an attorney. Trust me, most of us, well the good ones, will not take on a case if you don’t need help. We will just give you some free advice and help you figure out what works best for you.