If you’ve been in a collision in Destin, FL, the smart move is to call a car accident lawyer for a free consultation at (850) 842-2573 or contact us here. If you or the other party were injured in the accident, ensure that everyone gets the medical attention they need. Then, call a Destin car accident attorney as soon as you can.
A lawyer will help you seek compensation for any injuries, lost wages, and property damage you have incurred. They will also provide representation if the other party comes after you and blames you for the accident or if the insurance company gives you trouble.
What Will a Destin Car Accident Lawyer Do For Me?
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you’ll probably have to deal with an insurance company – whether your own and/or the at-fault party’s liability insurance provider. You’ll want an experienced car accident lawyer on your side to help you negotiate.
In addition to assisting you with your insurance claim, a car accident attorney will:
- Carefully listen to your account of the accident and help gather evidence in support of your claim
- Locate and interview witnesses
- Explore all avenues that could lead to compensation
- Hire expert witnesses if necessary
- Capably negotiate a settlement favorable to you
- If necessary, skillfully represent you in court
If the accident involves more than one other party, an already stressful situation can get even more complicated. Instead of dealing with one insurance company or defendant, you could be dealing with several.
That’s a lot for someone to deal with when they are already inundated with details and information. An experienced lawyer will know how to guide you through the process.
Situations When You’ll Be Happy You Hired a Destin Car Accident Lawyer
If you’re fortunate, your case will be straightforward. The liable party and their insurance company will take responsibility, you will get paid for your damages, and everyone will go on with their lives. If that doesn’t happen, you’ll be happy you hired a lawyer. It’s wise to expect the unexpected.
The Other Driver Blames You
What do you do when the other driver says the accident is your fault when you think that it wasn’t? What if they make up things that never occurred? Your lawyer has the resources to thoroughly investigate what happened and determine who is truly liable.
What if the investigation shows that you were partially at fault for the accident? Your attorney will help you try and recover damages under Florida’ modified comparative negligence laws.
You’re Trying to Understand Florida’s Car Insurance Rules
All Florida drivers must buy Personal Injury Protection (PIP) car insurance. You can get coverage from your PIP insurer after the accident – regardless of who was at fault – but you have to go through a process to get it. That process will have its own deadlines and specific rules you need to comply with.
If your coverage doesn’t pay for all of your damages, you can try and pursue a claim with the at-fault driver’s liability insurance company. Your lawyer knows the drill and has seen all types of scenarios. Let them deal with it for you.
You Are Seriously Injured
A lawyer will know the questions to ask to ensure you get all the compensation you are entitled to for your injuries. Generally, the more serious the injuries, the more your case is worth.
Your lawyer will ask questions like:
- Did you see a doctor after the accident?
- How severe are the injuries, and will you make a full recovery?
- Did you take time off from work because of the injury?
- Are you the breadwinner of your family?
- Was the accident your fault?
- Were you wearing your seatbelt?
The lawyer will assess all of the information and help you determine a reasonable and fair amount that you should ask for in compensation.
You Need Help Calculating Damages
In Florida, you are entitled to compensation for economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are financial and include:
- Medical expenses, rehabilitation, and nursing care
- Lost wages
- Property damage
Future expenses related to your injuries are also part of the damages calculation. If necessary, a lawyer will hire professionals who are experts in determining those figures.
Non-economic damages are any pain and suffering you have endured because of the accident, including:
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of everyday activities
- Loss of society
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
Non-economic damages are harder to put a dollar amount on, but you should receive compensation for them. It could be argued that they are more important in many ways than economic damages.
You Need to Know Your Deadline to File a Lawsuit
If you’ve been in an accident, you can’t wait years and years to file a lawsuit in Florida. Generally, the statute of limitations for most personal injury lawsuits is two years. If you tragically lost a loved one in an accident, you’ll have two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
If you miss the deadline, you will lose any chance to get compensation for your damages. You don’t want to miss the statute of limitations. Your lawyer will make sure that you don’t.
The Accident Involves a Commercial Truck or Government Vehicle
If you were in an accident with a commercial truck or a government vehicle, the case’s complexity could go up a few notches. An attorney will help you determine the parties you can pursue for compensation beyond the drivers involved. If you were in an accident involving a truck, your PIP insurance will likely not cover all of your expenses.
Other liable parties could include:
- The truck owner or trucking company
- Property owner
- Whoever owns the cargo
- The company that loaded the cargo
- The relevant government entity
An experienced car accident lawyer will help you determine the parties to include in your claim or lawsuit.
If Injuries Appear After the Fact
After an accident, you might think you are all clear from injuries, but this could be a false sense of well-being. You could wake up later with a sore neck or back and bruised skin. Having a lawyer will help you move forward quickly on getting compensation sooner than later.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Destin Car Accident Lawyer To Discuss Your Collision
You’ve been in a car accident and aren’t sure if you should hire a lawyer. When in doubt, call a lawyer. Most firms offer a free consultation to help you sort out your options.
