You need a lawyer after a car accident injury in New Mexico when you want legal advice. You may want legal advice if you suffer from severe injuries or have lost the life of a family member. A car accident lawyer will protect your case from legal mistakes, civil rights violations, and subpar insurance settlements early on.
There are times where cases do not need legal representation, such as when an injury is not present. However, you can play it safe by speaking with a New Mexico car accident injury attorney before filing your insurance claim. Many offer a free claim evaluation to help you get answers and learn about your options.
In this post, we help you understand more about hiring a lawyer, when you may not need one, and where you can turn for answers.
When You May Need an Injury Attorney for a Car Accident
Very few car accident injury cases are cut and dry. As such, you should always ask an attorney about your case to determine if you are concerned about protecting your legal rights from insurance companies.
You may want to hire a car accident injury lawyer for the following situations:
- Received an injury claim denial
- Received an inadequate injury or wrongful death settlement
- Suffered from catastrophic, life-changing injuries
- Family member lost their life
- Multiple parties were involved
- Insurer gets their lawyers involved
Ensure you contact an injury attorney sooner rather than later since there is a statute of limitations that applies to your case. Missing this deadline prevents you from retaining any legal right to money for your medical expenses, lost work wages, and mental anguish.
When You May Not Need an Injury Attorney For A Car Accident
Handling a claim on your own can complicate the claims process. However, it is essential to understand the advantages and drawbacks of both decisions. While you are the only one who can make that decision, knowing when you may not need a lawyer depends upon the circumstances of your case.
You might not need a car accident injury lawyer for the following reasons:
- Very minor or zero injuries present: If you do not have any damages, then there is nothing that you can recover. Minor injuries are less complicated to settle since they generally do not have long-term consequences. Keep in mind that car accident injury lawyers represent injury cases only.
- Small claims cases: Small claims cases are more straightforward than those involving catastrophic injury and wrongful death damages. You can fight these types of cases if you feel confident in your capabilities or when multiple lawyers refuse to take on your case.
- Cost-benefit: If it does not make financial sense to hire an attorney for a car accident injury, you do not need to hire one. You can take a law firm up on their offer for a free consultation and ask directly. A lawyer is lawfully required to tell you if they do not believe their services will help. In this situation, it genuinely does not hurt to ask.
- Satisfied with the settlement: You do not need an attorney for a car accident when you are satisfied with the settlement you received. However, it never hurts to run your settlement offer by a legal professional first. Keep in mind that if you accept it, you cannot pursue compensation in the future in case you discover that your injuries are worse than they appear.
Another element worth considering is that if your accident injuries are severe, it is challenging to fight with an insurance adjuster when you are in the hospital or recovering in bed. An injury attorney will handle the legal aspects while you focus on getting better.
How Much Does a Car Accident Injury Lawyer in New Mexico Cost?
New Mexico car accident injury lawyers typically do not charge for an initial consultation or request any form of advanced payment for representation. They offer their services on a contingency fee basis, meaning that they do not receive compensation for their services until the client obtains a successful outcome. Contingencies fees allow injury victims to secure legal counsel without paying an expensive retainer.
Call Grano Law Offices, P.C. for a Free Case Evaluation
You do not have to take chances with your car accident injury case. Confirm whether or not you need a lawyer by speaking with an experienced legal team. We can help you make sense of your situation and move toward a resolution that restores your life to as whole as possible.
Reach out to Grano Law Offices, P.C. for a Free Case Evaluation by calling (505) 426-8711 now or via the contact form below. Our legal team takes cases on a contingency fee basis and will not get paid until you win your case.
