•The car accident has resulted in an injury, particularly a serious injury such as broken bones or any other injury that will require hospitalization.

•There has been a death resulting from the car accident.

•The official police report appears to not accurately represent the car accident and its circumstances - particularly if the report puts you at fault.

•The car accident occurred in a construction area.

•The car accident involved bystanders or pedestrians.

•Your liability insurance will not cover the entirety of the damages.

•You have no insurance.

•Your insurance company brings it their own lawyer. If this happens, immediate legal help should be found. It's an emergency.

But an injury isn't the only reason to contact a lawyer after a car accident. While a car accident such as a fender bender that doesn't result in much damage probably doesn't require a lawyer, a more complicated accident with more damage may require the help of a lawyer to navigate the murky waters of insurance claims, police reports, and liability.

In order to help your case, it is important that you not wait to seek the help of a lawyer and file a claim. Waiting too long to begin legal action might keep you from receiving the compensation that you deserve. Statutes of Limitation vary from state to state, and can limit the amount of money that you can recover, or eliminate it completely, whether you have the help of a lawyer or not.