Personal injuries can happen to anyone, at any time, and any place; they can harm us physically, emotionally, and mentally. So, it's no surprise that personal injuries are often the results of motor vehicle-related accidents.

We often believe that if we have good auto insurance, we will be taken care of if we are ever involved in a collision. Sometimes that is true. However, depending on the situation, you might find yourself needing the help of an experienced personal injury attorney.

Top Why an Attorney?

A collision with injuries, whether it is your fault or the other party's fault, is very different that a basic "fender bender" type collision. You have a lot at stake in an injury accident situation and an attorney will work for you and you alone, whereas some insurance companies aren't willing to work with you.

Top If You're Injured

If you are injured, it becomes your responsibility to prove the extent of the injury. An attorney can help you with this. Many attorneys work with physicians, physical therapists, and other medical providers who will not only help you get better faster but will document your injuries and case and will even hold off on being paid for their services until your legal case is settled. That alone can take a lot off of your mind.

It is almost impossible to find a medical provider on your own who will do this. Medical providers have enough trouble getting paid by their contracted insurances that most of them do not want to deal with the hassle of a personal injury case. If you have representation, your attorney may be able to work with the physician, so that he or she will hold of on billing you for the treatment.

Top Your Responsibilities

Of course, no one expects you to get out of a hospital bed to begin collecting paperwork, but once you have been released, if you were admitted to the hospital, you'll want to begin your "paper chase." You will need to obtain copies of certain documents to give to your attorney should you choose to use one.

Here's a list of documents that your attorney will need:

• Police report.

• Traffic tickets given to the other person.

• Photos of the scene of the accident.

• Names, addresses, and phone numbers of any witnesses and what they saw.

• Medical records and bills.

• Photos of your injuries.

• Wage stubs proving how much you made at the time of the accident and how much work time you missed due to your injury.

Top If You're Not Injured

Many people are involved in automobile accidents but feel fine immediately afterwards. It is common for an accident victim to refuse transport and deny injury, only to wake up the following day, unable to move. This is common in the case of soft tissue injury and can have lasting effects if left untreated.

A personal injury attorney can assist you in getting the care you need to insure you do not have lasting or more severe injuries, even if you felt fine after the collision.

Top Expenses

Many law offices allow you to meet with and discuss your case with an attorney at no charge. If you have been involved in an automobile accident and there are injuries involved, it is advisable to at least talk with an attorney to see where you stand in the case. If there is no case and everything is settled, the attorney will let you know.

If you or the other party is still in treatment, an attorney will help keep the case on track and will work to make sure you receive proper medical attention and a fair settlement on your case.

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