A car accident lawyer represents your legal interests after a crash, particularly if you’ve been injured or suffered significant property damage. Your attorney will handle tasks such as interacting with insurance companies and negotiating for a settlement on your behalf.
While not legally required, working with an attorney is beneficial as it is difficult for many people to manage a legal case in addition to recovering from an injury. A car crash lawyer will protect your rights and advocate for your best interests during the claims process.
Our West Palm Beach car accident lawyers have more than 200 years of combined legal experience, standing up for South Florida residents who have been injured due to no fault of their own. If you’ve been in an accident, call today for a free consultation.
Explaining the Legal Process
A car accident lawyer serves as a point of contact for explaining how the claims process works. This includes answering questions about timelines, next steps, and what to expect at each stage.
Car accident claims can involve unfamiliar terms and procedures, and it’s common for clients to have questions throughout. Part of a lawyer’s role is making sure those questions get answered in a way that’s easy to understand.
This ongoing communication is meant to keep clients informed, particularly since claims can take weeks or months to resolve depending on their complexity.
For a free legal consultation, call 561-222-2222
Explaining No-Fault Insurance in Florida
Florida is a No-Fault insurance state, which means your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage is generally the first source of compensation after a crash, regardless of who caused it. An attorney can help you understand Florida’s No-Fault insurance.
Drivers must have at least $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. This coverage helps pay for some medical expenses and lost wages. Because PIP is the first line of coverage, injured drivers usually cannot sue the driver at fault unless their injuries meet Florida’s serious injury requirement.
A lawyer’s role involves determining whether PIP coverage is enough to address the actual cost of an injury, and if not, whether the injury qualifies to step outside the No-Fault system. This determination affects nearly every other part of the claim.
Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
Investigating the Accident
One of the first things a car accident lawyer does is look into how the crash happened. This means reviewing the police report, examining the accident scene, and identifying any physical evidence that explains what occurred.
In many cases, collecting witness statements while memories are still fresh is important. If available, surveillance footage can also help clarify what happened before and during the crash.
For more complicated crashes, lawyers may hire accident reconstruction experts. These specialists look at physical evidence to explain the events, which can help when there is a disagreement over fault.
Call or text 561-222-2222 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
Communicating With Insurance Companies
Dealing with insurers is one of the biggest reasons you need a lawyer for a car accident. A car accident lawyer typically takes over communication with insurance adjusters once they’re retained.
This role is important because early talks with an adjuster can impact a claim in ways that may not be clear. Statements made without legal advice can later be used to question the severity of an injury or dispute who is at fault.
Having a lawyer handle these conversations doesn’t change the facts of the crash, but it does mean someone familiar with the claims process is reviewing what’s said and how it’s used.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Calculating the Value of a Claim
Figuring out how much a claim is worth involves more than just adding up medical bills. A lawyer usually considers lost wages, future treatment costs, and how the injury affects daily life.
Once a case meets Florida’s serious injury threshold and moves outside the No-Fault system, compensation for pain and suffering also becomes possible. Calculating this accurately requires an understanding of how that threshold applies to a specific case, since not every injury qualifies.
This step is important because once you accept a settlement, you usually can’t change it. A lawyer’s job is to ensure that the amount reflects the true cost of your injury, not just the bills you have received so far.
Negotiating With the Insurance Company
Once a claim’s value is established, a lawyer typically negotiates with the insurance company to settle. This often happens over several rounds of offers, since initial offers from insurers are frequently lower than the claim’s actual value.
Negotiations require showing proof to back up your claim and countering the insurer’s arguments. This process can take time, especially if there is a disagreement over who is at fault.
If negotiations don’t result in a fair settlement, a lawyer may file a lawsuit to move the claim forward. Under Florida Statute § 95.11, there’s a two-year deadline from the date of the crash to do this, so timing is an important part of the decision.
Get Help After Your Car Accident
A car accident lawyer investigates the crash, manages communication with insurers, and works through Florida’s No-Fault insurance rules. A lawyer can handle the difficult processes involved in a car accident claim, which are often confusing for those without legal training.
GOLDLAW has recovered more than $1 billion for accident victims in South Florida. Get GOLDLAW and get the help you need and the compensation you deserve. Most cases take under a year, and you will never get a bill. Call today for your free consultation.
