What does a car accident lawyer do?
Car accident lawyers focus on motor-vehicle crashes — from rear-end collisions to multi-vehicle highway wrecks, trucking accidents and rideshare incidents. They gather police reports, crash data, witness statements and medical records to build a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurer and, when needed, your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
Insurance rules for auto accidents vary significantly from state to state, including no-fault systems and comparative-fault rules that can reduce what you recover. A local attorney understands how those rules apply where your crash happened.
Common car accidents cases
- Rear-end and intersection collisions
- Commercial truck accidents
- Motorcycle crashes
- Uber and Lyft accidents
- Hit-and-run and uninsured drivers
- Drunk-driving crashes
When should you hire a car accident lawyer?
- Anyone was injured, even if symptoms appeared days later
- A commercial vehicle, rideshare or government vehicle was involved
- The other driver’s insurer is disputing fault
- The settlement offer does not cover your medical bills and lost wages
How much does a car accident lawyer cost?
Car accident cases are almost always handled on a contingency-fee basis, so there is no hourly bill. The fee is a percentage of any settlement or verdict, and many firms offer a free case review.
Questions to ask in your consultation
- Have you handled claims against this insurance company before?
- How do comparative-fault rules in this state affect my case?
- Should I use my own uninsured / underinsured coverage?
- Do you advance the cost of accident reconstruction or medical experts?