If you’re involved in a car crash in Cheyenne, Wyoming, the person who caused the accident will have to pay for the damage. This includes the repair or replacement of the vehicles, medical bills, and loss of the ability to work. You are at risk of facing a lawsuit if you were responsible for what happened, so you should always reach out to an experienced car accident attorney local to the area.
Unless you speak to a lawyer, you won’t know whether there is a way out of the situation and whether another party is also partially responsible for what happened. Your attorney can help you to determine if you really were at fault, negotiate competently with all parties, and maybe even prevent the case from escalating and going to court. Let’s have a closer look at why you should hire a professional even if you believe you were at fault.
Why Hire a Car Accident Attorney in Cheyenne, Wyoming if You Were at Fault?
In Wyoming, the person responsible for an accident has to pay for the damages. This doesn’t simply mean that you have to come up for the repair cost of the other party’s vehicle, but it also includes any costs related to their injuries. For instance, you might have to compensate them for their medical bills, the work they have lost, and their inability to go back to their job because of a permanent disability stemming from the accident.
As you can imagine, it’s easy for this to get expensive. For this reason, you should always work with an experienced attorney who specializes in personal injury cases. They can help you figure out whether you are really at fault, then negotiate with the injured party and settle on a fair amount of compensation. With the help of a professional, you can avoid paying out too much or taking the blame for something you didn’t do.
Determining Fault
After your accident, you might be suffering from your injuries and the shock of what happened. At such a time, you should avoid speaking to insurance adjusters about your case, even if they call you up and ask you to admit fault. Wait to give them an answer until you have spoken to a lawyer who can tell you exactly what you should and shouldn’t say.
It might turn out that you are not fully at fault, after all. A dedicated lawyer will examine all the evidence, which might include investigating the location of your accident and the cars involved. That way, they can figure out whether dangerous terrain or a fault with one of the vehicles could have been a partial cause. Your attorney will help you to remain calm until these investigations have been completed and fault has been determined.
Representing You if You’re Partially at Fault
If it turns out that you are not fully at fault, you could receive some compensation for the money, time, and enjoyment of life you have lost. In Wyoming, there is a modified “comparative negligence” rule, which states that you can still reclaim damages even if you were partially responsible for the crash.
For example, the jury might decide that the total compensation you should receive to cover your medical bills and the loss of your vehicle is $100,000 but that you are 10% at fault for what happened. In this case, you will receive only 90% of the total amount, so $90,000. This can still cover a large part of your bills and be helpful during your recovery period. As long as you are not more than 50% at fault, you will be entitled to this money.
Negotiating with All Parties
To ensure that you get the best outcome possible, effective communication with legal professionals, insurance companies, and other crash victims is key. A good car accident attorney local to Cheyenne, Wyoming can help you avoid common mistakes such as losing your temper when speaking in court or admitting fault to an insurance adjuster.
Due to their professional experience, your lawyer is a much better negotiator than the average person. They can lay out your case in a way that demonstrates you aren’t fully at fault, communicate with the insurance companies involved, and help you figure out how you will phrase your defense in court. That way, you won’t run the risk of saying something that could put your case, and therefore your financial future, at risk.
Agreeing on a Settlement with the Other Party
The purpose of the negotiations is to determine a fair settlement amount that allows the other party to move on with their lives but doesn’t ruin you financially. Your lawyer can help you achieve this, often without going to court.
Negotiating directly is much faster and more cost-effective for everyone involved, so it is in both parties’ best interest to come to an agreement. That way, you and the other victims can save money on legal and court fees, and you don’t have to wait for months to find out whether you’ll need to pay compensation.
Helping You Through this Challenging Situation
Undoubtedly, a lawsuit related to a car accident is a stressful situation for everyone involved. This is especially true if you are partially or wholly at fault for the incident. You might worry about the outcome of your case, which could affect you for the next decade or more. Your lawyer can help you through this and ensure that you get the most favorable outcome possible.
After you’ve hired them, you will have highly experienced professionals on your side. They can tell you what the most likely result is, so you can build up realistic expectations of your case and prepare yourself for what’s to come. Such knowledge will help you to move forward and make the best decisions for you and your family.
Finding a Competent Attorney
Now you know that hiring a personal injury attorney is crucial even if you were at fault, you might wonder whom to choose. In general, the best way to find out more is to browse local law firms’ websites and figure out which ones have worked on similar cases to yours. You could also check out the testimonials, which tell you more about how easy it is to work with a particular lawyer and whether previous clients were happy with the results.
Working with a great car accident attorney is important after a crash in or around Cheyenne, Wyoming. This is because Wyoming is an at-fault state, which means the person responsible for the accident will have to pay for the damages. If you believe that you are to blame, you shouldn’t delay getting in touch with a top lawyer because they can help you avoid the financial and emotional stress that is often associated with such a case.
By working with a lawyer, you can make sure that you aren’t getting penalized for something you didn’t do. If you were only partly at fault and another party contributed to the accident, you can receive the compensation you need to move on. What’s more, the case might not need to go to court because your lawyer can negotiate a settlement. Call us today at Ochs Law Firm to find out how we can help and request an initial consultation.
