DO I NEED A LAWYER?
Oftentimes a person involved in an auto accident does not need to hire a lawyer. If the insurance company repairs your car to your satisfaction, if you don’t have serious injuries, or if the claim is small enough to allow you to take the matter to small claims court, you may not need a lawyer.

WILL THE INSURANCE COMPANY PROTECT ME?
If you are injured in a wreck which was the fault of another person, that person’s insurance company will not be looking out for you. Remember that the other person’s insurer is trying to get off the hook as cheaply as possible. If you are dealing with your own insurance company, you have a right to expect your insurer to treat you fairly. However, insurance companies make money by denying claims and holding out long enough for people to take what they offer. Don’t be fooled by a sweet, courteous insurance adjuster into believing that the company cares for you---the adjuster cares about you signing a release!!

HOW MUCH WILL A LAWYER CHARGE?
Most auto accident cases are handled on a “contingent fee” basis. This means that the attorney fee is “contingent” or dependent on you receiving compensation. The legal fees are a percentage of the recovery, meaning the lawyer only recovers if you receive money. This fee arrangement is the only way that most people can gain access to the legal system. The insurance companies pay their lawyers on an hourly basis regardless of the outcome of the case. A lawyer who represents victims of auto accidents spends money, through out of pocket expenses, office overhead and salaries and other charges, without any guarantee of recovery.

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO FILE A LAWSUIT?
In Alabama, a lawsuit arising out of an auto accident must be filed within 2 years of the accident date. The case does not have to be settled or tried within that time. However, if a lawsuit is not filed within 2 years after the accident date, the other party or insurance company does not have to pay you anything!

SHOULD I TALK TO THE OTHER DRIVER OR THE ADJUSTER?
Unless you have decided that you will not be consulting a lawyer, do not discuss anything with the other driver’s insurance adjuster whose job is to close the file as cheaply as possible, or to obtain a statement from you which the insurance company can use against you later. Call a lawyer and find out whether you should hire a lawyer before you compromise your case by letting an experienced adjuster trap into saying something out of context or incorrect.

HOW MUCH IS MY CASE WORTH?
Insurance adjusters evaluate the monetary worth of cases on several factors. The out of pocket medical bills, the verifiable lost wages, the permanency of injuries and the length of recovery all play a role in placing a money figure on personal injuries. Different insurance companies have different procedures regarding willingness to settle and valuations. THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR AN INITIAL OFFICE CONSULTATION TO DISCUSS YOUR CASE. Oftentimes, the true value of an auto accident case is not apparent until after a lawsuit is filed and the lawyer discovers facts which you may not be able to discover without filing a lawsuit, such as the other driver’s past history, statements of witnesses, etc.

SHOULD I HIRE A LAWYER?
The only way to find out the answer to this question to ask a lawyer! An experienced accident lawyer can tell you if you need a lawyer, and if you do not, the lawyer should give you an idea of the monetary figure you should demand from the insurance company. If you want to a schedule a no-obligation, no-cost appointment to discuss your accident with Mr. Enfinger, call secretary Lila Frazell to schedule a confidential free consultation.