6 - 2025 | Jackson & Foster

If you were recently involved in a serious car accident, you might hear one recurring piece of advice: “Hire an attorney.” Working with an experienced car accident lawyer is often a good idea, especially if your case is complex. But not every car accident claim requires an attorney’s assistance.

If you’re asking, “Do I need a lawyer after a car accident?” this guide can help you know when an attorney might be helpful for your case. If you’re still unsure, request a consultation with a car accident attorney in Mobile, AL, to discuss your claim and learn how they can assist you.

Signs You Need an Attorney After a Car Accident

Hiring legal representation after a car accident may help you manage a complex legal process with greater clarity. If any of the following are true, you might benefit from hiring an attorney to assist with your personal injury claim.

The Accident Involved Severe Injuries or Fatalities

Serious car accidents, such as ones involving impaired driving, often lead to life-altering injuries and even fatalities. If your accident left you or a loved one with severe injuries, you’re likely facing a large, complicated claim. You might find it difficult to manage a legal claim while recovering from serious injuries.

An attorney can provide necessary support, guidance, and representation while you focus on recovering from your injuries. They can counter any aggressive tactics from the insurance company and help you navigate a complex injury claim.

The Insurance Company Is Not Cooperating

Insurance companies may want to balance paying out your claim with protecting their own financial interests. This means they might not offer to pay out what you believe your claim to be worth. Alternatively, they might reject your claim altogether if you do not have enough evidence in their eyes.

If the insurance company is being uncooperative, an attorney can help you strengthen your claim and resist their tactics.

You Are Facing Steep Medical Bills and Expenses

Serious car accidents often lead to steep medical bills and other expenses. While your health insurance might cover some of these medical expenses, you will likely be subject to copays and deductibles. You may be eligible for compensation from the at-fault driver for expenses resulting from the accident.

However, the insurance company might provide you with a payout offer that does not fully cover your expenses. An experienced attorney can help you present evidence showcasing the value of your claim and negotiate a higher offer. If the insurer still fails to provide a sufficient payout, your attorney can discuss litigation with you and detail your other options.

There Are Disputes Over Liability

The insurance company usually makes a fault determination based on the evidence it receives from all parties involved in the accident. This determination details who was responsible for the accident and, thus, who is liable for financial damages.

Alabama follows a contributory negligence rule, stating that if a plaintiff is found to be even 1% responsible for their own injuries, they may be ineligible for a compensation claim. As such, the insurer’s fault determination plays a critical role in your opportunity to secure compensation after the accident through this insurance claims process before a lawsuit is filed.

Your attorney may help you provide evidence to clarify your role in the accident and challenge any incorrect fault assessments.

Times When You Might Not Need a Lawyer for a Car Accident Claim

Do you need a lawyer after a car accident? There are a few instances in which an attorney may not be necessary:

Your accident did not involve injuries: If no one was injured in your accident, your insurance claim may be relatively straightforward, and you may not need an attorney to help you navigate the process.
The insurance company is cooperating: If the insurance company has offered you sufficient funds to account for your monetary losses after the accident, you might not need an attorney. However, a car accident lawyer can help you understand what types of compensation may be available to you and avoid accepting an insufficient offer.
The damage was minor: If the damage to your vehicle was relatively minor, you might not need an attorney to assist with settlement negotiations or provide other legal guidance.

If you are ever unsure whether you need an attorney, consider scheduling a free consultation with one. They can explain more about their services and guide you in the right direction.

How Can a Car Accident Attorney Assist You?

If you are wondering whether you need a lawyer after a car accident, understanding the types of assistance an attorney can provide might aid your decision. These are a few of the ways a car accident attorney can assist:

Gather evidence to support your claim: Your attorney can explore several avenues for collecting evidence to help you strengthen your accident claim.
Speak with other parties on your behalf: They can speak with the insurance company, the negligent party, and other parties to help you avoid making a mistake during communications that could negatively affect your case.
Explain complex liability laws: Attorneys understand Alabama’s liability laws, contributory negligence doctrine, and all other relevant statutes and may help you apply these laws to your case.
Avoid mistakes that could compromise your case: With an attorney providing legal advice and guidance, you can avoid mistakes that might negatively impact your car accident case.
Represent you in court: In the event that your car accident lawsuit proceeds to trial, your attorney will represent you in court.

Schedule a Consultation With Jackson & Foster Law

Jackson & Foster Law provides legal guidance and support to accident victims across Mobile, AL. If you are wondering whether you need a lawyer after a car accident, our attorneys can provide an initial consultation to discuss the details of your case and explore how we can assist you. We also may be able to advise you on whether hiring an attorney might not be necessary.

