You know all those obnoxious attorneys on TV, worse than any car salesman ever born? Well, at least two of the things they are always telling you are true.

First, if you are injured in a car accident and it is the other person’s fault, or if you are injured while riding in a car and someone else is driving, you can get compensation for your medical expenses and any losses of income you incur – and probably more for pain and suffering. (Also, what they don’t tell you is that if you are injured on a bus, taxi, subway or subway platform, you could also get compensation.) Or, if you are financially dependent on someone who has been killed in an accident, you are also due compensation.

Second, you definitely need an attorney. It is virtually impossible to navigate the post-accident legal and insurance systems without the guidance of an experienced car-accident attorney. And why would you want to put yourself through that?

How it Works:

Attorneys work on contingency, meaning that they don’t get paid if you don’t get paid. So, if they choose to represent you, you must have a better than even shot at getting compensation. The attorney should be able to tell you how good your prospects are, how much you could expect to win, and what you need to do to make sure your legal rights are protected. Also, they can advise you on all kinds of things that can make life a little easier while you are waiting – like a replacement car while yours is in the shop (in case your insurance doesn’t pay for it; or even if it does). Also, the attorney has all kinds of experts at his disposal that can and will check out the evidence.

Your attorney will first present the evidence and your claim to the other party’s insurance company. If they don’t choose to settle right away, a lawsuit is the next step. Though it is unlikely it will go so far as to end up in court, you need to help your lawyer by having as much evidence as you can early on.

Just the Facts:

Of course, if you are injured you may not want to walk around eliciting the names and phone numbers of eyewitnesses. They could be helpful, though, for being impartial judges of what exactly happened.

Though it may sound excessive, a disposable camera in your trunk is a lot lighter than a jack, and can help you in documenting the accident. Take plenty of shots from all angles. (For other pertinent advice, see the article on “After the Accident.”)

Also, get all the basic information. That includes:

• The other party’s phone number, email address, car license, driver’s license, insurance policy number, and insurance phone number.
• Police officer’s name, badge number and home station.
• Name, address and phone numbers of witnesses. (Even after you recover a bit, you are advised to go back to the scene of the accident to see if the local businesses witnessed it.)
• Repair estimates from different sources.

Which Attorney?

When you are looking for an attorney, you would be well advised not to go with the big ad spenders on tv. First of all, you don’t want to reward them for being obnoxious, do you? Also, those big attorneys are busy; you will either be foisted off on another attorney or to one of their low-level new attorneys. And don’t go with any 1-800 service either. Those are just a bunch of telephone operators that will do the same foisting as the ad spender. Of course, we want you to go with the attorneys that advertise on this site. Not just because they pay us, but because they have been carefully screened to ensure that they are trustworthy and experienced car-accident attorneys. But, if you don’t choose one here, ask a relative or neighbor or a friend who is an attorney and can refer you to a licensed car-accident attorney. Good luck!