Car accident – should I sue?
Okay I was in my sisters car when the accident happened. The problem is that I was on my way to go to the tag/title and insurance office I just bought a new car, so I had no car insurance of my own, otherwise my car insurance would have been the responsible one. The next person responsible for my hospital bills would be my sisters car insurance company. They didn’t want to pay so I am going to talk to my sisters lawyer today. I know they will be able to get my medical bills paid for, but why do people normally hire a lawyer after an accident and why does someone who is hurt only minor hire a laywer to get a settlement, I am not familiar with all of this, so I’m curious if I should just take the step of getting my medical bills paid or go a step further and sue the guys company who hit us, because I know I have been to the doc a few times since then and may have to get physical therapy, so help me please I know nothing about all of this, send me a note!!!
The details you provide are a little unclear, but I will try to offer my advice:
If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident and aren’t the party at fault, you are entitled to compensation including but not limited to:
Restitution for bills incurred through medical care and rehabilitative care.
You are also entitled to compensation for lost wages from any time you were unable to work as a result of the injury, and any additional “pain and suffering”.
The total amount of settlement (on average) is three times your loss.
You obtain a lawyer to take care of filing all the paperwork- sending letters to the medical facilities indicating that payment will be made once your case is settled.
Your lawyer will then begin the process of negotiating with the at fault’s insurance company to come up with a figure which they feel is appropriate for your accident. IF the number isn’t acceptable, you go to court.
This is when you must decide if the total injuries and bills justify the time and expense of going before a judge.
Keep in mind a laywers fee is usually 1/3rd of your settlement.
Your situation is a little different- your sister’s insurance should cover all your expenses as you were her passenger, and your sister is the one who should be pursuing a claim- her losses include not only your medical expense, but hers and her vehicle. Part of her claim would be to recoup the money paid out to take care of you.
Hope this makes sense, and I hope you and your sister get well soon!