Contact us today at 251-433-6699 to schedule your free consultation, then learn more about car accident settlements and how they work for accident cases.

Navigating a personal injury claim can be confusing and overwhelming, especially if you have no prior experience with civil lawsuits or liability claims. For that reason alone, your claim might become compromised by a few simple missteps.

Understanding the mistakes to avoid in a personal injury claim might help you avoid setbacks in the claims process. Keep the following in mind, then contact an experienced personal injury attorney for legal assistance.

1. Delaying Medical Treatment

A compelling personal injury claim hinges on solid evidence of your injuries. You need to be able to show that the defendant’s negligence led to your injuries and other damages. However, delaying medical treatment until days or weeks after the accident might make it challenging to prove that your injuries were the defendant’s fault.

Instead, seek medical treatment as soon after the accident as possible if you are injured. Not only will this potentially aid your recovery, but it may also provide you with documentation to use as evidence in your claim.

2. Missing Filing Deadlines

Personal injury claims are subject to state-determined statutes of limitations, which dictate the amount of time after an accident you have to file a lawsuit. The statute of limitations in Alabama is generally two years from the accident date, but the statute of limitations should be analyzed on a case-by-case basis. Missing deadlines like this one might render you ineligible to seek compensation from the negligent party, depending on the details of your accident.

An experienced personal injury attorney can help you remember and adhere to all relevant deadlines in your case.

3. Ignoring Medical Advice

Along with delaying medical treatment, ignoring your doctor’s advice is another mistake that you may want to avoid in your personal injury claim. Failing to rest, keep the injured body part moving, take medications, participate in physical therapy, or complete any other actions as directed might hinder your recovery.

If this happens, the insurance company or negligent party could claim that your injuries were not as serious as you originally stated or that they are no longer responsible for your medical condition since you did not follow the advice to help you get better. Instead, follow your doctor’s orders closely, though your medical treatment typically is your decision.

4. Not Documenting the Accident Scene

In some cases, documenting the scene of the injury can be useful as you attempt to establish liability. This may involve taking photos and videos of the accident scene, writing down the contact information for any witnesses of the accident, and otherwise recording the cause and aftermath of the accident.

Once you leave the scene of a personal injury incident, valuable personal injury claim evidence may become lost. Any documentation you can collect might prove helpful later on.

5. Posting on Social Media About the Accident

Personal injury accidents are often life-altering events, and it may feel natural to share about your accident on social media. You want your friends and family members to stay in the loop about your recovery and provide any support they can. But posting about your accident on social media is one of the biggest mistakes to avoid in a personal injury claim.

The defense may monitor your social media profiles for anything that goes against what you stated in your claim. For instance, you might share a hopeful post stating that you are recovering well or feeling better; the defense could use this as evidence that your injuries are not severe.

6. Agreeing to Recorded Statements With the Insurance Adjuster

In the initial stages of your personal injury claim, you might assume that the insurance adjuster is on your side. When they call you to gather information about the claim, you might not hesitate to agree to give a recorded statement.

However, statements you make to the adjuster may be used against you during a claim evaluation and litigation. You may want to consult with a lawyer regarding giving statements such as this.

7. Accepting the First Settlement Offer

If the defendant offers to settle out of court, you might feel like you have won your case and be tempted to accept the first settlement offer they provide. However, settlement discussions provide a viable opportunity to negotiate a higher offer and potentially secure a more favorable settlement amount.

You may not want to accept the first settlement offer you receive, and instead allow your attorney to negotiate on your behalf. Insurance companies are motivated to settle out of court to avoid the expense and hassle of a lawsuit, so the defendant or insurance company in your case might be willing to increase their offer.

8. Not Hiring an Experienced Attorney

Another one of the biggest mistakes to avoid in a personal injury claim may be not hiring an experienced attorney to represent you. Initially, your case might feel straightforward, especially if you have a significant amount of evidence in your favor. This may lead you to believe that you can handle the legal process alone or that your family’s attorney can represent you, even if they do not have experience with personal injury claims.

However, it may be in your interest to hire a seasoned personal injury attorney who has experience with your type of accident case. They may be able to help you avoid mistakes like missed deadlines, inadequate documentation, delayed medical treatment, and more, providing legal representation and guidance throughout your claim.

Request a Consultation With Jackson & Foster Law

Understanding the mistakes to avoid in a personal injury claim can lower your chances of a personal injury claim rejection and improve your chances for an adequate payout. At Jackson & Foster Law, we have nearly 40 years of experience representing personal injury victims in Mobile, AL.

We provide focused, affordable representation to support clients throughout the compensation process. Contact us today at 251-433-6699 for a free consultation with our personal injury attorneys.

Do You Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident in Mobile, AL?