Car Accident Solicitor- Australian Compensation Advice

When making a claim for car accident compensation there is nothing in the law that requires you to hire a solicitor to represent you in your claim. You could notify the relevant insurance company and lodge a claim for your accident without obtaining legal assistance.

The biggest difficulty in representing yourself in your case is the detailed knowledge that you will probably need about the medical and legal issues.

If you have been involved in a minor traffic accident, with no physical injury, and only limited damage to your car, then you could quite easily lodge a claim with your insurer regarding repairs to your car, without the assistance of a solicitor. Most insurance companies will provide helpful information over the phone and take a detailed statement from you regarding the circumstances of the accident.

So when should you see a solicitor? If you have been injured in a road accident there may arise issues relating to fault, negligence, compensation entitlements and out-of-court settlements. You could still act for yourself, however lawyers are best equipped to advise you for the following reasons:

Solicitors (also referred to as lawyers) have many years of training in the law; they understand the complex statutes and case law which would apply to your case. They are also required to keep their legal knowledge current by attending continuing legal education courses.
Personal injury solicitors are also familiar with injuries, medical terms, and how to best use medical evidence in a legal context.
They have experience in negotiation and deal with insurance companies on a daily basis, so this may provide a tactical advantage in knowing how their opponents work when it comes to negotiating settlements.
They can advise you of what your entitlements are under the law, and hence maximize your claim.
When you consider that insurance companies are essentially businesses which seek to maximize their profits, the insurer may wish to pay you the least amount of compensation or even deny liability wherever possible, so as to avoid payouts and therefore keep their profits high.
Solicitors have training in advocacy, and this is an advantage should your case need to go to court. Personal injury solicitors are familiar with civil procedure and civil laws, court procedure etc. Insurance companies are aware that unrepresented claimants are not likely to know how file a lawsuit asking for compensation damages, and that if they did, they would probably not fare well. Therefore, insurance companies will probably offer less money to an unrepresented claimant because their risk of a large loss (payment to you) is small.

An experienced car accident solicitor will know which parts of your case are strong and which are weak. Having dealt with many claims, they would be familiar with similar cases to your case, and will have knowledge of comparable verdicts and settlements. Accident solicitors who negotiate injury cases day in and day out will have a sense of what makes up a fair settlement under the law applicable to your case.

CAR ACCIDENT SOLICITORS