6 Benefits of Working with a Local Car Accident Lawyer in RI
Car accidents can leave you with expensive medical bills that bring your life to a screeching halt. While you deserve compensation from the person who caused the accident, their insurance company might not be willing to honor their end of the deal. Luckily, working with a local RI car accident lawyer could get you the settlement you need to start over.
Is it worth getting an attorney for a car accident?
If your medical expenses are especially high or you’re working with a difficult insurance company, the claims process can be complicated. However, a lawyer can make all the difference between a successful claim and an automatic rejection.
Even minor claims can benefit from a lawyer’s strategic advice, especially if an insurance company isn’t acting in good faith. Common reasons to get a lawyer after a car accident include:
- Navigating the legal process: Insurance companies and legal paperwork can feel overwhelming to newcomers. But lawyers can help you navigate the system and take care of filing for you.
- Better negotiation: A lawyer will negotiate with an insurance company on your behalf. They know the best tactics for stubborn claims adjusters so that you will receive the maximum settlement.
- Calculating damages: Lawyers help you understand the full value of your claim, from medical bills and property damage, and can also help calculate pain and suffering.
- Avoiding common mistakes: When you’re stressed and dazed after a car accident, you might make mistakes that hurt your case, like accidentally admitting fault or missing a deadline. A lawyer can help you avoid costly mistakes while pursuing your claim.
- Fighting for you in court: While most personal injury claims settle out of court, a lawyer can help you escalate your case to court if you can’t reach a good settlement.
Is it better to use a local lawyer for car accident claims?
All lawyers need to be licensed and barred in order to practice in their states. But while you may think that a lawyer from another city or a large firm might be the best option, that’s not always the case.
Sometimes, a smaller, local firm can be the right choice for a strong insurance settlement or a courtroom victory. Some of the benefits of hiring a car accident lawyer can include the following.
Benefits of hiring a local car accident lawyer
Investigate Your Crash
While you’re recovering from life-changing injuries, you don’t always have the time or energy to gather key evidence for your personal injury cases – like car accident reports, medical records, security camera footage, or eyewitness testimony.
A local attorney can coordinate with investigators, hospitals, local businesses, and more important sources to build your case. Years of experience mean they understand where to look and which officials to speak with. They can even show up in person. So, you can relax and focus on recovery.
A Car Accident Lawyer Will File Faster
A lawyer from another city may not know which courthouse serves your jurisdiction or whether they need to file online or in person. Meanwhile, an established lawyer is used to the filing process in your area. They know the right protocols like the back of their hand, so they can file important paperwork faster.
Since local lawyers are right in town, there’s also no delay for in-person filing. They also typically know your area’s clerks. So, if there’s a problem, they know who to talk to.
Local Law and Courtroom Experience
If you need to go to court, a local lawyer can help you navigate a local courtroom’s quirks. Since local lawyers regularly appear before the same judges, they understand each judge’s preferences and tolerances. So, they know how to strategically tailor your case for the best outcome.
Your local lawyer may also understand the “unwritten” rules of a courthouse, too, like the best tactics to get faster dates on the calendar.
Expert Witnesses Network
If your claim escalates to court, an expert witness can help a judge understand the technicalities of your case, so they can make a more accurate ruling.
Established local law firms often have connections with doctors, auto repair shops, accident reconstruction specialists, and other crucial testifying experts. They can use their network to find the best experts to support your case in a courtroom.
Local Precedent
The value of a personal injury claim can vary widely between states. But, a local attorney understands how to value personal injury claims in your area. They can look at personal injury settlement amount examples and help you understand what your personal injury claim is realistically worth.
Easier Communication with a Local Car Accident Lawyer
If you prefer face-to-face meetings to phone calls or FaceTime, a local lawyer makes it easier and faster to arrange in-person meetings. You can get to know each other, exchange documents, and build trust without driving to another city, which comes in handy if you’re not up to traveling post-accident.
Work with a Providence Car Accident Lawyer
If you’re ready to work with a local, Providence car accident lawyer, Petrarca Law is here to fight for your rights. We’re a family-owned and operated business with over 40 years of combined experience, and we know how to get results in Providence.
From spearheading groundbreaking speed camera lawsuits to standing up for local drivers in personal injury claims, we dedicate ourselves fully to our clients, so you’ll have a powerful advocate in your corner. Let us take care of your personal injury claim from beginning to end, so you can rest easy with a legal team at your side.
Contact us today for a free case consultation.