How Do Personal Injury Lawyers & Car Accident Attorneys Differ?
If a car crash in Kearns, Utah, leaves you with serious injuries, you may want legal representation – but should you call a local personal injury lawyer or a car accident attorney? What’s the difference?
Many northern Utah law firms use the two terms interchangeably, but while the areas of expertise share many similarities, there are subtle divergences in the focus and scope of practice. The right legal professional can guide you through the injury claim process and fight for the compensation you deserve, and after a collision, the expert you’ll want on your side is someone who specializes in car accident cases. Read on to learn more.
Personal Injury Lawyers
Personal injury lawyers represent individuals who have suffered injuries as a result of another party’s negligent or reckless actions.
In Utah, personal injury law firms routinely take on car accident cases – and many devote a large percentage of their time to injury claims related to motor vehicle collisions. However, their practice areas tend to extend beyond car crashes and often includes cases involving dog bites, pedestrian injuries, slip and fall accidents, medical malpractice, product liability and workplace injuries. This list isn’t complete, as there are many other types of accidents where negligence applies, but you get the idea.
Car Accident Attorneys
Car accident attorneys are legal specialists who focus almost exclusively on crash-related injury claims.
Some law firms known for expertise in helping victims of Kearns motor vehicle collisions, including Cockayne Law, assist clients with other types of cases on occasion. But while their area of expertise and scope of practice may be far-reaching, the bulk of their efforts go toward injury claims resulting from road incidents. This may simply be because that’s their preference, or it could stem from their success in obtaining compensation for clients with these cases.
Choosing the Right Kearns Legal Professional
When you get right down to it, all car accident attorneys in Kearns can be considered personal injury lawyers. However, the reverse isn’t true – not all personal injury law firms in Utah focus on crash-related claims.
In any event, when you’re in need of legal representation, what matters isn’t whether the professional you choose says they’re a personal injury lawyer or car accident attorney. Their knowledge, skill and experience carry far more weight, as you’ll be relying on them to:
Evaluate Your Legal Claim – A competent legal professional will be able to assess the merits of your case and offer an honest opinion as to its potential value, taking the extent of your injuries and the damages you’ve incurred into consideration.
Build a Strong Case – A successful injury claim requires evidence, and an attorney who focuses primarily on crash-related cases will have what it takes to conduct an investigation, gathering the necessary proof to fight for a fair amount of compensation.
Negotiate with Insurance Adjusters – Every insurance company has a team of skilled and dedicated lawyers who work hard to minimize payouts in accident claims, and with the right Kearns legal professional on your side, you’ll be leveling the playing field.
Take Your Case to Court – Most Utah injury claims that arise from car crashes are settled, but if yours happens to be one of the exceptions to the rule, you may need a Kearns attorney who is fully prepared to present your case in court.
So, how do you go about finding the right legal personal injury lawyer or car accident attorney to take your case? Follow these steps:
- Compile a list of local lawyers, asking people you know for recommendations or conducting an online search
- Research their credentials, looking into their educational background, their experience and their track record
- Schedule an appointment with each attorney who seems up to the task of expertly handling your legal claim
In regards to that last step, most lawyers who are qualified to provide representation to car accident cases offer free consultations – and since there’s no obligation on your part, meeting with at least a few local attorneys is in your best interests. Come ready to ask questions, as that’s the best way to pinpoint the best professional to hire. Here are a few you may want to ask:
- What is your experience with similar crash-related injury claims?
- Do you foresee any legal challenges to securing compensation?
- What do you think the ultimate outcome will be with this case?
- How long do you expect it to take to get a fair settlement or jury award?
Lawyers who specialize in car accident cases possess in-depth knowledge of Utah traffic laws, the legal considerations associated with collisions and the tactics insurance adjusters employ to devalue and deny injury claims. At the end of the day, that’s what you’re looking for – and the right individual for the job may consider themselves to be either a personal injury lawyer or a car accident attorney.
Selecting a legal professional doesn’t have to be difficult. Cockayne Law is here to meet your needs, and we have years of experience handling injury claims arising from Kearns car crashes. Turn to us, and you’ll have a top-rated personal injury lawyer – one who has extensive skill and experience as a car accident attorney. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today!
