Do I Need a Lawyer for a Minor Car Accident? Experts Answer

Although there’s no requirement to hire a car accident lawyer after a minor accident, an attorney can help assign liability, estimate the damage and cost of expenses after the accident, and negotiate a settlement.

According to Massachusetts state data, there were over 134,200 road accidents in 2023. That’s a crash every four minutes. Several other minor cases went unreported. 

After a minor car crash, many wonder: Do I need a lawyer? Is it worth hiring one for a little fender bender?

Imagine this: You’re driving to work or leaving a restaurant after dinner with your family, and bam! Some vehicle hits you out of nowhere. Now you’re wondering, do I just swap insurance details and move on, or should I hire minor car accident lawyer?

While there is no requirement to contact an attorney for a minor accident, an expert can help you in many ways, such as:

✔ Investigating the case

✔ Collecting information and evidence

✔ Assigning liability 

✔ Estimating the cost of damages

✔ Negotiating a settlement

✔ Representing you in the court (if needed)

Why You Should Take a Minor Car Accident Seriously

The obvious answer is that the damage may be more serious than you think.

Picture this: You’re at a red light, thinking of reaching the home after a long day. Suddenly, another driver rams into you. Both of you step out and check the damage; surprisingly, it’s minor. 

Exhausted, you decide not to bother calling the cops or exchanging info. You don’t ask yourself: Do I need a lawyer for a minor car accident? 

Is it worth making a scene? Maybe we can just brush it off and move on. Who wants to waste time waiting for the cops, causing a traffic jam, and dealing with all that stress and frustration? So, you decide just to leave.

That decision might have been a big mistake, the worst one you could’ve made.

It is because what you consider a minor mishap can become a big legal battle. Also, you may have suffered serious injuries. 

Injuries You May Have Suffered 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle crashes kill more than 100 individuals daily (a leading cause of death). Also, thousands of people visit emergency rooms for minor and serious injuries.

After a small car crash, you might not feel hurt right away. But days or even weeks later, you could start feeling pain from injuries you didn’t even know you had. 

These injuries might stick around for a while, needing ongoing treatment and rehab to get better. 

These can be:

✔ Concussions

✔ Head Injuries

✔ Soft tissue injuries

✔Confusion

Even a small car crash can lead to common injuries like muscle strains and concussions. These injuries might not seem serious initially, but they could need a hospital visit, doctor appointments, scans, rehab, meds, and other treatments.

Other Damages After a Car Accident

A crash – minor or major – not only leads to injuries but also results in other kinds of damages, such as:

✔ Vehicle damage

✔ Lost wages

✔ Property damage

✔ Affected earning capacity

You need compensation in these situations, especially when you aren’t responsible for the accident. Since you don’t know how much you deserve, a car accident attorney can help you. 

How a Lawyer for a Minor Car Accident Protects Your Rights

When you hire a lawyer, they care for many things to help your case. Their main aim is to show that someone else caused you harm in an accident that could have been prevented.

How do they do it?

Let’s understand with the help of a picture.

Hire a Minor Car Accident Lawyer in Boston

Did you meet with a motor accident in Boston due to someone else’s negligence? Do you want compensation for your injuries? Contact Swartz & Swartz, P.C.  

Call us at +1 (617) 742-1900 for a free consultation to understand how we can help you.