Can I Settle My Auto Accident Case Without a Lawyer?
The costs of a car accident can be devastating. Not only are you suffering from physical injuries, but you’re also racking up monetary costs in the form of vehicle repairs, medical bills, and lost wages. Does it make sense to spend even more money and hire a lawyer? What are the pros and cons of having legal representation versus settling a Colorado Springs auto accident case without a lawyer?
Read on to learn more about how having a lawyer in Colorado Springs can help your car accident case.
Can I settle my auto accident case without a lawyer?
Hi, I’m Chris Nicolaysen, an attorney over at Springs Law Group here in Colorado Springs.
I wanted to talk to you today about whether or not you can settle your personal injury case without an attorney. The answer is: Yes, you can.
Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend it, though, and I want to give you a quick example on why.
We had a potential client come into the office. He had just been in an auto accident case and he sat down with one of the attorneys in the office for his consultation. At that consultation, he showed him a check that had been written to him just a couple of days after the at-fault driver had hit him. So, the at-fault insurance company had sent a check out to him and basically said, if you cash this check, we will settle out all claims for this. The problem here is, this potential client hadn’t even been to treatment yet, so how would he know what the range of his damages was and how severe the injuries were?
The reality is, can you do it? Can you settle it on your own? The answer’s yes. But where attorneys can come in and be helpful is this is the thing that we do day in and day out.
If you think about it from an auto mechanic standpoint, I can replace the starter on my car. I can also take it to a mechanic that replaces starters every day.
It’s always important that we hone in on our craft. We work with our clients and we communicate with our clients every single step of the way to let them know what’s going on so that they are part of the process. We make sure that we’re in touch and that they make the decisions with the advice that we give them… but it’s advice.
Sometimes insurance companies are going to try to push things along a lot faster than they should. The reality is that you can do it on your own, but I highly recommend against it. Even in the beginning – the one thing I’d recommend, even if you’re thinking about doing it on your own – I think it’s always worth sitting down with an attorney at a free consultation and just talking to them, getting some education, and finding out.
Maybe you do need somebody on your side, and that’s kind of our point of view on it here over at Springs Law Group – we’re always here to help you out.
If you have any questions or if you’ve been injured in an auto accident, feel free and give us a call. We’d be happy to chat with you.
Contact a Colorado Springs personal injury lawyer as soon as you’re able to. Remember that there are strict timelines when it comes to filing car accident claims and personal injury lawsuits. We advise that you don’t wait. Get the legal advice you need so you can get a fair settlement for your car accident injuries and other damages.
Find more information on our website or by giving us a call today!
Find more helpful resources:
- Could a personal injury lawyer help me win more money or save time?
- How does medical treatment affect your personal injury settlement?
- Will I have to file a lawsuit for my Colorado Springs car accident case?
- Increasing your car accident settlement
- Compensatory vs. punitive damages: Knowing the differences