If you’ve recently been in an auto accident, odds are the you are either now, or very soon, going to be trying to reach an auto accident settlement with your insurance company.  But one of the biggest questions that hovers over most people’s heads is, should I hire a lawyer?  The question isn’t a straightforward yes as many ads will have you believe because lawyers cost money and can take a hefty chunk out of any settlement amount you receive.  Attorneys will work best in cases where there is a lot of what are known as “general damages” at stake.

Most accident settlements will deal with what lawyers call special damages.  Special damages are always known to both parties and can be usually proved down to the penny with receipts.  These types of damages can include property loss or damage, medical bills, and lost wages.  Because these are usually proved by receipts, it is imperative that you save all the paperwork related to your accident just in case you need it later during your case.  Most car accident settlements with minor damage will only award these types of damages and can be easily negotiated without a lawyer.

However, lawyers should usually be consulted when large amounts of what are known as general damages are at stake.  These damages, usually just are referred to as pain and suffering, are inexact and reflect the loss of the quality of life that someone suffered either temporarily or permanently as a result of the accident.  Because these damages are so inexact and dependent on a case by case basis, a lawyer should be consulted to make sure that you get the right amount.  The lawyer will most likely also make enough of a difference in these cases to justify the hefty fees that they cause.

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