Hundreds of car crashes, collisions, and accidents are reported in Idaho each year. Minor accidents and fender benders don’t need much attention, but a serious car crash can cause unexpected damage and trauma. Idaho is a tort state. This means that the driver responsible for the crash is liable to pay compensation to the other parties. If filing a third-party claim is so simple, do you really need to hire a Boise Idaho auto accident lawyer? In this post, let’s talk about the need for an attorney.
Accidents are often complex
Just because you were injured in a crash doesn’t mean you can file a lawsuit against the other party. The police will investigate the accident, and only when the fault is clear can one talk about liability. What if you were also at fault? If two drivers are responsible or partly at fault for an accident, the modified comparative fault rule will be considered. In Idaho, you can only hold the other party liable for the losses when you are at a minor fault (less than 50% or the other party). Hiring an attorney is about doing your investigation of the accident to determine the further course of action.
Dealing with insurance companies
Although insurance companies promise great things in their ads, they rarely help accident victims in the truest sense. All claims and settlements are losses for these companies, and they may adhere to tactics to downplay the damage. The insurance representative may press you for a statement soon after the crash, and anything you say can be used against your claim. For example, if you apologized to the other party after the accident out of gesture, they may try to shift the blame. You must hire a lawyer to avoid direct communication with the insurance company representative.
Gathering evidence
Like other states, there is a time limit in Idaho to file injury lawsuits after an accident. If you want to file a civil lawsuit, you have to take action within two years from the accident date. The same time is available for those who wish to file a wrongful death lawsuit. More than the time, evidence from the accident may disappear in no time if you don’t act immediately. Since you are unaware of how to investigate a crash or gather evidence, let an attorney do the work.
Lawyers are skilled litigators and negotiators and know what it takes to settle a claim for the client.