Do people need a lawyer for all accidents?
No. Where the injury is slight, the damages are very minor, and the circumstances that caused the injury are unlikely to recur, it usually makes sense "to pick yourself up, brush yourself off, and start all over again" - essentially forget about it.
For example, if it is a minor parking lot fender bender, your auto
insurancecompany may take care of everything except the deductible, or the other driver's company may do so, and it may not be worth your while to try to get that back, even in Small Claims Court.
But what if the accident is not trivial. You may incur a real injury. You may have major property damage
. You may incur large medical fees not covered by your health insurance, have a permanent scar, be unable to play your favorite sport, do your job, or incur other meaningful expenses (check out the article on "whiplash disorder" and injuries, a common occurence in auto accidents). If the matter is not minor, or the circumstances are likely to occur again -- perhaps to someone else, then you should consult with an accident
lawyer, at least to have the lawyer assist you to consider your options. If you and the lawyer conclude "you have a case" the lawyer may help you recover for the injuries, expense and damage you sustained, and, at the same time, possibly prevent a similar "accident" from happening to and injuring others. |
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