Should I get a lawyer to represent me for an auto accident?
Sunday, March 1st, 2009 at
2:03 pm
bw_soto asked:
Last week my friend and I got into an auto accident. We were both drunk when she drove 86 mph into a telephone pole. We were taken by ambulence buy amoxicillin online to the hospital. I had a severe concussion and whiplash. It is less than a week, and I am in severe pain still. I have been thinking about getting an attorney to help me out. I would just like to know anyones opinions on using an attorney. This accident happened in Oregon. They driver (my best friend) was charged with a DUII.
Last week my friend and I got into an auto accident. We were both drunk when she drove 86 mph into a telephone pole. We were taken by ambulence buy amoxicillin online to the hospital. I had a severe concussion and whiplash. It is less than a week, and I am in severe pain still. I have been thinking about getting an attorney to help me out. I would just like to know anyones opinions on using an attorney. This accident happened in Oregon. They driver (my best friend) was charged with a DUII.
Tagged with: Auto Accident • Duii • Lawyer • Severe Pain
Filed under: Attorney FAQ
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You were a passenger,you were not charged with anything,you do not need a lawyer unless you are suing your friends insurance for your injuries.
I used to work for a personal injury lawyer, and I did see several cases like yours, and they usually were awarded a settlement out of court.
Being that you were taken in an ambulance, your case will be worth even more.
You definitely should consider a lawyer, you have a good case.
Depends on what you want to be represented on. It might prove to be just another money down the drain especially after an accident which did not involve another driver. I would save my money for medical expenses which you surely will bear after the medical insurance has done its part.
Well, sure- if you want to give 1/3 of your settlement away to a man or women who is already very wealthy- maybe you can give them a down payment for a new mercedes.
Lawyers do not add value to your claim. Sure- if you talk to your adjuster and they are unreasonable (keep in mind… its not unreasonable to NOT give you thousands upon thousands of dollars)
Keep in mind.. if you arent permenantly injured and if you get better in a few weeks/months.. you are only going to get thousands of dollars… not tens of thousands. Also keep in mind- you are essentially suing your friend.. i hope you dont mind ending a friendship. ALSO keep in mind- you choose to get in that car knowing your friend was drunk- why would you do that?
So…you were drunk and you KNOWINGLY got into a car and let your drunk friend drive you into a pole. My advice to you is to keep your cake-hole shut. A good lawyer (the kind insurance companies keep by the dozens) will rip you to shreds in court.
Do you really want to sue your friend? Afterall, you WERE a willing participant by getting into a car with your friend who you knew was intoxicated. You say you’re best friends….do you think you’ll remain friends afterward? I guess you have to decide what’s more important to you, friendship or money.
If money is more important to you than friendship…..hire a lawyer if you like. Let him/her tell you how much of a jerk your friend is for drunk driving (believe me, she already knows), let him/her convince you to “listen to them” to get the maximum amount allowed under the policy and by law. And then give at least 33% of it to them for doing what? The same darn thing YOU can do on your own which is settle your claim.
But here is what you MAY want to consider talking to an attorney about….the laws on DUI vary from state to state and these laws can have a DIRECT impact on your ability to make a claim against your friend. Also, there’s a possible defense your friend has against any claims made by you, and it’s as I already mentioned…you KNEW (or should have known) the RISK of voluntarily getting into a vehicle with someone who you had reason to believe was intoxicated….in some states this is a VALID and LEGAL defense to deny any claim you may bring against her. The technical terminology is “assumed risk,” or “assumption of risk.”
My personal opinions about attorneys….unless one is killed or seriously injured (internal bleeding, amputation, coma) they are useless and you are just giving away money.