Knowing what to do after you’ve been injured in an auto accident can make the process of filing claims and dealing with insurance adjustors much easier. Just as you would seek the expertise of an electrician for a problem at your home, seeking the expertise of a lawyer whose practice focuses in this area of law is no different – and it often doesn’t cost anything.

How a lawyer can help

Tim Young, a Louisiana attorney whose practice handles all aspects of auto accident cases, knows that auto accident victims often think that contacting a lawyer means filing a lawsuit and paying money. However, he told us that nothing could be further from the truth. He explained, “I think a person can only make decisions when they know their options. Most people do not understand what they are required to do when an accident occurs; nor do they understand what their insurance company, or the other person’s insurance company, are required to do when the accident occurs.”

“Calling an attorney is no different then calling any kind of specialist, such as a plumber or electrician, when you have problems at your house. As a lawyer, I would never try to perform electrical work without hiring an electrician, or at a minimum, speaking with them over the telephone describing the situation and seeing what their thoughts were. I think people have a misconception that if they call an attorney, it’s going to cost money or hurt them in the eyes of the insurance company. I think that’s a very false belief and frankly detrimental to making a good and informed decision.”

When should you contact a lawyer?

Young believes that people should contact lawyers immediately – regardless of whether they want to file a suit or simply discuss their options. He continued, “There is no charge to accident victims to speak with us over the telephone, or in person, to advise them of their rights. It’s never going to hurt the person if they’re educated about their rights and allowed to choose a path that is best for them.”

“They may choose to handle their case in a way that we wouldn’t recommend, but that’s certainly their option and they can do that after they know all their options. I think the only reason that people don’t call attorneys right away is that there may be some type of hesitation thinking that they’re doing something they shouldn’t do. That has nothing to do with their rights and everything to do with public perception.”

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, contact an attorney whose practice focuses in this area of law. Click here, to contact a qualified Louisiana Car Accident attorney for a free, no-obligation consultation.