Many Florida residents will get into a car accident at some point in their lives. Even small car accidents can lead to injuries, medical expenses, and damage to your vehicle and property. In these situations, you may wonder if you should hire a personal injury lawyer.
Why You Should Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer
Even if you are involved in a minor car accident, you should hire a car accident lawyer to represent your case. You may be confused about your legal rights in these situations and wonder if hiring a personal injury attorney is worth the cost and hassle – and the answer is yes. While the insurance company may define your accident as minor, that does not mean you did not suffer injuries or damages. A personal injury lawyer can help you build your case and collect the compensation you need to recover.
Collect Compensation for Your Losses
When you are in a car accident, even a minor one, you may suffer from losses and be eligible to collect compensation. You may not know what compensation you can collect immediately after your car accident, but an attorney can help inform you of your rights and your eligibility for damages.
In car accidents, you can collect both economic and non-economic damages related to your injuries. Non-economic damages refer to losses you cannot quantify, such as pain and suffering, anxiety, fear, anger, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Economic damages include lost wages and medical expenses, such as doctor’s visits, medications, surgeries, and physical therapies. To determine your medical needs after your accident, visit a doctor and receive a medical evaluation as soon as possible. You may also claim economic damages for property damage to your vehicle, which will be the most common damages in minor car accidents. Your attorney can help you find quotes for car repairs and argue for higher settlements based on your own best interests.
Calculate and Evaluate Settlement Offers
When you enter into the insurance claim processes, your company will assign a claims adjuster to your case. This adjuster may offer you a settlement up front before you get a chance to speak with an attorney – and you should not take this offer. It is important to know that insurance companies do not work on your behalf. In fact, they work for the benefit of the company. It is not in their best interest to provide you with the highest settlement possible since they have to pay those costs, especially if they define your accident as minor.
To avoid accepting a settlement lower than what you could collect, seek the services of a personal injury attorney. Your lawyer will be able to calculate your damages through a careful review, helping you determine a ballpark compensation figure. More importantly, your attorney can help you evaluate any settlement offers from the insurance company and determine if they are worth taking.
Navigate Insurance Negotiations
You may have to enter into negotiations with the insurance company if they do not offer you a fair settlement. Entering into these discussions can be challenging if you do not have the training or skillset necessary to argue for higher compensation. Your attorney will have this experience and will be able to navigate these negotiations in a skillful manner. You may receive a higher settlement at the end of this process simply by having your attorney represent you.
Reduce Your Stress
If you do not have any experience in filing a car accident insurance claim, you may find yourself scrambling to figure out what to do next. These responsibilities can add additional stress when you are trying to recover from your accident. By hiring an attorney, you can cut down on this burden and allow someone with experience to handle your case.
Personal injury attorneys can provide many benefits to your minor car insurance claim. In addition, they can be quite affordable under their contingency fee agreements, which eliminate your out-of-pocket costs. Contact a Hollywood car accident attorney as soon as possible to begin your claims process.