Car Accident Attorneys

A car accident attorney usually specializes in tort laws, which are a form of civil legislation designed to address the grievances of one party against another. Sometimes a car accident will involve criminal charges, which are a different branch of law with different rules and procedures. Criminal charges are designed as a societal measure to punish acts against the community at large. Civil charges, which focus on torts instead of crimes, deal with restitution between individual people or companies, usually in the form of financial settlements. A car accident attorney works to see whether the law demands payment for the victim due to the negligence of the at-fault driver, an unfair settlement with automobile insurance companies or a faulty product such as tires or brake pads which may have caused the crash.

A Car Accident Attorney Seeks Restitution, Not Punishment

While a defense lawyer may be called upon to address any criminal charges involved in an automobile accident, they don't usually touch on the civil aspects of the case. A car accident may involve both criminal and civil charges, and the right attorney should be in place for both.

The burden of proof is much lighter for a car accident attorney. While a criminal lawyer must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, a car accident attorney only needs to show a preponderance of evidence that some act of wrongdoing caused the crash. That can be vital for a victim struggling to pay medical bills or get a vehicle repaired so he can continue going to work. David Allen & Associates Law works on personal injury cases and has attorneys specializing in car accidents.