Have you recently been in an automobile accident? Are you now having difficulty paying your bills and other expenses? Accidents that cause serious injuries can wreak havoc on your finances. But in order to be properly compensated for your losses, the insurance companies will have to pay out on your claim. Unfortunately, this often means hiring a lawyer and having them take care of the entire situation for you. But before you hire a lawyer, there are some questions that you should ask him or her. Here is a list of some of these questions to help you get started: 

Is a lawsuit really necessary? In many instances, the insurance company in question will offer you a settlement almost immediately. Initial car accident settlements may not be as high as you were hoping, so you should try not to be too disappointed if the offer is vastly less than what you were expecting. Your attorney will let you know whether he or she believes that you should accept this first settlement or if you should wait for other offers and possibly go through with the lawsuit. Just remember that if you do go all the way through with the lawsuit, there's a possibility that the judgment won't go in your favor and you'll get nothing.

What kind of damages can be claimed? Depending on the nature of the accident, damages can be simply the actual expenses related to replacing or repairing your vehicle and any medical expenses that you've incurred. You may also be able to claim damages related to being unable to return to work for some time. You may also be able to receive compensation if you can prove that the accident led to a loss of future wages. If you lost some or all use of an arm, you may no longer be able to return to your old job and any car accident settlements being offered should include your lost wages as part of the payment.

What if a lump sum of money is needed? Sometimes, car accident settlements are not paid out in one large check but in several smaller payments over a period of several years. If you need all or most of the money up front, however, your lawyer may be able to help you find someone who will purchase your settlement for you. For example, instead of getting $100,000 a year for the next five years, you may be able to get $300,000 or $400,000 immediately, depending on the exact terms of the purchase agreement and who is buying the settlement.

For more information, talk to an attorney like those at Lawyer, Lawyer, Dutton & Drake LLP.