Many people today are hesitant to hire an attorney after a car accident. You might think an attorney will make the process longer or more arduous than it needs to be. Maybe you feel that you are being litigious like one of those people that file frivolous lawsuits.

At Body Fix Therapies, we see a ton of Car Accident victims, and we hear the horror stories of each one. Over the years we have become experts, and we are here to share our knowledge with you. Why do you need an attorney? What are some of the hang-ups to getting one? Let’s address them:

An Attorney Will Make the Case Longer Than Necessary

After a major car accident, you are hurt, your car is damaged or totaled, you have to go to multiple medical appointments, and you are trying to manage your everyday life. The idea of making this already stressful and time-consuming process more complicated is overwhelming.

Having an attorney takes away much of the stress and time-consuming aspects that come with a major car accident. Your attorney will handle the communications with the insurance adjustors. The majority of the work you would have to do if you dealt with the process yourself will be taken off your shoulders so you can focus on recovering and returning to your normal life.

An attorney will handle any and all arguments made against you. They do most of the paperwork and gathering of information before you go to court. Anything that you need to do yourself, they will help you do so it is easy and done right.

It is probably true that the case will go on longer with an attorney by your side. Why? Because most people get pressured into closing their case well before they should due to being worn down, overwhelmed and unable to advocate for themselves or out of money paying out of pocket because without an attorney, a medical provider (in some states) can’t work on a lien and therefore requires payment up front.

The case might take longer to close, but you drastically reduce the chances of being left stuck paying your own medical bills. Closing the case quickly does not mean all your stress goes away. Once you sign to settle a case, it is final! If you continue to have issues a year down the road, you have no recourse to go after the responsible party. Hiring an attorney makes sure your case is handled right.

Be One of Those Litigious People

We admire the character of people who don’t wish to start frivolous lawsuits. However, the way our legal system works, in order to get the minimum care you need for an accident you need an attorney. The majority of injuries in an accident are soft tissue or musculoskeletal damage. The best treatments to address these injuries are chiropractic and orthopedic massage therapies. Most health insurance in many states does not cover massage therapy. Many health plans that cover chiropractic only cover 12-24 visits a year which can be far less than needed to treat an auto accident injury. Since health insurance won’t cover those modalities, it falls to the auto insurance benefits to pay for them.

In several states, including California, medical providers can ONLY file a lien with an attorney. You will not get a medical provider to wait 1-3 years to get paid without a legal guarantee of payment. That is what a lien is.  Without MedPay or Personal Injury Protection on your auto insurance, the only two ways to get treated is to pay your providers up front (which can be thousands of dollars) or have your providers take you on a lien which must be filed with an attorney.

Getting an attorney does NOT mean you’re trying to make a bunch of money off the accident or making a mountain out of a molehill. It is merely the best way to navigate getting the medical treatment you need within the parameters provided.

There are some slimy attorneys out there, but there are many more who are honest with integrity. If you are looking for trustworthy recommendations in Sacramento, call us. Don’t use a friend, or friend of a friend, or your 2nd cousin’s brother in law. They might say they will take better care of you, and they may try harder for you, but there is no substitute for an honest attorney that really specializes in auto accidents.