There are no laws that require claimants to work with a car accident lawyer following a collision. One of the reasons people want to get a settlement for a car accident without a lawyer in Florida is that they think they cannot afford legal representation. However, legal representation is very affordable and may help a claimant get a fairer settlement.
Why Shouldn’t I Pursue a Settlement for a Car Accident Without a Lawyer?
Unfortunately, collecting a settlement is not always straightforward in a Florida car accident case. You could run into many challenges if you choose to represent yourself.
You don’t have to worry about these potential complications if you choose to work with a lawyer from our team, however. Your lawyer can handle all of the common challenges for you, such as:
Proving Negligence and Liability
In your car accident case, determining who is financially responsible for your injuries and losses may be especially complicated. The other driver, the driver’s employer, a vehicle manufacturer, the local government, or another entity could be responsible or share responsibility.
If you don’t identify the responsible party and provide compelling evidence that they are liable for the incident, you may not be able to move forward with your case. Your lawyer can do these things for you.
Lowball Settlement Offers
It can be difficult to determine the fair value for your case if you have not seen the way car accident cases are valued. If you don’t know the value of your case, you may accept a low settlement offer.
A lawyer from our firm can valuate your case properly, including its non-financial, intangible damages. Your lawyer can also detect and defend you against low settlement offers.
Bad-Faith Insurance Tactics
While insurance company representatives may appear cordial and friendly over the phone, they often don’t have your best interests at heart. They may attempt to deny your claim altogether, for instance, even if there is evidence that you were injured by a negligent party.
Claims That You Were Responsible
You could face pushback from the liable party’s representatives, claiming that you were more responsible for your accident and injuries than the other party was. If you have any gap in your medical treatment history after the injury, they may claim you made your own injuries worse and they shouldn’t have to pay for your care.
There’s a Lot a Lawyer from Our Firm Can Do for You
After a car accident, you are likely in pain and in no shape to be undertaking legal burdens by yourself. You can leave all of these burdens to a lawyer from our firm.
Your lawyer can support your claim by:
- Getting a copy of the police report
- Interviewing witnesses
- Requesting your medical records
- Determining the number of damages allowable under Florida law
- Looking at all available evidence to build a case
- Assessing any other facts that may impact your situation
- Speaking to the insurance companies and negotiating for a settlement
When you work with a Fort Myers car accident lawyer, they can work to protect your rights and fight for the compensation you need.
Recoverable Losses in a Car Accident Settlement
After partnering with a lawyer to get a settlement for a car accident, you do not have to deal with the burden of collecting evidence. Your attorney will manage all the tasks that go into preparing a case for you. This allows you to focus on your health and recovery after sustaining injuries.
Your lawyer will help you recover the following damages:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Any reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering and inconvenience
- Any reduced quality of life
- Any disfigurement
- Any dismemberment
- Wrongful death damages if you lost a loved one in a car accident
Your car accident lawyer will work to gather the information necessary to get you compensation. With their understanding of Florida’s statutory caps, your lawyer can assess your losses and estimate what settlement amount would pay for your damages.
How Long do You Have to Get a Lawyer After a Car Accident in Florida?
Florida has a statute of limitations for various personal injury lawsuits, including car accident suits. The statute indicates deadlines for these lawsuits. By hiring your lawyer soon, you’ll give your lawyer more time to meet the deadline for a lawsuit.
Under Florida Statutes § 95.11, you have:
- Four years from the date of your accident to pursue litigation
- Two years from the date of a loved one’s passing to file a wrongful death lawsuit
Some details of your situation may allow for additional time to act. For example, if one of the injured parties was a minor, they are generally granted more time to file a lawsuit for their damages. Speaking with a car accident lawyer about your settlement options can help you understand the details of your situation.
Does Your Firm Charge Any Upfront Fees?
Many car accident victims try to reach a settlement on their own because they fear they cannot afford legal assistance. When you work with one of our attorneys, you’ll be able to afford it.
Our team works on a contingency-fee basis, so you will not pay us anything up front to get our help. We’ll accept attorney fees at the conclusion of your case if we are able to get compensation on your behalf.
Call The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine Today
A car accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can help you get a settlement for your collision-related expenses. With the help of your lawyer, you’ll be able to focus on your physical recovery while we go to work on your behalf. Additionally, we also work on a contingency-fee basis, which means that we will not request any payments unless we get compensation for you.
During your free case review, we want to hear your side of the story. No matter how your accident happened, we can advise you on your legal options. To get started, contact the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today.
