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!

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

17:05 25 Oct 24

Thank you so much to Oliver King and Garrett Tuckerman for helping me with my case. They've been outstanding. Although the process was overwhelming, I felt reassured, supported, and listened to. I highly recommend the Law offices of Justin King to anyone who needs help.

Savana Martinez

18:30 04 Sep 24

The team at Law Office of Justin King went above and beyond with my case.It was my first big automobile accident while being 6 months pregnant and I was terrified. I called them the same day and they took on my case immediately.Throughout the whole process they were communicative and on top of everything. I would recommend to everyone and would go back to them again if need be.Thank you to this amazingly firm !

Hate Nine

06:01 04 Sep 24

Wow! I can't say enough good things about the Law Offices of Justin King. Attitude starts at the top, & this firm is top tier. They represented me (& yes we won!) for an injury I sustained while riding my motorcycle westbound on the 10. Someone changed lanes without looking, which resulted in a knee injury, a lot of physical therapy, & a totaled motorcycle. I wasn't sure what to do or if this were even something worth pursuing. I found Justin's webpage & sent a quick message to him on a Saturday night then thought nothing of it. My first call from Justin was Sunday morning. I was immediately impressed. After hearing a bit of my story & asking a few questions I was ready to have Justin represent me. My first question was "How much do I need to come up with to get this started? Justin replied, you don't owe anything until we win. Not unless, until. That set the tone of the next 2 years of my life. As your case progresses it'll require work from you & a whole team working to represent you. Staci will call & let you know she's emailing documents that require signatures; Garrett will call to ask for details they need to understand & yes, he will call to remind you that you forgot to sign a document 3 days earlier. These are great people who genuinely care. They will take time to understand your needs & they communicate every step of the way. If you are injured, you need to call Justin & his team right away. You will not be disappointed!Google only allows 5 stars, but these guys deserve 10!

Vivian Garcia

01:00 15 Aug 24

I was involved in my first big automobile accident last year, in Yorba Linda. I was a bit overwhelmed as you can imagine. Friends suggested that I hire an attorney to handle my case and I was not quite sure how to proceed. I was very fortunate when I was referred to Justin King’s office.I met with Mr. King and found him to be very personable and he listened to my concerns. I felt very comfortable and confident that he would help me in getting a fair outcome to my case.I want to also thank Garrett Tuckerman for all he did in keeping me updated with everything going on with my case and for being there whenever I had any questions or concerns. I also want to mention Leoni Barrera who was always pleasant and supportive when I called.I highly recommend The Law Offices of Justin H. King for your personal injury needs. I feel that Mr. King and his whole staff, with their knowledge, expertise and professionalism will help make your experience a less stressful one.

Lisa Perchez

21:53 29 Jul 24

Last July I was struck by a falling case of liquor at Total Wine in Rancho Cucamonga which led to a slip and fall. My friends and family urged me to contact a lawyer after discovering I needed surgery to repair my broken wrist. A friend found Justin King on Google. Justin was compassionate, accessible, and took charge from the very first meeting. He was able to obtain the surveillance video capturing the entire incident, and made an appointment for me to see a prominent neurologist after the video showed the case struck the front of my head. The entire staff at The Law Offices of Justin H. King were very easy to work with, and I always felt like my case was getting personal attention. Thank you Garrett, Staci, and Leoni! My case went to mediation and settled for more than 3x what they originally offered. If you have been injured in an accident, I highly recommend The Law Offices of Justin H. King.

Leslie S.

18:26 13 Jul 24

I want to thank Justin and his amazing office. They made a very traumatic/ nightmare of a situation into a more bearable situation every step of the way. They kept us updated and we were reassured that we were in good hands. I want to also express my gratitude to Garrett for being so empathic and supportive through the ups and downs that comes with a case. We are so blessed to have had them handle our case. I would recommend them to anyone who is looking for a professional and dependable office. Thank you again Justin King Office!!!

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.