9 Aug

Is It Worth Hiring A Personal Injury Attorney After Being Injured In A Car Accident?

Being injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault can be a devastating life experience not only physically, but also emotionally and financially. Depending on the injuries you sustained, you may be in pain for an extended period of time and have to pay hefty bills for medical treatment. Some people may have mentioned that you should consider calling a lawyer, but you may wonder whether it’s really worth hiring a personal injury attorney. Is it easier/cheaper/faster/less stressful to just try to make an insurance claim yourself, or to just deal with the negative effects of the accident on your own?

You don’t have to have a personal injury attorney in order to seek compensation from an insurance company or (obviously) to do nothing, but there are numerous reasons why having legal representation is in your best interests. Let’s look at some of them.

You Might Be Entitled to More Than You Think

After a car accident, there are many different factors that determine how much compensation you are owed, such as the extent of your injuries, the costs of your medical bills, the size of your insurance policies, and the number of parties who share fault for the accident. If you weren’t the one responsible for the accident, you shouldn’t have to pay anything out of your own pocket. However, insurance companies lose money when they pay out the full amount that your injuries are really worth, so they will often attempt to devalue or deny your claim. You may not be aware of how much your medical bills will amount to when all the dust settles, or that you deserve to be compensated for the pain and suffering you endured as a result of the crash.

It’s worth hiring a personal injury attorney because attorneys have extensive experience with numerous car accident victims’ cases. They know how to accurately value your injuries, and because they are on your side, they can give you an accurate estimate of how much you should be getting paid (unlike the insurance company, who is just working to protect their bottom line).

A Lawyer Can Ensure You Get Maximum Compensation

A personal injury attorney can tell you how much you should recover, and then fight for that amount in damages. Research backs this up; the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS) reports that 62% of trial judges confirm that clients who have attorneys have better success in winning a claim or lawsuit than clients who represent themselves.

Another study, conducted by the Insurance Research Council, shows that injured auto accident victims who hire a lawyer receive, on average, a settlement that is 3 ½ times larger than those who don’t. 3 ½ times larger! To put in perspective, that’s the difference between you receiving $10,000 and $35,000 dollars. You can get more money for your injuries with an lawyer on your side – that’s the biggest reason why it’s worth hiring a personal injury attorney!

You Won’t Have To Take Care Of All The Paperwork & Communications

Documentation is an integral part of any car accident injury claim. Filling out the proper paperwork correctly and negotiating with the insurance company persuasively can make the difference between being awarded fair compensation and not getting any. However, if you’re injured, trying to take care of paperwork and waiting on hold with insurance adjusters can be exhausting. It can also be confusing, frustrating, and fruitless; again, insurance companies aren’t your friends, and you don’t have much sway over their decisions.

An experienced personal injury attorney can take care of all of this for you, so you can focus on recuperating. They can gather evidence for your claim, such as:

Law enforcement, witnesses, and expert witness statements and reports
Medical records and journals
Incident reports
Photos and video footage of the scene
Insurance information
Bills and invoices
W2 forms indicating lost wages
And more!

Having the right documentation maximizes your chances of getting compensation. Lawyers are trained to deal with insurance companies and adjusters. They can help negotiate fair settlements for your pain, suffering, lost wages, and medical bills.

A Lawyer Can Prove The Elements Of The Personal Injury Claim

In order for your claim to be successful, certain legal elements of your claim must be met, either in negotiations or at trial, if the insurance company refuses to settle for what your claim is worth. A lawyer can prove all of these elements beyond reasonable doubt and present them convincingly to a jury or judge. These elements are:

Duty of care – the at-fault party had a responsibility to observe caution and prevent an accident and possible injuries
Duty violation – the at-fault party contravened their duty of care, resulting in injuries and damages
Cause and effect – the at-fault party’s actions and negligence directly caused your damages.
You suffered damages, such as physical and emotional trauma, job loss, and financial losses.

Without a legal background, you may not know what it takes to prove these elements, which is another reason why it’s worth hiring a personal injury attorney to litigate your claim.

A Lawyer Can Interpret & Simplify The Law For You

Florida’s car accident laws are complex and intricate. They require extensive knowledge and experience to understand and apply appropriately in a car accident claim. It’s easy to get lost in the legal jargon and get confused about your rights and options, but if you don’t know your rights and options, you probably won’t successfully recover damages. A good attorney can explain what the law says about your specific situation and what you are entitled to. They can answer your questions, and advise you on the best course of action depending on your goals.

It’s Worth Hiring A Personal Injury Attorney Because It May Be Free To You!

Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means that their fee is “contingent” upon, or dependent upon, you receiving damages. You don’t have to pay personal injury lawyers anything upfront or out of your own pocket. If they win your case, they get a percentage of your damages; if they lose, you don’t have to pay them legal fees. They have a vested interest in working hard to maximize any compensation you receive because they earn a percentage. This eliminates any worries about billing! The financial impact of the accident was already hard enough, and you won’t have to stress about paying a lawyer on top of paying for treatment.

Many people think that hiring a lawyer won’t be worth the money that they pay them, but they don’t understand that they have nothing to lose and much to gain by doing so! The contingency fee payment structure is the most compelling reason why it’s worth hiring a personal injury attorney after a car accident – it’s worth it because it’s free!

If You’ve Been Injured In A Florida Car Accident, Don’t Hesitate Call Our Firm.

Is it worth it to hire a personal injury lawyer? We believe it is, and the evidence supports that assertion. At the Florida Law Group, we are committed to fighting for justice for you and dealing with insurers to win you maximum compensation. Our compassionate and caring attorneys will help you every step of the way. To date, we’ve recovered over $1 billion for injured accident victims across the state! For more information and to find out how much your injuries are worth, call The Florida Law Group today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how we can serve you.