Have you been in a car accident and wondering whether you should hire a lawyer? Each year in the United States there are more than six million automobile accidents. A car crash can be a life-changing event for you and your loved ones. Hiring an attorney is an effective way to ensure that you have a trained legal professional who is ready to seek justice on your behalf.
Read on to learn what a car accident attorney does and why you should retain one after your crash.
A Trusted Advocate
After a car accident, there’s a lot of things for you to handle. Whether you are adjusting to the new normal of physical limitations in your life, arranging for transportation to work and school, or making appointments with physical therapy.
Finding an attorney may not be the first item on your to-do list but it shouldn’t be overlooked. A lawyer is a trusted advocate that will go to bat for your interests in and out of court. They will act in your best interests at all times and will communicate with you regularly to keep you updated on your case.
Show an Insurance Company You Are Serious
When you are involved in a car crash, you will need an attorney to show an insurance company that you are serious about your claims. Car insurance companies process thousands of claims each day, ranging from minor injuries to death.
Hiring an experienced car accident lawyer in Tampa will give you peace of mind. That’s because you will have someone in your corner to go head to head with an insurance company. Your lawyer will have training in how to present your claims in the light most favorable to you.
When an insurance company gets a demand letter from an attorney, it sends a strong message. It tells them you are serious about your injuries and fair treatment handling your claim.
Understand the Strengths and Weaknesses of Your Case
An attorney will explain the strengths and weaknesses of your case based on how the law applies to the facts of the accident. After a car crash, you may be very emotional and not able to look at your situation in an objective manner.
Did you know that Florida uses comparative negligence to determine liability? At trial, a jury will listen to the evidence at trial and apportion fault between the parties.
For example, even if you are not found to be 100% at fault for an accident, a jury may find attribute 20% of the fault to your actions or inactions. This will serve to reduce total damages in the case by 20%. A lawyer can explain this to you in further detail so that you have a better idea about what may happen in your case.
Your Attorney’s Compensation
You may be wondering: How much is an attorney? After a car crash, you will have lots of different out-of-pocket expenses at first. Your car accident lawyer won’t be one of them.
A plaintiff’s attorney in a car accident matter represents a client on a contingency fee basis. This means your attorney will receive a percentage of your recovery based on the timing of when it happens during the case.
This means that your lawyer won’t get paid unless you receive compensation. A contingency fee payment agreement will allow you to get the benefit of hiring an attorney. You won’t have to pay an expensive hourly rate for their services.
Being Ready for Trial
When a law student is learning how to become an attorney, they aren’t all doing it to go to trial. As many as 97 percent of civil lawsuits are resolved with a settlement short of actually going to trial.
You should hire an attorney that has trial experience representing car accident victims. Trial work is a unique skill set for an attorney. This experience also shows an insurance company that you are ready for trial if they won’t settle your claims.
If you and your counsel aren’t serious about going to trial, this can hurt your credibility. Especially when you make a big demand at mediation or arbitration during litigation.
Other Training and Experience
A licensed attorney in Florida will have training and experience in the legal field that the average person does not. In Florida, an attorney is required to graduate from college before completing three years of law school.
During law school, future lawyers take classes in Civil Procedure and Evidence. These are two areas of the law that will impact how your car crash lawsuit proceeds through the court system.
After a Florida lawyer graduates from law school, they must take and pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) and the Florida Bar exam. These strenuous tests take months of studying and test a prospective attorney about dozens of different areas of the law.
Finally, an attorney must pass a character and fitness background check so that the state bar can ensure they are fit to practice law. These are all things that an attorney must do before they meet with you to discuss your car accident case!
Hiring An Attorney Can Make a Difference
Hiring an attorney can make a difference in how your claims are handled after a car accident. Before you begin looking for an attorney in your area, take some time to learn about your options and to speak with different law firms about how they represent their clients.
Brandon F. Jones is a car accident lawyer in Tampa who has dedicated himself to representing victims of car, motorcycle, and trucking accidents. He keeps his focus on the best interests of each client and will work closely with you during the representation.
Contact Brandon F. Jones today to learn more about his practice and set up a free consultation for your case!