Florida law does not require you to hire a lawyer after a Fort Lauderdale car accident, no matter how minor or severe the collision is. However, working with a Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer on your case could be a great decision.
A Low-Speed Collision Can Cause Severe Injuries And Thousands Of Dollars In Property Damage
If you have ever watched footage of crash test dummies in automobile safety tests, you may have seen how much damage a low-speed accident can do to a car and a person’s body. Your collision does not have to make the evening news to be significant. You could suffer substantial physical injuries from a minor accident.
You Might Have Injuries That Have Not Yet Developed Detectable Symptoms
Some injuries can take several days or weeks to exhibit noticeable signs. You could have internal bleeding, a traumatic brain injury (TBI), or a brain bleed without knowing it.
If you wait to go to the emergency room until several days or weeks after the accident, the at-fault driver could argue that your injuries were from another event, not the car collision. You may not want to handle this type of argument without a lawyer.
Your Car Could Be More Seriously Damaged Than You Think
If you accept a small settlement from the insurance company and later find out that your bumper, a door, or another part of your car must be replaced because of a dent or crack, you could be stuck with a bill for thousands of dollars.
It would be best if you didn’t have to pay for these expenses, and having a lawyer on your side from the start may prevent you from making a mistake that limits your compensation.
Understanding A Claims Adjuster’s Job
Some people need to understand the job of the claims adjuster. The claims adjuster needs to work for you. It is not the claims adjuster’s job to offer you a generous settlement for your injuries and other losses.
The claims adjuster gets paid by the insurance company, not by you. To succeed in their job, a claims adjuster needs to pay you as little money as possible on your claim. The insurance company does not maximize its profits by paying injured people as much money as they deserve.
The Pitfalls Of Trying To Handle Your Accident Injury Claim Alone
People make several common mistakes when handling Fort Myers car accident lawsuits without hiring an attorney. Some of these pitfalls include:
Missing The Statute Of Limitations
If you wait too long, you cannot file a personal injury lawsuit against another person. Suppose you do not file a personal injury lawsuit within four years of the accident in Florida. In that case, the law will prevent you from going after the at-fault party for compensation for your losses, per Florida Statutes § 95.11(3)(a).
Most people need to be aware of the statute of limitations for their personal injury case, which can be shorter than four years in some circumstances. Working with an attorney helps you avoid missing the deadline.
Getting Bullied Into Accepting Blame For The Collision
An aggressive claims adjuster might try to blame you for the accident to get you to drop your claim against their insured. Claims adjusters can be quite skillful when using techniques like this with people who try to handle their cases without a lawyer.
Accepting Far Less Money Than You Deserve
It is unlikely that any person who gets injured in a car crash knows with any degree of accuracy the financial value of their injury claim, unless they work in the claims department of a liability insurance company or have an attorney handling their claim. Insurance companies and personal injury lawyers can access databases that tell them how juries have ruled in cases like yours.
If you do not have this information because you were trying to go it alone, you have no idea whether the claims adjuster’s offer is fair. You might find out later that your claim was worth a lot more money than the amount of your settlement check.
Believing The Claims Adjuster When They Say That You Do Not Need A Lawyer
Claims adjusters may tell a person filing an injury claim that they do not need a lawyer handling their claim. If that were true, then why do insurance companies hire so many lawyers?
Clearly, there is a benefit to having legal advice and guidance on personal injury claims. It seems unfair that the at-fault driver’s insurance company will try to trick you into having the disadvantage of not having your own legal guidance.
Get A Free Consultation With The Law Offices Of Anidjar & Levine Today
After a minor Jacksonville car accident, you do not have to go through the stressful and unpleasant task of a personal injury claim or lawsuit by yourself. A Port St. Lucie car accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can help you go after the money damages you deserve. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.
