5 Reasons You Might Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident in Florida

Did you know approx 388,032 road crashes were reported in 2017 in Florida alone? And the number is only soaring with each passing year.

Unfortunately, a car crash is the worst incident that can happen to you. Instead of panicking, victims should know exactly what to do to strengthen their personal injury claim if the accident was someone else’s fault.

For such cases to be successful, it is best to hire a car accident attorney who will fight your personal injury case on your behalf and will ensure that your insurance company doesn’t compromise on your compensation.

Read on to learn the three reasons to consult a personal injury lawyer after a car crash in Florida.

#1 To Know Your Legal Rights

Hiring a personal injury lawyer means working with a skilled professional with complete knowledge of all the laws and regulations concerning a car crash in Florida.

Whether you were involved in a tampa car accident or in Miami, the lawyer will guide you about your legal rights in regard to seeking compensation. For instance, every state has its own statute of limitations regarding filing personal injury cases. In Florida, the statute of limitations for injury claims based on negligence is four years. This means the victim has to file a personal injury claim within four years of the accident to be able to seek compensation.

If you speak directly to your insurance provider, they might misguide you about your legal rights. And you might believe you aren’t eligible for an injury claim. Taking the guidance of a professional lawyer would be beneficial in such cases.

#2 To Negotiate With Your Insurance Company

Some car accidents can result in fatal injuries that may require long-term care, cause a permanent disability, make you unable to work or require advanced medical care. If your injuries are severe, which makes you unable to work for a longer time, you will need a settlement deal that provides you compensation to live your life easier in the future. And with special laws in Florida, dealing with insurance companies can get tricky for you.

But the harsh truth is insurance companies don’t care about you or your family. They just need reasons to limit their liability. They might also offer you a token settlement which will be nowhere near your actual compensation fund. When you work with a lawyer, they will handle the headache of dealing and negotiating with the insurance company.

#3 To Obtain Evidence of Liability

In order to get your claim, you need to have all the evidence that will prove liability in your car accident case. While you might have gathered all the relevant information regarding your case, an attorney will study your case thoroughly to find other evidence that will strengthen your claim application.

For instance, your lawyer might go back to the accident place to see what exactly happened. He might contact the investigating police officers and witnesses to gather all the accident or police reports. A good and dedicated attorney will leave no stone unturned and will try his best to get you fair compensation.

#4 To Handle All the Legwork on Your Behalf

If you’ve sustained severe injuries after a car crash and are planning to get an injury claim, the process can be mentally and physically tiresome. For instance, obtaining all the documentation related to your injuries, including medical bills from your healthcare providers, is critical to apply and justify your claim.

Collecting all the necessary bills and other evidence for your damages can take days of investigation. When you hire a personal injury lawyer, you will not have to worry about all this, as your lawyer will do all the legwork on your behalf. This might also be easy for them as they have the necessary contacts to help them simplify these hectic tasks.

#5 To Cover Damages That Aren’t Covered by PIP

Damages caused by smaller or not so serious car crashes are generally covered by insurance which helps everyone move on with their lives. However, if you had to bear damages exceeding $10,000, PIP (Personal Injury Protection Insurance) would not cover them.

You may have to see if you are eligible for other insurance to cover your costs. Otherwise, you may need to take the defendant to court and get the compensation you deserve. Keep in mind that this will work only when you can prove that the other party was at fault. In such situations, you need to have a lawyer by your side who can fight the case by providing necessary evidence against the other party.

Note: Florida follows comparative negligence laws, which means if it’s decided that the fault was from both sides, the court will assign a percentage of blame to each party, and they will be compensated accordingly.

Wrapping Up

Finding the right attorney for your case can be a hectic and time-consuming process. You may find a lot of law firms advertising to assist you with your injury claim and you might feel overwhelmed as to where to start. How do you know which is the best car accident lawyer for your case?

Asking your contacts who might recommend you to a good law firm can be helpful. Or, you can also visit your local library to see if they have any resources on lawyers or anything that gets you a good deal. Moreover, make sure to check reviews of your potential lawyers so that you can make a mindful decision. This is because personal injury claims can be a real challenge! However, with the help of a lawyer, you will be assured of getting the deserved compensation, ensuring that your recovery, living and medical expenses are covered.