Why You Should Contact a Lawyer Following a Single-Vehicle Rollover Accident

If you get into an accident, there are probably four people you’ll want to contact right away. The first is to call 911 to report the accident and get medical attention. Next, you’ll want to call your family to tell them what happened. After that, you might call your doctor to schedule an exam if you don’t go to the ER. Finally, you might want to contact a lawyer following a single-vehicle rollover accident.

Each of those calls will provide a different level of support, but the call to an attorney might prove to be the most important when it comes to recovering from all your financial losses associated with the car accident. The support and guidance that an experienced lawyer can provide will help with everything from collecting the best evidence to filing the right insurance claim.

The following post delves into the main reasons why you should contact an attorney after your car accident.

Making Sense of Wyoming’s Car Accident Laws

“Any person who drives any vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving.” That is how the Wyoming State Legislature defines reckless driving. That definition can be the foundation for your car accident claim as you and your attorney establish who was liable for the accident.

According to the Wyoming Department of Transportation, there were 13,487 traffic crashes that involved 21,021 vehicles in 2023. Those accidents left 3,360 injured and 144 fatalities. That makes accidents an ongoing concern for every resident.

Understanding the filing deadlines for these types of cases is also important. Wyoming law allows you to file your car accident lawsuit within the Wyoming statute of limitations of four years after the accident takes place. There are also laws that pertain to driving under the influence that could be applied to your accident claim. An experienced attorney understands the laws and how they might pertain to your case.

Investigating the Accident

In order to establish the at-fault party in a car accident, your attorney will conduct a thorough investigation into the conditions that lead up to the accident, the moment of impact, and the aftermath. That investigation begins with obtaining the crash report from the authorities who responded to the scene.

The investigation will also include the information you gathered at the scene, such as the following:

• Contact information, including the full name, address, phone number, and email of the other person involved in the accident
• The driver’s license number
• The license plate number of all cars involved in the accident
• Insurance ID card/policy number
• Car registration
• Car make, model, year, and color

You can take photos of all of those items on your cell. Additionally, you want to take photos of your car’s damage, the road conditions, traffic signs, the surrounding area, and anything else relevant to your version of events.

Negotiating With Insurance Companies

In a minor fender bender accident, the other motorist might offer to settle the matter with cash to fix your dents and “close” the matter right at the scene. There is a danger with this because your damage could be more than superficial, and you might experience the pain from your injuries the next day. This is one of those situations where you need to speak to a lawyer to ensure all your potential losses are covered.

In a more severe accident, you need to file a claim with either your insurance company or the at-fault party’s insurance company. There is a likelihood of any claim being delayed or denied. When you submit the claim, you could be interviewed by an insurance adjuster. There is nothing wrong with speaking with them as long as you have your attorney with you. That will ensure that you don’t accidentally admit fault or downplay your injuries.

Your attorney will also send out a demand letter that details the accident and provides a detailed explanation of all your damages. At that point, the insurance company will accept or counteroffer. That is when negotiations can begin. Your attorney will have the skills and understanding of how insurance companies operate and will be in the best position to see that you get as fair an amount as possible.

Legal Advocacy in Court

If the insurance company balks at paying what you are owed, your attorney might suggest filing a civil complaint. They will present your case’s evidence in front of a judge and jury. Although this can add several weeks to the process, it might be the only way to get what you are owed. Your attorney will also have experience with presenting evidence, utilizing accident reconstruction, and eliciting witness testimony. If you take the stand, your attorney will have you fully prepared to answer all the questions the defendant’s attorneys will ask.

Contact a Lawyer as Soon as Possible

You don’t have to wait to fully recover from your injuries or get your car back from the body repair shop before you contact a lawyer. You can call from the scene of the accident or the hospital. It is essential to set up a consultation to get all the information you need to decide your next move. You’ll have peace of mind when your questions about the accident are answered.