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Do You Need A Car Accident Lawyer?
There are more than 350,000 car accidents per year in Florida and if you were one of those victims you are certainly faced with tough questions such as: Do you need to hire a car accident lawyer? Who will pay for my medical bills? How much money is my car accident case worth? The fact is, there are no clear answers.
Lawyers who focus their practice on personal injury law and car accidents know that each car accident case is different. In our personal injury practice our Firm has handled cases where someone was involved in a serious car wreck with significant property damage, even a total loss of their car, however, thankfully they were generally fine and needed minimal medical treatment. Our accident lawyers have also handled cases where the property damage to the automobile was minimal, however, the injury our client sustained was serious and permanent; often most may end up needing prolonged medical treatment, expensive diagnostic tests (such as MRIs, CT scans, and x-rays), pain management and injections, and even surgery.
All this said, one of the most important things you can do to help yourself or your loved one is hire a qualified, experienced Florida personal injury attorney who focuses their practice in representing people involved in car accidents. So, if you searched the internet asking if you need a car accident lawyer near me you already realized that having experienced attorneys to guide you through your specific car accident claim is important and will make the difference at the end of your case.
It is also important to note that not all automobile accidents result in the same types of physical injuries. For instance, if you have been rear-ended by a careless driver and are suffering the classic symptoms of whiplash, stiff middle neck, soreness, constant headaches, and lower back pain your doctor may need to prescribe you a different treatment plan than someone who was side-swiped and injured the left side of their neck. However, you may figure that there’s no need to hire a personal injury lawyer because the automobile accident liability seems clear, and the at-fault driver’s insurance adjuster has promised a “good settlement.”
So, do you really need to hire a lawyer?
You’re still wondering, do I really need to hire a car accident lawyer? Well, in reality, no, you don’t have to hire a lawyer for a personal injury case—or any case, for that matter. In Florida, case parties have the right to represent themselves individually in legal claims. However, there are many benefits to hiring a Florida personal injury attorney.
The fact is that statistics state that you are much more likely to win your car accident case if you hire a personal injury lawyer. One recent scientific study examined the success rates of pro se claims that were filed in a one-year period in Miami. According to the study the majority of car wreck victims 76.2 percent lost their claims. Only 3.5 percent of the pro se litigants actually won their claims; 20.3 percent of the claims were settled or transferred to a different court. Many of these claims were dismissed early on due to inexperience or negligence with court deadlines and protocol, as well as failing to understand how to present a legal argument; this resulted in many auto accident victims lost their right to recovery. The study concluded that had those individuals hired an attorney to handle their car insurance claim from the beginning, their chances of success would have been much higher.
Do you know what types of damages you may be entitled to under Florida law?
Any insurance adjuster you speak with may try to settle the claim for as little money as possible. If you have $5,000 in medical bills, the insurance adjuster may offer you $5,000. And, in some cases this may be an acceptable settlement but did you know that you may also be entitled to Personal Injury Protection benefits, or compensation for your lost wages, pain and suffering, and the cost of future medical care you may need? If you do not ask for these damages, they are not going to be offered. A personal injury lawyer will ensure that your legal interests are protected.
If you are concerned about the cost of hiring a personal injury attorney, you shouldn’t be. Most personal injury attorneys, such as our law Firm, Shiner Law Group, takes car accident case on a contingency fee basis. This means that you do not have to pay your attorney out of pocket. Even better, if you prevail in your claim, the attorney takes a portion, or percentage, of any settlement or verdict amount as payment. In many cases, even if you lose, the law firm will absorb costs associated with your case.
If you are still wondering if you should hire a car accident lawyer then do this: Don’t delay, call one of our experienced and knowledgeable car accident lawyers for a free no cost consultation. We will be glad to answer your questions and help you decide why hiring the Shiner Law Group to handle your case is the best decision for you, Call Now!
