If you’ve been seriously injured in a car accident, you may potentially benefit from the assistance of a lawyer.

You may have difficulties finding a lawyer willing to take your case if:

Those are all broad generalizations, and an attorney can best interpret the specific factors in your case. When in doubt it is in your best interest to contact a car accident lawyer.

There is no fee for setting up an initial consultation with an auto accident injury attorney through our referral service. Most attorneys will provide you with a consultation over the phone, so there’s no real cost for a quick, 30-minute consultation.

It’s possible you will still have a difficult time getting your vehicle replaced or receiving compensation for your repair costs even if the other driver was clearly at fault in your accident.

The problem is those claim valuations tend to be on the low side, and most car crash lawyers need to be able to at least break even on the representation they provide. Since most lawyers operate on a contingency fee basis, they aren’t paid for their work until you receive compensation for your damages.

If the percentage of your claim payment an attorney is likely to receive won’t cover the time they will need to invest fighting on your behalf, the lawyer may not take your case.

Most personal injury attorneys that advertise to consumers injured in auto accidents focus their practices on representing plaintiffs in accidents. If you were clearly responsible for the accident and the injuries it caused, you will likely be the defendant in any case that arises from the accident.

If you’re named as a defendant in an auto injury case, your best course of action will be coordinating with your auto insurance company for representation. Consider contacting a civil defense attorney if you were named as a defendant and were uninsured at the time of the accident.

If you believe you were only partially at fault for a car crash, it may be in your best interests to call an attorney.

Minnesota is a contributory negligence state, which means you can still recover damages even if you share some of the blame for an accident – as long as you’re not more than half at fault.

If you’re not sure who was mostly at fault for an accident, but you suspect it wasn’t primarily your fault, it may still be in your best interest to contact a personal injury lawyer.

In those circumstances a personal injury lawyer can investigate your situation, negotiate on your behalf and potentially take your case to court if the insurance company refuses to reach a fair settlement.

Some people injured in car crashes are frustrated to discover most personal injury lawyers aren’t interested in their case, even though the other driver was at fault. There are several potential reasons a case may not be profitable for a personal injury law firm:

Nevertheless, personal injury matters are not always that straightforward. If you suspect you need a personal injury lawyer after being injured in an auto accident, Minnesota Lawyer Referral can help.

We’re an organization that’s sponsored by the Hennepin and Ramsey county bar associations with a mission to help local Minnesotans find reliable, compassionate representation in difficult times. If you’re looking for a trusted, reputable resource for local car crash lawyers, we can help.

The post How Will I Know if I Need a Lawyer After an Accident? first appeared on Minnesota Lawyer Referral and Information Service.