One of the most traumatizing experiences is being involved in a car accident. It not only takes time to recover from the injuries you sustained in the accident. It is also possible to lose your job and savings. Unfortunately, many people lose their lives to car accidents. Fortunately, you can still recover damages, even if you lost your loved one.
However, it is not easy to handle a car accident injury and recover damages on your own, so we recommend you hire the best car accident lawyers in Palm Bay, Florida.
Lawyers know the countless laws, so they can help you file your claim and they will ensure the insurance company offers you the best settlement. It is cheaper to hire a lawyer.
Looking for the best car accident lawyers in Palm Bay? At Florida Lawyers 360, we provide professional and aggressive client defense.
We are ready to help you fight the insurance company, giving you more time to focus on getting better. Contact a Palm Bay car accident lawyer today for a free case review.
How Much Does a Palm Bay Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
Car accident lawyers do not charge the hefty hourly rates like lawyers in other practices. The fees of your accident lawyer depend on the amount the insurance company or court awards you in your personal injury case.
That is why car accident lawyers do not charge upfront fees.
Car accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. If you do not receive a monetary settlement, you will not pay your lawyer. Your lawyer takes a percentage of awarded compensation, so you must agree with your lawyer on the percentage before you work together.
Before filing a lawsuit in Palm Bay, Florida, car accident lawyers do not charge more than 33 1/3% of the settlement. However, the fee of the lawyer increases to 40% after a personal injury lawsuit.
Car accident lawyers cannot apply excessive percentages to contingency cases because Florida law prohibits it.
Therefore, the lawyer receives 20% of any settlement over $2 million, 30% of any settlement between $1 million and $2 million, and 33 1/3% of any settlement up to $1 million.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
It is frightening to figure out your next step after a car accident. Our lawyers can help you in this difficult time. You can recover compensation for any injuries or damages you sustained during the accident.
However, you must do the following things after a car accident.
Stop and Get Help
Do not rush to leave the accident scene. Florida law requires you to remain at the scene. If you can still move, pull your car over to a safe location and help other people involved in the accident. Call for help immediately if they are injured.
Report the Accident
Call the local law enforcement to report the accident, especially if there is property damage of more than $500 or you suffered an injury. Once the police arrive on the scene, they will record the important details. Your lawyer will use these details in your future claim.
The police can also help determine at fault.
Seek Medical Attention
If the emergency medical professionals do not take you to see a doctor, you must see a doctor. Do not assume your injuries are not severe. Instead, see a doctor to identify and treat your injuries properly. Having a medical report is important during your lawsuit.
Collect Relevant Information
Remember to take photos and collect relevant information after the accident.
It is easy to deal with an insurance company if you have the relevant information, including medical reports, police reports, identifying information of the other cars, and the insurance information, address, and name of the other drivers involved.
Do Not Admit Fault
You will meet and talk with the police. Never admit fault to the police or anyone at the scene. You can lose your settlement because of the things you said after the accident.
We recommend you call a car accident lawyer. Do not sign anything before going through it with your Palm Bay car accident lawyer.
What is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident?
The average settlement amount for a car accident in Palm Bay, Florida is between $10,000 to $60,000 or more.
The average settlement amount varies depending on different factors, including the nature of the incident, the severity of the resulting injury, the insurance policies involved, and the strength of your legal representation.
When Should I Get a Car Accident Lawyer for My Auto Accident?
We highly encourage you to hire a car accident immediately after your auto accident. It is easy to assume you do not need a lawyer because you did not experience any symptoms at the scene.
It can take time to notice some injuries, which can leave you unable to work. A Palm Bay car accident lawyer will tell you what you need to do after the accident. And the lawyer will begin to build your case.
Why Do I Need a Palm Bay Car Accident Lawyer?
We know the importance of hiring the best car accident lawyers in Palm Bay, Florida to represent you. Do not try to negotiate with the insurance company on your own.
Our lawyers will help you collect evidence, navigate legal procedures, negotiate with the insurance company, and ensure you do not suffer from long-term consequences.
Investigate Your Accident
It is not always easy to determine fault in a car accident. You need the right evidence to prove fault. Your lawyer will work hard to prove the negligence of the other driver. If you cannot prove at-fault party, you will not recover compensation.
Hire a lawyer to investigate your accident.
File Your Claim
It is confusing to file a claim. Experienced car accident lawyers have been filing claims on behalf of their clients for several years, so they know how to file a claim against the appropriate party.
They will not hesitate to file your claim because they understand the need for timely completion.
Prove Damages
It is not easy to prove the full extent of your losses. You will not recover any compensation if you cannot prove damages. Do not waste your time trying to prove damages.
