Do You Need a Car Accident Lawyer If You Weren’t At Fault?

Car accident lawyers provide essential support and guidance in the aftermath of a crash. If you are dealing with a car accident that wasn’t your fault, understanding what to do (and what not to do) can be challenging. This is especially true if you are dealing with accident-related injuries.

In this scenario, can (and should) you hire a car accident lawyer to represent you? If so, what can you expect from your legal representation?

Burg Simpson is a celebrated personal injury law firm with extensive experience representing the victims of car accidents. Talk to our car accident lawyers in Cincinnati for FREE by calling 513-852-5600 today.

Hiring a Lawyer After a Car Accident That Wasn’t Your Fault in Ohio

If you were injured in a car accident in which you were not at fault, we strongly recommend that you speak with a lawyer—and that you do so as soon as possible. Here are just some of the reasons why you should seek legal counsel ASAP:

1. Your Lawyer Can Help Prove Who Was at Fault in the Accident

If you were not at fault for the car accident, this means that someone else was responsible for causing the collision. To recover compensation for your accident-related losses, you will need to prove who was at fault in the crash. An experienced car accident lawyer will be able to conduct a thorough investigation and gather the evidence needed to prove your legal rights.

2. Your Lawyer Can Deal with the Insurance Companies for You

After gathering as much evidence as possible, your lawyer will then be able to deal with the insurance companies for you. In most cases, seeking just compensation after a car accident that was not your fault involves dealing with another driver’s insurance company. Liability insurance is mandatory in Ohio; so, if you got hit by a negligent driver, the driver should have coverage available.

In some cases, you may need to deal with your own insurance company as well. This could be the case, for example, if the driver who hit you only has minimal insurance coverage, if you got hit by an uninsured driver, or if you were injured in a hit-and-run accident. In these scenarios, your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage should apply (if you have this coverage available). Your insurance company will effectively “stand in the shoes” of the negligent driver’s insurer (which means you should have an attorney to represent you).

Of course, not all car accidents result from driver negligence. If you have a claim for a vehicle defect, road defect, or any other non-driver-related factor, you will need experienced legal representation in this scenario as well. No matter what happened, your lawyer will represent you at no out-of-pocket cost and you will not have to pay any fees or costs unless your claim succeeds.

3. Your Lawyer Can Determine How Much Compensation You Should Seek

Another important reason to hire a lawyer if you were not at fault in an Ohio car accident is that you need to make sure you are seeking the full compensation you deserve. In Ohio, accident victims can seek fair compensation for their financial and non-financial losses—including pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and post-traumatic stress. However, the insurance companies will not cover these losses (or any other losses) voluntarily. Instead, it will be up to you and your lawyer to prove the total value of your claim.

4. Your Lawyer Can Deal with Allegations of Partial Fault 

Even if you were not at fault for the accident, this will not stop the other driver and their insurance company from trying to blame you. If the insurance company accuses you of being partially at fault, this could limit your financial recovery—or it could even prevent you from recovering just compensation entirely.

Experienced car accident lawyers will be able to help make sure the insurance companies do not get away with paying you less than they owe. Ohio uses the comparative negligence standard in personal injury cases; this means you may still be entitled to a recovery even if you are partially at fault.

5. Your Lawyer Can Help You Achieve a Favorable Resolution

Regardless of how your car accident claim progresses, recovering fair compensation is not always easy. Obtaining a fair settlement requires clear evidence and strong negotiation skills—and, even then, there are no guarantees.

If you hire an experienced car accident lawyer to represent you, your lawyer will be able to negotiate for a fair settlement on your behalf. Furthermore, your attorney will also be prepared to fight for your legal rights in court if necessary.

Contact Our Car Accident Lawyers in Cincinnati

Burg Simpson has decades of experience representing people injured in car accidents. Our goal is to obtain maximum compensation for each client’s injuries and damages.

If you have questions about your legal rights after a car accident that was not your fault, we invite you to contact us for a FREE, no-obligation consultation. Lawyers at Burg Simpson serve clients throughout Ohio from our office in Cincinnati.