Picture this: you’ve been in a car accident in the busy streets of New York, and you are now looking to claim compensation for the damages you’ve suffered. As you set your sights on compensation, one crucial question comes to mind—do I need a car accident lawyer in NYC to handle my case? From medical bills to repairs and talking to aggressive insurance adjusters, there will be a lot on your plate following the accident, and one wrong step has the potential to block you from getting the compensation you deserve. 

As a personal injury law firm in NYC, we at Gabriel Law know firsthand how challenging the aftermath of a car accident can be, and that is why our NYC car accident lawyers are ready and waiting to offer you our guidance, skills, and expertise to help you get the compensation you deserve and to help you move on and get your life back on track. In this post, we’ll be explaining why hiring a car accident lawyer in NYC is a must and how not doing so will cost more than you think.

What does a car accident lawyer in NYC do to help your case?

When you call on the services of a car accident lawyer in New York, you can expect them to do a lot of things for you. Those include:

• Listening to your story, providing guidance, and explaining the legal options you can pursue. 
• Setting your expectations with regard to compensation based on the facts of your case.
• Investigating the accident and gathering all relevant evidence—such as police reports, witness statements, surveillance footage, and more—to determine fault.
• Calculating the true value of your claim based on the economic and non-economic losses you’ve suffered. 
• Managing all the legal and administrative paperwork and submitting the relevant documents and filing before deadlines. 
• Handling all communications with insurance adjusters and taking over negotiations on your behalf.
• Taking your case to trial if necessary and representing your best interests in court.

What are the consequences of not hiring a car accident lawyer in NYC? 

When you take the first steps to claiming compensation for your losses after the accident, you will soon realize that it’s quite the uphill battle and you will need all the help you can get. Should you decide to try going through the entire process by yourself and not hire an experienced car accident lawyer in NYC, it will most likely result in one or more unfavorable outcomes. They include: 

• Missing important deadlines—In New York, car accident compensation cases operate on strict deadlines, and even missing one can push back your case or even prevent you from claiming compensation outright (i.e., the statute of limitations).
• Not understanding all the compensation you are entitled to—Many accident victims only look at medical bills and vehicle repair costs when figuring out how much they are entitled to receive. As a result, they might overlook or not know how to consider non-economic losses in the calculation. A lawyer will make sure that nothing is overlooked when deciding compensation. 
• Having to handle insurance negotiations alone—Insurance adjusters will often delay, deny, and devalue claims, and without an attorney present, you will be in a weaker negotiating position, and you may be forced to settle quickly by sheer pressure. Car accident lawyers are familiar with the insurance playbook and are your sword and shield against them.
• Struggling to prove liability—A lawyer knows how to use evidence and apply the law to the facts and clearly establish fault and liability. If you cannot properly prove or dismiss liability, your compensation will be significantly reduced thanks to principles such as the pure comparative negligence rule. 
• Facing added stress during recovery—Handling insurance and legal claims are stressful activities and can slow down your recovery. When you hire a lawyer, all you need to do is focus on recovery and let them take care of everything else.
• Settling for less than what you deserve—When the odds are stacked against you, and you are not able to overcome those hurdles, you will be forced to accept a low settlement and walk away.

Conclusion

Dealing with a car accident claim on your own and not hiring a car accident lawyer in NYC might seem like a good way to save some time and money—but in reality, it is very likely to cost you a lot more in the long run, and you will not be able to achieve the result you expect. The bottom line is that hiring an experienced car accident lawyer is far more than a novelty—it is an absolute necessity if you want to walk away with the compensation you deserve. 

At Gabriel Law, our personal injury law firm in NYC handles all manner of personal injury cases, including car accidents. We are more than ready to fight the good fight, build strong cases, negotiate with insurers, and help you achieve the maximum compensation you deserve. Do not let a car accident define your future—contact Gabriel Law and schedule your free consultation and take back control of your recovery.