Our lawyers will work with experts, gather medical bills, and prove damages, increasing the chances of recovering compensation.
Negotiation
It is difficult to negotiate for a fair settlement offer. Insurance companies know you can take any amount due to frustration and desperation. We are aggressive in negotiating the best settlement amounts for our clients.
We will make sure you receive a suitable settlement amount.
Take Your Claim to Court
We know you can accept any settlement because you are afraid of taking your claim to court. We are not afraid of taking the claim to court if we will not reach an agreement with the insurance company.
Palm Bay car accident lawyers can help you take your case to court.
How Much Can I Expect to Receive for My Damages?
The amount you can expect to receive for your damages will depend on the injuries you suffered and the damages to your property during the car accident.
Have our Palm Bay car accident lawyer gather evidence and build your claim if you want to receive a fair settlement amount.
Your car accident attorney will calculate the value of your future loss of earning capacity and lost income if you cannot work in the future due to your injuries. They will also calculate your estimated future medical and care costs if you need ongoing treatment.
Therefore, you can expect to receive compensation for lost wages, medical bills, and care costs.
What Type of Damages Can I Recover in Palm Bay, Florida?
You can experience extensive financial losses and suffer mental and physical harm because of a car accident. Many of these losses can have a lasting impact on the quality of your life. You can get compensation for your losses.
Here are the types of damages you can recover with the help of your Palm Bay car accident lawyer:
Economic Damages
They are the costs and expenses that are directly related to the car accident.
Some of the most common economic damages are the cost of lost services, future loss of benefits, wages, and retirement contributions, home health care services, property damage, child care expenses, future medical expenses, and past and current medical expenses.
Non-Economic Damages
They are the losses or injuries that result from a car accident that you can suffer on a more personal level. It is not easy to put value on them.
Some of the non-economic damages are pain and suffering, physical impairment, disfigurement, loss of consortium, and mental anguish.
Punitive Damages
The court system uses punitive damages to punish the at-fault party if they believe that the cause of the accident was a result of gross negligence. The court system does not award these types of damages often.
How is Fault Determined in Palm Bay, Florida?
A car accident lawyer must show the following four legal elements of negligence to prove that the other driver is responsible for the injuries and damages.
- Duty of Care – Drivers owe a duty of care to the people using the same road with them.
- Breach of Duty – Drivers violate their duty of care if they drive aggressively, text and drive, and drive drunk.
- Causation – The driver is legally liable for your damages if their breach of duty leads to an accident that caused you to suffer injuries.
- Actual Damages – A lawyer must provide proof of actual damages once they establish the negligence of the at-fault driver.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim in Palm Bay, Florida?
The statute of limitations for car accident cases in Palm Bay, Florida is four years. Therefore, you must file a claim against the driver at fault four years from the date the car accident occurred. If you miss this deadline, you may never recover compensation.
Contact a Palm Bay car accident lawyer to ensure that you file in the required time limit.
How Can a Palm Bay Car Accident Lawyer Help Me File My Insurance Claim?
Your Palm Bay car accident lawyer will sign the serious documents since the insurance company will want to check your medical records during this process. Therefore, your lawyer will talk with the claims adjuster to ensure you get the best settlement.
Your lawyer will also tell you what to avoid doing during this process. For example, they can tell you to avoid posting about the accident on social media.
And your Palm Bay car accident lawyer will investigate your car accident before filing your insurance claim. They do the investigation to ensure you have a chance of winning.
What if the Other Driver Doesn’t Have Insurance?
If the other driver doesn’t have insurance, your insurer will be liable to pay your initial $10,000 in PIP coverage for your lost wages, medical bills, and other benefits under PIP coverage. You can also get paid if you carry Uninsured Motorist Coverage.
A Palm Bay car accident lawyer can help you navigate these legal situations.
Conclusion
You can suffer serious injuries in a car accident. However, it is not easy to deal with these injuries because you can lose your job and they can leave you physically impaired, making it difficult to recover from your injuries.
In Palm Bay, Florida, you can receive compensation for your injuries and damages.
It is painful and expensive to recover from a personal injury. That is why we encourage you to hire our best Palm Bay car accident lawyers in Florida to protect your rights, communicate with the insurance company, and fight to help you get the compensation you rightfully deserve.
Here at Florida Lawyers 360, we know it is difficult to navigate the process on your own. Let our experienced and skilled car accident lawyers file your claim and take your case to trial if necessary.
We will fight to get you a fair settlement for your injuries and damages. Contact a Palm Bay car accident lawyer today for a free case review.
