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Motor Vehicle Accidents

Questions to Ask if You Have Been in a Car Accident

July 16, 2021

Beyond the accident itself, a car accident can be overwhelming. Dealing with the insurance companies, getting your car repaired or replaced, and trying to recover from your injuries can significantly disrupt your life. You may be wondering whether you should hire a Billings car accident attorney to help you with your case. To help you decide whether you should call a lawyer, we’ve prepared some basic questions to consider. 

Am I Injured?

This may seem like an obvious question with an obvious answer, but this is not always the case. While seatbelts, airbags, and other safety features may have saved you from an immediately apparent injury, many injuries caused by car accidents can take some time to manifest themselves. If you are suffering from any lingering pain, headaches, or other symptoms, you should go to your doctor for a thorough medical examination. Even comparatively minor injuries can affect your ability to work and take care of your family. Left untreated, they can lead to further complications and life-long disabilities. Even if you declined medical treatment at the scene of the accident, you may still be entitled to compensation for your injuries. A Billings car accident attorney can evaluate your case and help you understand your options.   

Will I Have to Miss Work?

If you have been injured in a car accident, it is very likely that you will have to be absent from work to receive medical treatment. If you have been severely injured, you may not be able to work at all. In either situation, you face the possibility of lost wages, making it difficult to pay your bills and take care of your family. If you decide to pursue a claim, a Billings car accident attorney can help you recover your lost income. 

Who Caused the Accident?

This is perhaps one of the most critical questions to ask because it will determine whether or not you should pursue a claim. If the accident was purely your fault, you are limited to recovering your losses from your own insurance. 

If you are fairly certain that the other driver was at fault, you may be entitled to compensation for all of your losses, including your covered and uncovered medical bills, your lost wages, and your pain and suffering. That said, you will have to prove that the other driver caused your accident, which can be difficult. A Billings car accident attorney can help you gather the evidence you need to build a strong case. 

If you think you may be partially at fault, you should also know that you may still be entitled to compensation so long as you contributed less than 51% to causing the accident. This can be a difficult analysis, and again, the other party has to prove that you contributed to the accident. We strongly recommend that you contact a Billings car accident attorney if the other driver is claiming that you are partially to blame. 

Contact Billings Car Accident Attorney Jim Ragain

If you’re still undecided as to whether you should hire a lawyer, you can contact Ragain & Clark for a free, no-obligation consultation. With decades of experience, Billings car accident attorney Jim Ragain can evaluate your claim and help you understand your options. Call us today at 406-651-8888 to schedule an appointment.  We also have an office location in Montana and Wyoming.  

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