After a car accident, you’re left with more than just a damaged vehicle. Medical bills, missed work, and the emotional toll can pile up quickly. While not every fender bender requires legal help, there are situations where hiring a car accident lawyer isn’t just smart — it’s necessary.
At the Law Offices of Peter Briskin, P.C., we help accident victims across New Jersey and New York understand their rights and fight for the compensation they deserve. Whether you’re dealing with serious injuries or an uncooperative insurance company, knowing when to involve an attorney can make all the difference.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the key scenarios where hiring a lawyer could protect your future and help you recover fully — financially, physically, and emotionally.
Serious Injuries or Fatalities
If you or a loved one suffered serious injuries in a car accident, hiring an experienced car accident lawyer should be a top priority. These cases often involve:
- Traumatic injuries like brain damage, spinal cord injuries, or internal organ damage
- Broken bones requiring surgery or long-term rehabilitation
- Permanent disability that affects your ability to work or enjoy life
- Wrongful death resulting in funeral expenses, loss of income, and emotional suffering for surviving family members
Severe injuries don’t just lead to large medical expenses — they affect every aspect of your life. A personal injury attorney can calculate the full value of your damages, including future treatment needs, lost earning potential, and pain and suffering. In fatal accident cases, we also help surviving families pursue wrongful death claims against the negligent driver or other responsible parties.
Insurance companies are quick to minimize payouts in high-value claims. Don’t face them alone. Our firm has the experience, resources, and compassion to advocate for those dealing with life-altering injuries and tragic loss.
Disputed Liability
Not every car accident has a clear-cut cause. If there’s disagreement over who was at fault, it’s critical to have legal representation early on. Insurance companies often use disputed liability as a reason to deny or reduce valid claims.
You may face challenges like:
- The other driver blaming you — even if their negligence caused the crash
- Lack of solid evidence without witness statements, surveillance footage, or expert analysis
- Multi-vehicle accidents, where several drivers or parties may share responsibility
In these cases, a car accident lawyer can step in to investigate thoroughly. We work with accident reconstruction experts, obtain the police report, interview witnesses, and preserve crucial evidence to prove negligence. Establishing fault is the foundation of any successful claim — and without a skilled attorney on your side, it can be nearly impossible to do it alone.
When liability is unclear, having strong legal counsel helps level the playing field and protects your right to full compensation.
Insurance Company Disputes
Even when fault is clear, insurance companies may not play fair. Their goal is to minimize payouts — not to protect your best interests. If you’re facing resistance from the insurance provider, it’s time to get a car accident attorney involved.
Common issues include:
- Lowball settlement offers that don’t cover your medical expenses, property damage, or lost wages
- Delays and denials, where the insurer drags out the process or wrongfully rejects your claim
- Policy disputes, such as disagreements over coverage limits or exclusions buried in the fine print
You shouldn’t have to fight a billion-dollar company on your own while you’re recovering from injuries. At the Law Offices of Peter Briskin, P.C., we handle negotiations directly with the insurance company so you don’t have to — and we’re prepared to go to court if they continue to act in bad faith.
When the insurance company refuses to be reasonable, we step in to make sure you’re treated fairly and compensated properly.
Complex Legal or Factual Issues
Some car accident cases involve more than just two drivers and a simple insurance claim. If your crash includes complicated legal or factual elements, hiring an attorney is crucial to navigating the layers of responsibility.
Examples include:
- Rideshare or commercial vehicle accidents involving Uber, Lyft, delivery vans, or trucks — these cases often involve corporate insurers with teams of defense attorneys.
- Collisions with government vehicles, such as city buses or municipal trucks — these require special procedures and shorter filing deadlines due to government immunity laws.
- Defective vehicle parts, like malfunctioning airbags or brake failure — this can lead to a product liability claim against a manufacturer.
These types of accidents involve overlapping policies, multiple parties, and strict procedural rules. A skilled car accident lawyer can coordinate with experts, identify all liable entities, and file claims correctly and on time.
When your accident isn’t straightforward, having experienced legal representation ensures that no detail — or source of compensation — is overlooked.
Don’t Miss Legal Deadlines
Every state sets a time limit for filing a car accident claim — miss it, and your right to recover compensation could be gone. In New Jersey, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Waiting too long also risks losing important evidence like witness statements or traffic camera footage. Speaking with an attorney early helps preserve your case and keeps you on track.
Maximizing Compensation
Insurance companies often try to settle quickly — and cheaply. But when you’ve suffered serious injuries, early offers rarely cover the full scope of your losses. An experienced car accident attorney can help calculate the true value of your claim, including:
- Ongoing and future medical costs
- Lost income and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage and other out-of-pocket expenses
If negotiations break down, your lawyer can file a lawsuit and fight for your rights in court. Studies show that injured victims represented by attorneys receive significantly higher settlements — in many cases, three to four times more than unrepresented claimants.
At the Law Offices of Peter Briskin, P.C., we don’t leave money on the table. We fight for every dollar you deserve.
Early Legal Consultation Benefits
One of the smartest moves after a car accident is speaking with a lawyer sooner rather than later — even if you’re not sure you need full representation yet.
Early legal help can:
- Preserve key evidence, like surveillance footage, vehicle data, or medical records
- Protect your rights by guiding you on what (and what not) to say to insurance adjusters
- Map out a strategy that aligns with your recovery and financial goals
At the Law Offices of Peter Briskin, P.C., we offer free initial consultations so you can make an informed decision without any pressure. And because we work on a contingency fee basis, you don’t pay us unless we win your case.
The earlier you reach out, the better positioned you are to recover the full compensation you deserve.
Not every car accident requires a lawyer — but when injuries are serious, liability is disputed, or the insurance company is giving you a hard time, legal representation can make all the difference.
At the Law Offices of Peter Briskin, P.C., we’ve spent over 25 years standing up to insurance companies and securing justice for car accident victims across New Jersey and New York. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, uncertain, or pressured to settle — we’re here to help.
Call us today at (908) 279-7979 for a free consultation. We’ll give your case the attention it deserves and guide you every step of the way.
