The legal issues surrounding a car accident claim can start as soon as the crash occurs. Thus, it’s never too soon to contact a car accident lawyer. How quickly you contact a Tampa car accident lawyer can affect your injury claim in various ways. The sooner they can start investigating, collecting evidence, and speaking to witnesses, the better.
Don’t let fear of the expense of hiring a lawyer stop you from getting legal support. Most car accident law firms will offer a free consultation that allows you to share the details of the crash and learn about the law firm at no out-of-pocket cost or obligation.
Let A Tampa Car Accident Lawyer Take The Confusion Out Of The Filing Deadline
Florida allows limited time to file your lawsuit. However, the allotted time could change based on the injured party’s age and other factors, making timely filing challenging. The personal injury and wrongful death statute of limitations is generally two years, according to Florida Statutes § 95.11(5).
The filing deadline and its potential fluctuations could make letting a lawyer deal with it beneficial. While they do, you can focus on getting better. Your legal team can ensure you file your lawsuit on time and avoid the costly consequences of missing or misunderstanding the filing deadline.
A Car Accident Lawyer Can Start Tracking Your Damages Immediately
Economic and noneconomic damages after a car accident start accumulating right at the accident scene. Your lawyer will track, assess, and document the following accident-related expenses and losses on your behalf:
- Past and future medical bills
- Past and future lost income
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Property damage or total loss
- Disability and impairment
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Moreover, did your family lose a loved one in a car accident? A lawyer can assess your wrongful death damages, including funeral and burial costs, loss of financial and domestic support, and loss of consortium, companionship, and care.
Reasons To Hire A Lawyer As Soon As Possible After A Car Accident In Tampa
After a car accident, you and the at-fault driver will report the accident to your respective insurance companies. Their insurer may call you with questions about the crash and each driver’s role. If a Tampa personal injury lawyer represents you, they can handle all communication with the insurer, including:
- Reporting your collision to the insurer
- Making and receiving phone calls
- Reading and responding to emails
- Answering information requests
- Submitting evidence as requested
- Creating and sending a demand letter
- Negotiating a favorable settlement
Having a lawyer speak for you right from the start could mean you avoid miscommunications (e.g., accepting partial fault for the crash) that could later harm your injury claim.
What To Expect During A Car Accident Consultation In Tampa
Hiring a lawyer soon after an accident is critical, but so is hiring the right lawyer. Most Tampa personal injury law firms offer a free consultation that allows you to learn about the law firm and allows them to learn about your case.
During your consultation, you can ask questions, including:
- How does the fee agreement work?
- How long will a settlement take?
- How much compensation can I expect?
- How often will I get updates on my case?
- What are the benefits of choosing you as my lawyer?
- Will I have to go to court?
- Will you handle the insurance process?
The answers you receive can help you make the right decision. You should also expect to answer questions about your claim to determine its merits.
Additional Benefits Of Contacting A Car Accident Lawyer Right From The Start
You could reap multiple case-building benefits when a lawyer immediately starts working on your car accident claim. Your legal team can:
- Interview witnesses while their memories are vivid
- Obtain and preserve evidence while it is fresh
- Canvass the accident scene for photos and videos
- Combat any allegations of comparative negligence
Waiting for your case to conclude can be frustrating, so your attorney should keep you updated with regular and informative progress reports.
A Tampa Car Accident Lawyer Can Build A Comprehensive Evidence Collection
Evidence for your car accident claim also starts accumulating right at the accident scene. So, if your injuries permitted, you hopefully exchanged information with the at-fault driver and asked witnesses for their contact details without apologizing for the crash, accepting blame, or arguing with anyone. Provide this information to your attorney and inform them if you possibly made an incriminating statement.
Then, your lawyer will collect additional evidence to support your injury claim, including:
- Police report
- Medical records
- Medical bills
- Proof of income
- Expert testimony
- Accident reconstruction
Early intervention by your lawyer could give them access to evidence you might find hard to obtain independently, including vehicle inspections and other official reports.
Evidence Can Establish The Required Elements Of Negligence
Recovering compensation depends on proving the other driver’s negligence caused your collision. That means proving its legal elements, including:
- Duty of care: The at-fault driver’s obligation to drive safely.
- Breach of duty: Their failure to meet their legal responsibility.
- Causation: The correlation between their actions and your accident.
- Damages: The economic and noneconomic costs of the crash.
Your evidence will prove negligence, your right to financial recovery, and the monetary value of your compensation request.
Contact Our Tampa Car Accident Team Immediately
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a car accident in Tampa, the car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine could help you build a persuasive case for financial compensation. The sooner you put our law firm to work for you, the more time we have to delve into your case and conduct a detailed investigation.
Get a free evaluation of your case by contacting one of our team members today.
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