Do I Need an Attorney After a Car Accident in Florida?

If you have been injured in a car accident, one of the first decisions you need to make is whether to hire an attorney to represent you. Protecting your legal rights requires prompt action; and, whether you hire a Florida car accident attorney or you try to handle your situation on your own, there are steps that need to be taken right away.

So, do you need an attorney after a car accident in Florida?

While you aren’t required to hire an attorney to deal with the insurance companies for you, there are several reasons to put an experienced Florida car accident attorney on your side. This is especially true if you suffered significant or permanent injuries in the crash.

7 Important Reasons to Hire an Experienced Attorney After a Car Accident in Florida

Why is it important to hire an experienced attorney after a car accident in Florida? Here’s what you need to know:

1. You Need to Know if You Have a Claim Outside of Your “No Fault” PIP Coverage

One of the first reasons why it is important to hire an experienced attorney after a car accident is because you need to know if you have a claim outside of your “no fault” personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. As the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) explains, “PIP covers 80 percent of all necessary and reasonable medical expenses up to $10,000 resulting from a covered injury, no matter who caused the crash.”

But, if you have a fault-based claim outside of PIP, you could be entitled to far more. An experienced attorney will be able to determine if you are eligible to file a claim outside of PIP—and, if you are, your attorney will be able to take all of the necessary steps to seek the full compensation you deserve.

2. You Need to Know Why the Accident Happened

If you have a claim outside of PIP, seeking the full compensation you deserve will require proof of why the accident happened. Proving the cause of your car accident will require a thorough investigation, and this requires experienced legal representation as well.

Investigating a car accident is a complex process that requires knowledge of forensics, the rules for gathering and preserving evidence, accident reconstruction methods, and Florida law. If you have a claim outside of PIP but you don’t have the evidence you need to prove it, you won’t be able to convince the insurance companies to pay what they owe.

3. You Need to Know How Much the Accident is Going to Cost You

Another key step in the process of filing a successful car accident claim is determining how much you are entitled to recover. This starts with determining how much the accident is going to cost you. When you hire an experienced Florida car accident attorney, your attorney will be able to accurately assess your present and future:

• Accident-related medical expenses
• Other accident-related expenses (i.e., prescriptions, medical supplies and transportation)
• Loss of income, benefits and earning capacity

Calculating your future losses in particular is a complex process that requires experienced legal representation. If you don’t seek full compensation for the present and future costs of the accident, you could find yourself facing severe financial strain for years to come.

4. You Need to Know What Constitutes “Just Compensation” for Your Pain and Suffering

Your attorney can assist with determining what constitutes “just compensation” for your pain and suffering as well. If you have a claim outside of PIP, not only are you entitled to just compensation for the non-financial consequences of your car accident, but these damages could potentially account for the substantial majority of the value of your claim.

Here too, proving your legal rights requires evidence. You cannot simply claim to be in pain and expect the insurance companies to agree to pay. By working closely with you, your doctors and other experts as necessary, an experienced Florida car accident attorney will be able to gather the documentation needed to prove the immediate and long-term physical, psychological and emotional consequences of your injuries.

5. You Need to Be Prepared for the Insurance Companies to Fight Your Claim

Regardless of the evidence you have in support of your claim, you can expect the insurance companies to fight to avoid liability. This means that you need to be prepared to fight as well. An experienced Florida car accident attorney will know how to deal with the insurance companies effectively, and will be  able to use his or her experience to negotiate for a fair settlement on your behalf.

6. You Need to Be Prepared to Take Your Claim to Court if Necessary

While most successful car accident claims settle, it is critical that you do not settle for less than you deserve. This means that you need to be prepared to take your claim to court if a fair settlement isn’t on the table. Hiring an experienced attorney to handle your claim will help ensure that both: (i) you have the best chance of securing a fair settlement without going to court; and, (ii) you are prepared to go to court if necessary.

7. Hiring an Experienced Attorney is a Critical Step Toward Maximizing Your Chances of a Full Recovery

Ultimately, hiring an experienced attorney will help maximize your chances of securing a full financial recovery. Your attorney can help ensure that you are seeking the full compensation you deserve, and your attorney can use his or her experience to fight for just compensation on your behalf. While there are no guarantees, even taking your attorney’s fees into account, you are likely to take home more with an experienced attorney on your side.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Florida Car Accident Attorney at Searcy Denney

Have you been seriously injured in a car accident in Florida? If so, we encourage you to contact us promptly for more information. To schedule a free consultation with an experienced Florida car accident attorney at Searcy Denney, call us at 800-780-8607 or get in touch online today.