Why You Should Hire a Car Accident Lawyer A car accident lawyer should be consulted if involved in an accident. Accidents can cause substantial property damage, including damage to your vehicle as well as your possessions. In many instances you can get all the value of your vehicle and personal items. You can also claim non-economic damageslike suffering or pain. These damages can be used to compensate expenses that are difficult to quantify, such emotional distress. Sometimes, punitive damages might also be awarded, but these are not common.