A car accident, even a seemingly minor one, can leave you with serious injuries and long recovery times. The best time to hire an attorney after a car accident is as soon as possible. Doing so can allow you to focus on your physical and emotional recovery without risking missing the filing deadline all car accident cases have.
Getting a lawyer involved in your case right from the start can also afford you a thorough investigation into your case. It can help your legal team interview witnesses while their memories are vivid and preserve evidence. Finally, it can remove the risk of filing your lawsuit too late which can have costly consequences and prevent you from recovering compensation at all.
It Is Never Too Soon to Hire a Local Car Accident Attorney
The Florida car accident attorney you choose after an accident can help you effectively navigate the complicated financial recovery process. They can:
- Conduct a comprehensive investigation
- Assess your recoverable damages
- Communicate with all parties for you
- Canvass for photos and video footage
- Complete and submit forms and paperwork
- Clarify complex legal and insurance jargon
- Keep you updated on the progress of your case
Your lawyer can also help you fight for a settlement and will not hesitate to take your case to court if one is not forthcoming.
A Lawyer Can Help You Navigate Minor and Complex Car Accident Cases
If another driver hit your car or otherwise caused an accident, your case may seem straightforward to you. But even cases that appear simple can quickly become complex and difficult to navigate on your own. That’s why the best time to hire an attorney is right after the accident. It can be especially helpful in potentially complicated cases, including:
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Multiple vehicle accidents
- Chain reaction accidents
- Parking lot accidents
Even after an accident that seems minor at first, it can be more difficult than you think to build your case, negotiate a settlement, and recover compensation after an accident. When you are represented by a lawyer, they can take care of all the details of your case and fight hard for appropriate compensation.
A Car Accident Lawyer Can Explain the Time it Takes to Assess Your Damages
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cites nearly two million injuries resulting from car accidents every year at a cost of $380 million in medical care. When the injuries you suffer in a car accident cause you to rack up medical bills at the same time that they prevent you from working, it can be tempting to accept a speedy settlement offer.
It can also be costly since it takes time to understand the costs of a car accident. When accurately documented, you can recover compensation for:
- Known and anticipated medical bills
- Known and anticipated lost wages
- Assistive medical devices
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Treatment-related travel expenses
- Property damage or loss
- Diminished property value
- Wrongful death damages, where applicable
Recoverable non-economic damages, which can be difficult to document on your own, can include physical disability, disfigurement, and pain and suffering. They can also include mental anguish, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. Your Boca Raton car accident lawyer will explain the importance of waiting for all bills, receipts, and other financial paperwork to document the current and future costs of the accident.
Your State Limits the Time You Have to File a Lawsuit
The state where your accident occurred limits the time you have to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit—another reason to hire a lawyer sooner rather than later. If your lawsuit is not filed within these guidelines, you could be prohibited from filing it at all.
Even if you do file your lawsuit late, the at-fault party and their representative will request its immediate dismissal. Their request is likely to be granted which can leave you with no legal avenue that compels the at-fault party to compensate you. An attorney can explain how the filing deadline can be extended or tolled. They will also fight hard to file your lawsuit within the allotted time.
An Attorney Can Help You Prove the Cause of the Accident
To hold the at-fault driver in your case responsible for compensating you, you have to prove the accident was the result of their negligence. That means proving the following elements of negligence:
- Duty of care: The at-fault driver had a responsibility to drive safely and in accordance with the rules of the road
- Breach of duty: That driver failed to meet their legal obligation by driving in a dangerous, reckless, or otherwise negligent manner
- Causation: Proof that the accident would not have happened but for the at-fault driver’s actions
- Damages: Proof that the accident and your injuries resulted in financial expenses and losses
The law firm that handles your case will collect evidence and conduct its own investigation into the accident’s cause.
Your Lawyer Can Build a Comprehensive Evidence File
Your case file can help your lawyer fight for an out-of-court settlement. Most car accident cases are resolved in this manner based on the weight of the evidence. The case file your lawyer creates for you will include:
- Car accident report
- Medical records
- Rehab and therapy records
- Accident scene photos
- Accident reconstruction
- Witness statements
Your case file will also include evidence that proves the value of your post-accident expenses and losses. Evidence in this category will include:
- Medical bills
- Written prognosis
- Proof of income
- Car repair costs
- Car replacement estimates
Your lawyer will access evidence you might find difficult to obtain on your own and handle all the details—big and small—of building the strongest possible case file on your behalf.
Your Car Accident Case Review Is Free
It can be hard to know what to and where to turn after a car accident in Florida. If you or someone you love were injured in a collision, our law firm can help. We will explain when to hire an attorney after a car accident and why acting quickly is in your best interest. We will also explain the steps we will take to obtain compensation for you.
Get started immediately by contacting our case review team at GED Lawyers for your free case review today.
