Dealing with the Legal Charges of an Auto Accident when You’re at Fault
With billions of vehicles on the road, auto accidents are very common. In fact, 3 million people are injured every year in car accidents on the U.S. roads. What if you cause an auto accident that injured someone else? What are your rights? Many wonder, can I call a lawyer if I?m at fault? In short, the answer is yes and you probably should. You might have a greater need for a car accident attorney when you are at fault than when you are not.
The importance of calling an attorney immediately
If you are going to use a personal injury attorney or auto accident attorney for your case, make sure you call them immediately. Anything you say or do immediately following the accident can be used against you in the case, so it is important that you have legal representation. If there are drugs, alcohol, or distracted driving involved, it is even more important that you have a personal injury attorney. They might not be able to get you out of all charges, but they can get you the lowest possible sentencing.
What an attorney will do for you
You were at fault. There is no changing this fact. It is likely that you will receive some legal charges. However, with a personal injury attorney, you might be able to reduce these charges. Auto accident charges are actually common. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the most common personal injury cases include motor vehicle accidents (52%), medical malpractice (15%), and product liability (5%). When you work with an experienced law firm, you have a better chance at reduces legal charges, reduced jail time, and a lesser chance of it affecting your future employment opportunities.
How to choose the right attorney
It is also important that you choose the right personal injury attorney. While it is unlikely that your attorney will represent you in the trial, they will be an important resource along the way. Only approximately 4 to 5% of personal injury cases in the U.S. ever go to trial. The rest are settled out of court. However, the attorney that you choose will affect what your settlement is.
When choosing the right attorney, you want to particularly pay attention to their skills. Are they familiar with representing those being charged with an auto accident? Are they experienced with drug or alcohol related crimes? This experience can really affect the outcome of your case. Every two minutes, a person is injured in a drunk driving crash. Because drinking and driving accidents and injuries are so common, judges tend to be harder. Having the right personal injury and defense attorney is important in these types of cases.
The common outcome of reduced charges
In most cases, you cannot get your sentence reduced if you do not agree to some type of probation or class. For example, if you were arrested for drinking and driving, you might be required to take an alcohol addiction class. If you were under the influence of drugs, you will be placed on probation and might be required to see a counselor. It is best to accept whatever reduced charges your attorney gets, as it usually is a much better option than jail time.
Causing an accident can leave you feeling confused and guilty. Not only do you have to live with that guilt, but you now also face legal charges. It can be extremely advantageous to hire legal representation to protect you from jail time. It is important that you choose an experienced attorney that is familiar with at fault accidents. It is also helpful to consult with your personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
