Car accidents occur because of many reasons, such as distracted driving, harsh weather conditions, animals, traffic violations, and even tired drivers.
According to the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), road accidents cause more injuries and deaths compared to other types of accidents such as slip and fall accidents.
However, if you are a victim of a car accident that was caused by another driver, you have the right to be compensated for any injuries that you may have sustained.
Contact one of our Florida Lawyers 360 Lakeland car accident lawyers at 954-448-7355, and we will start working on your case.
How Much Does A Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
Car accident cases are not easy to deal with that is why you must hire an experienced personal injury lawyer to work on your case. There are two key factors that you need to consider when hiring a car accident lawyer.
These factors are quality legal services and legal fees. Make sure that you hire an attorney who knows the law and can deliver quality services without insisting on upfront payment.
At Florida Lawyers 360, we are committed and ready to fight for the rights of our clients. Therefore, we focus on getting a fair settlement without asking for any upfront legal fees.
However, we do work on a contingency basis, meaning our firm gets a percentage of the client’s settlement as a legal fee.
What Should I Do After A Car Accident?
After a car accident you should take the following steps:
Contact Police
The police will investigate the matter and file a report. That is why you should contact the police immediately after getting involved in a car accident. Do not assume that the other party will take action and contact the police.
Instead, call them yourself so that you can be sure that the matter has been reported.
Check On Other Involved Parties
Do not try to leave the scene of the car accident. Instead, check on the other involved parties and find out whether they need help. Sometimes car accident victims get stuck in the wreck and cannot free themselves without being helped.
Others might be unconscious as a result of the impact or collision. Therefore, make sure that all involved parties are okay before leaving.
Exchange Info
Exchanging personal information is a legal requirement. You are required to exchange information with the parties involved in the accident.
The details that you are required to provide to the other party are contact details, physical address, driver’s insurance information, the car model and make as well as the license plate numbers of all the cars involved.
Record The Scene
You must document everything before leaving the scene. Use your phone to record a video of the accident or take photos.
Also, make sure that you capture all the important details such as the number of vehicles involved in the accident, where each vehicle was coming from, as well as the location. All this information matters especially if you plan to file a lawsuit against the party held liable.
Never Admit Fault
Never admit fault after a car accident has occurred. That is because you might still be in shock. Wait for the police to arrive and give your statement after talking to a car accident lawyer. If you admit fault, you will be held liable for the damages and injuries sustained after the car accident.
Therefore, let the police and investigators determine which party was at fault.
Seek Medical Attention
You must seek medical attention after a car accident. That is because most car accident victims usually experience pain and other health issues a few days later.
Do not take too long to see a doctor because some injuries cannot easily be detected but have long-term effects such as head injury or concussion. Such injuries can lead to behavioral and cognitive changes if not treated when detected at an early stage.
Call A Car Accident Lawyer
After calling the police, the second person you should consider calling is a car accident lawyer. That is because a car accident lawyer can guide you on how to deal with each party who is involved in the car accident.
Another reason why you should contact a car accident lawyer is that he or she can advise on how to write or give your statement. Lastly, your car accident lawyer will have the privilege to start working on your case by gathering all the necessary information that is available at the scene.
What Is The Average Settlement For A Car Accident?
According to Florida’s no-fault insurance policy, all drivers are required to have a PIP (Personal Injury Protection), which compensates drivers for injuries sustained when involved in a car accident. The minimum amount required in PIP is $10,000.
However, when it comes to the average settlement, you need to understand that it can be more than $10,000 or less depending on various factors such as how severe the victim’s injuries are, medical expenses, pain, and suffering as well as not being able to enjoy life.
When Should I Get A Lawyer For My Auto Accident?
Do not make the mistake of calling the insurance provider without first communicating with your car accident lawyer. That is because insurance providers will look for reasons to deny you your claim or make sure that you are awarded the least amount.
Because of this reason, you must contact a car accident lawyer first before talking to the insurance company.
Why Do I Need A Lakeland Car Accident Lawyer?
Our attorneys can help your car accident claim through their experience with:
Filing Your Lawsuit
Having an experienced car accident lawyer by your side increases your chances of getting a fair settlement. That is because your legal representative will proceed on with case preparation and filing your lawsuit as you focus on recovering from your injuries.
Your car accident lawyer will gather all the necessary documents required for your case and make sure that your lawsuit is filed on time.
Negotiating Your Settlement
Your car accident lawyer will also negotiate with the insurance provider for a fair settlement. Do not make the mistake of negotiating with the parties involved.
That is because insurance adjusters will convince you to accept what they are offering or try to deny you your claim by turning the blame on you.
Therefore, to avoid such cases and avoid wastage of time in getting your claim, let your car accident attorney negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.
Representing You In Court
If your case goes to trial, your car accident lawyer will present you in court and use all the evidence gathered to build a strong case. Trial preparation requires planning and experience since it must be done correctly without making any mistakes.
Besides, gathering enough evidence to support your case, your car accident lawyer must also prepare witnesses for questioning.
How Much Can I Expect To Receive For My Damages?
After filing a lawsuit, you can expect to receive either a full settlement for all your damages or less than what the actual claim is worth. That is because there are other factors that are considered when calculating the value of a client’s injury claim.
Some of these factors are liability, lost wages, and medical expenses. Moreover, you also need to understand that your settlement can be reduced if the jury decides that you were also at fault by a certain percentage.
What Type Of Damages Can I Recover In Lakeland, FL?
You are able to recover the following types of damages through a Florida car accident claim:
Economic
This type of damages benefits victims by recovering numerous expenses, such as lost wages or employment, damaged property, repair or replacement as well as domestic services for the victim if necessary.
Non-Economic
Non-economic damages compensate victims for their non-monetary losses. Examples of monetary losses are emotional distress, suffering and pain, loss of companionship, and consortium.
Punitive
This type of damages does not aid the victim recover from any loss. Instead, punitive damages are awarded to punish the defendant for reckless behavior.
How Is Fault Determined In Lakeland Car Accidents?
In Lakeland, FL, fault is determined by applying the comparative negligence law. Moreover, police and investigators use the same principle to determine each party’s level of fault.
How Long Do I Have To File A Claim In Lakeland?
According to the statute of limitations in Florida, car accident victims have at least 4 years to file their claim. Moreover, you should do this with the help of a car accident lawyer.
How Can A Lawyer Help Me File My Insurance Claim?
Your car accident lawyer can also help you file your insurance claim which is a long process. You will be required to contact the claims professionals, collect information about the accident and damage, contact the insurance company and negotiate with the claims specialist.
Moreover, you risk having your insurance claim denied if you do not work in hand with a legal representative.
What If The Other Driver Does Not Have Insurance?
The State of Florida requires all drivers to be insured. However, there are still a few who fail to comply with the law and end up complicating things when they get involved in an accident. Moreover, uninsured drivers risk having their licenses suspended by the State or fined huge penalties for such offense.
You also need to understand that an uninsured driver cannot compensate you for your damages and therefore, you can only rely on PIP (Personal Injury Protection) to recover for all your loss.
File Your Claim With Florida Lawyers 360
If you sustain minor or serious injuries as a result of a car accident caused by a reckless driver, contact our legal team at Florida Lawyers 360, and we will help you seek compensation for your damages.
Call our personal injury firm at 954-448-7355 to schedule your free consultation.
