Legal Question in Personal Injury in California
Should I obtain legal help?
In April I was cut off by one car and then rear ended by another. I have both parties information and at this point both insurance co have denied liability claiming the other party is at fault (not myself). My Expedition was totalled in the accident and I have had some minor injuries along with my passenger. At this point I am in physical therapy for lower back pain. I did not hit the car that cut me off, but followed him to get his license plate #. My ins has already paid for my car and they are now sending it to subrogation and as of this past weekend refunded me my deductible. Should I wait for the outcome of subrogation or obtain legal help? Would I be eligible for legal help that my insurance co would have to pay for but would be my attorney and not theirs? Should I proceed or wait until my injuries are better? Thank you in advance.
5 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Should I obtain legal help?
What are you doing? Get a lawyer!!
Call me for a free consultation at 818-427-6246
Re: Should I obtain legal help?
hi. you are doing yourself no favors by dealing with the insurance companies on your own. pointing the finger at the other party is what they do. an experienced attorney will deal with this and take the burden off your shoulders.
please feel free to call if you like. i am certain i could help.
daniel king
818 587-9299
Re: Should I obtain legal help?
You should probably consult with an attorney right away. There are certain time limitations, and if prompt action is not taken, your case may forever be time-barred. Most attorneys, like myself, provide free legal consultations. It is hard to tell from your e-mail what all the facts are and what exactly is going on between the three different carriers. If you would like to speak with me about what options you may have and possible courses of action, please feel free to contact me:
Tyler J. Barnett, Esq.
LAW OFFICES OF TYLER J. BARNETT, P.C.
11755 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1170
Los Angeles, CA 90025
TEL: (310) 312-1102
Re: Should I obtain legal help?
Unless you are a defendant, it is unlikely your insurance carrier will have any obligation to provide you with an attorney. However, most attorneys undertake personal injury suits on a contingency basis, accepting a percentage of the eventual settlement or judgment, rather than charging an hourly fee.
It is unclear from your email what your insurance company is paying for, but if it is simply the damage to your car, you will likely need to pursue the carriers of the other drivers in order to obtain relief for your injuries, including medical costs and pain and suffering.
You only have a limited time to file an action, so you should probably contact an attorney to consult regarding the specifics of your case sooner rather than later.
Re: Should I obtain legal help?
The best thing to do is meet with an attorney. You have some real damages, including the cost to fix your car and physical therapy bills. You need an attorney to analyze the case regarding liability, that is, who was at fault. I don't recommend dealing with insurance adjusters. I would get a lawyer and file the lawsuit.