Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer For a Minor Accident?

Accidents can be physically and emotionally traumatic experiences, especially when another person or entity is at fault. If a car accident has injured you, it’s essential to determine whether the situation calls for legal assistance. When choosing whether or not to hire an attorney after a car accident, there are several factors to consider – including the severity of your injuries and the amount of damage caused by the accident.

In this blog post, we’ll help you decide if hiring a car accident lawyer is necessary for minor accidents so you can move forward with confidence and peace of mind knowing you have taken all the required steps towards securing just compensation for any physical or emotional distress caused by your injury. Additional information here.

The benefits of hiring a lawyer

First, you should know that a lawyer will likely get you a better settlement than you can, whether an accident is major or minor. The reason is that an insurance company knows they can give you lowball offers. Why? Because the only way to hold the insurance company accountable and get what you deserve is to file a lawsuit and take the case to trial. The insurance company knows you can’t do that without a lawyer. So whether your accident was minor or significant, you’re typically better off getting a lawyer. Most of the time, once you get a lawyer and they file your case, the insurance company will transfer your case to an adjuster higher up in the company. They will call your lawyer and start making higher offers than they were making to you.

The only time it may not be beneficial to have a lawyer is if the policy limits on the other driver are much lower than what your injury is worth and the insurance company is already offering you their policy limits. In that case, there may not be a reason to bring on a lawyer. On many occasions, I’ve told a potential client that I believe they have a good case, but I’ve confirmed, based on talking to the adjuster, that they’re giving them the policy limit. Sometimes you can tell just based on the number of the offer. Policy limits in California go progressively higher from $15,000 per person to 30,000 per person, and so on. Based on the nature of the injury and the offer the client is telling me they’ve already got, I can read between the lines and tell them that they’re offering the policy limits, and there is no reason to get me involved.

What constitutes the difference between a major and a minor accident?

The distinction between minor and major accidents largely depends on the client’s injuries. Of course, we can all look at devastating impacts that have caused severe physical injury to the people involved, and we can say that it’s a major accident. On the other end of the spectrum, we’ve also seen minor fender-bender-type accidents that don’t cause any injury and would be characterized as minor accidents. But ultimately, whether it’s a minor or a major accident is determined based on the harm it caused you and the effect the accident had on you as an individual. So you should never assume that your injury will not be significant because there wasn’t major physical property damage to the vehicles. Accidents affect people in different ways. The force of the impact usually corresponds to the extent of the injury. But that is not always the case, especially when people have pre-existing conditions exacerbated by an accident. So you should always consult with a lawyer and your doctor. Get input from experts who know what’s going on with you physically and know your legal rights before you make that decision.

What to do if you are injured in a major OR minor accident

For the reasons shown above, most people are better off contacting a lawyer after an accident, whether major or minor. In fact, you want to contact a lawyer as soon as possible so they can begin preserving critical details about your case and evidence of liability.

Call us today for a free consultation if you have been in an accident and have any questions. We would be happy to help you.

Areas served by The Law Offices of Justin H. King

While our office is located in Rancho Cucamonga, California, we serve all of the great surrounding communities in San Bernardino County, California. To the east of the City of Rancho Cucamonga, there’s the city of Upland, known for its charming downtown and historic homes. Upland also offers a variety of parks, hiking trails, and recreational opportunities.

To the west is the city of Fontana, which is home to the Auto Club Speedway and the Lewis Library and Technology Center. Fontana also has a rich history, with roots in the citrus industry, and a growing arts scene.

To the north, there’s the city of Claremont, which is known for its quaint, tree-lined streets and historic architecture. Claremont is home to several colleges and universities, including Claremont McKenna College, Pitzer College, and Scripps College, making it a hub of education and culture.

To the south, there’s the city of Ontario, which is home to the Ontario International Airport and the Citizens Business Bank Arena. Ontario is a hub of commerce and transportation, and offers a wide range of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

We handle car accident cases in each of these surrounding cities. Learn more!

Categories : General

Tags:

By Justin H. King, Esq. | Posted on February 8, 2023

Melinda Jordan

09:02 18 Dec 22

I went from feeling like a basket case from all the stress to feeling calm and collected after talking to Justin. He is a phenomenal personal injury lawyer and is a truly calming and reassuring presence. This firm helped me in ways I can't even adequately put into words, other than to say Thank You, Justin, to you and your awesome team.

Marjorie Harris

04:14 18 Dec 22

After an auto accident, I felt really nervous calling an attorney because I had never worked with one before. But from the first conversation I had with Jessica, I felt so at ease. Justin then called me and was so easy going and we had a nice conversation too. The entire staff took great care of me and I am very happy.

Sheila Hughes

03:45 18 Dec 22

I was in a car accident that was not my fault two years ago. A friend of mine had a family member who had been helped in the past by Justin King, and they suggested I call him. I'm so glad I did! Justin and his team took great care of my situation and got a great settlement for me. I highly recommend them if you have been in an accident. You will be very happy with what this firm. They are smart, hard-working, honest, and take great care of their clients.

Margaret James

04:43 01 Dec 22

Justin's entire staff is the best car accident lawyer team in Rancho Cucamonga. Justin, Oliver, Jessica, and Garrett all provided me with excellent service and treated me like family. They are all such great people, and always so honest and responsive to me. I gladly recommend them to anyone needing the services of a car accident lawyer in the Inland Empire.

Wm Holland

06:13 17 Nov 22

When I needed a lawyer following a car accident on the Interstate 15 Freeway in Rancho Cucamonga, Justin King, and his team were there for me. I appreciated how his entire staff always seemed happy to answer my questions and were so good about returning all my phone calls and emails. I could tell this firm has immense experience in helping people get their life back after an unfortunate car crash. I was so happy with the outcome of my case and the results Justin obtained from the insurance company on my behalf. I have recommended their office to all my family members and neighbors. I hope you never need to call them. But if you need the best car accident lawyers, I can vouch that they are excellent.