When you get injured in a car accident in Central Florida, choosing the right law firm can make a difference in your case. An attorney can help you fight for fair compensation and provide you with the effective legal representation you need.
Our experienced team of Central Florida car accident lawyers is ready to help cover your auto accident losses. We’re ready to fight to get maximum compensation, even if it means going to court.
How Long You May Have to File a Personal Injury Claim
You’ll have limited time to file an injury claim when you get into a car accident in Central Florida. According to Florida Statutes § 95.11, Florida’s personal injury statute of limitations limits car accident lawsuits to two years. Your case will likely be easier to navigate if you file sooner than later.
Eyewitnesses can leave the area, or their memories can fade. Evidence can disappear as well. It is best to handle your claim quickly while the details are fresh.
Our lawyers can help you file your personal injury claim and tell you exactly when to file. Some car crashes can take longer to develop a case which may give you more time to file. You can speak with an attorney to determine if your accident qualifies for an extension.
Ask Dave to Find Out How Much Your Claim Is Worth
Many commercials tout how much a victim can get for a car accident, but the answer is always the same. Your claim is worth the amount you lost. However, there are a few other factors that can contribute to your settlement amount:
Severity of Injuries
If you suffer severe, long-term injuries, your claim and the potential settlement amount will be higher than the average settlement amount. Severe, long-term injuries require more time and medical care, which can be expensive.
The amount of your settlement needs to cover the long-term medical care that you may need, which ultimately means you’ll be able to recover multiple damages.
Number of Parties at Fault
Another factor affecting your claim’s value is how many people are responsible for your injuries. If multiple parties ignored the duty of care or didn’t provide reasonable care to you, you may be able to collect compensation from each party involved.
Collecting compensation from every at-fault party will greatly increase your settlement amount.
Amount of Damages
The last factor determining your claim’s value is the amount of the damages you recover. This factor is the most obvious because the more damages you recover, the higher your settlement will likely be.
There are different types of recoverable damages, but you must demonstrate your losses to collect compensation. Your Central Florida car accident lawyer can evaluate all your damages, determine their value, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
What Are the Two Types of Recoverable Damages?
You can collect economic and non-economic damages on your Florida car accident claim. While it is possible to collect punitive damages, these types of damages are awarded by the court or jury in the case of criminal or intentional acts.
Economic damages are losses you have suffered, which have caused financial difficulty. Non-economic damages are the types of losses for which there is no receipt but rather long-term effects of your injuries.
Recoverable Damages After a Car Accident
You could be entitled to damages after you get injured in an automobile accident. Some of the most common damages that a personal injury lawyer can help you recover are:
Economic Damages
Economic damages include items that have a dollar amount, for example:
- Property damage
- Car rental expenses
- Diminished earning capacity
- Medical expenses
- Loss of earnings
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are damages that cannot be quantified in dollars and cents. They include:
- Mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of limb
- Disfigurement
- Disability
- Loss of enjoyment
Depending on the details of your car accident, you may be able to recover multiple compensatory damages or just a few. In a free initial consultation, a Central Florida car accident attorney can give you an idea of what damages you may be able to recover.
How a Law Firm Can Benefit Victims of Car Accidents
A law firm benefits car accident victims in multiple ways. The first and most significant benefit for victims is stress relief. Stress relief is priceless when you are dealing with pain from injuries and added worries about finances.
Attorneys do far more than what is seen on television. Lawyers develop the case, determine its value, then attempt to negotiate a significant settlement on your behalf.
The most important work on your claim will be done by your attorney long before ever seeing a courtroom. However, your case may need to go to court if it means securing compensation for damages suffered following your automobile accident.
Tasks a Law Firm Might Handle
When you need to hold someone accountable for their negligent actions, our team of lawyers is ready. Our legal team can help you with tasks such as:
- Interviewing eyewitnesses
- Collecting evidence, such as the police report
- Accident recreation
- Determining liable parties
- Filing claims
- Fighting for your rights in court
- Filing any appeals
Many other tasks go into a car accident case, so this is not an exhaustive list. When you meet with a car accident attorney in Central Florida for a consultation, we can tell you more about what our legal team can do for you.
What Steps Should I Take After an Accident?
If you were in an accident, there are several steps you can take to help your claim. This list can help you understand the basic steps after a collision. You are likely already on your way to recovery, so keep these steps in mind if you are ever in an accident again:
- Stay at the scene
- Check for injuries
- Call the police
- Check other involved vehicles for other injured parties
- Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver
- Collect evidence by taking photos
- Look for eyewitnesses and ask for their best contact information
- Get checked for injuries even if you think you have none
- Call your own insurance company and report the accident
- Connect with a Central Florida car accident lawyer
How Can an Injured Victim Afford an Attorney?
Accident victims often worry about the added expense of hiring an attorney. It is understandable when faced with mounting bills and possibly lost income.
Attorneys usually take claims on contingency. Offering to take cases on contingency allows the justice system to be accessible to everyone.
What Does Contingency Mean?
Justice should not be only for those who can afford it. Many lawyers state they take cases on contingency.
Contingency is primarily a payment arrangement between you and the law firm. You don’t have to pay upfront or on an hourly basis.
The law firm will accept responsibility for your claim in exchange for a percentage of the settlement. If you don’t win, you don’t pay. If you settle, you can cover the legal expenses at that time.
Complimentary Review
Our office offers our clients a complimentary review. Your first appointment is at no charge. Our legal professionals can examine your claim and help you understand its value. We can go over our fees and give you a better comprehension of the legal process.
You can also review past case results to see our successes in similar cases.
What to Know About Insurance Companies
One of the many things you must do after an accident is to meet with the insurance company. However, you should know that insurance claim adjusters are skilled at delaying tactics and offering unfair settlements.
But there’s no need to worry; our firm’s experienced car accident lawyer can guide you through the process.
When the insurance claims adjuster tries to question the details of your accident injuries or offers you a less-than-favorable settlement, we’ll show them the evidence that qualifies you for a higher settlement amount.
If the adjuster insists on depriving you of a settlement that matches your pain, we’ll be ready to file a lawsuit and take your case to court.
If by chance, the adjuster offers you a favorable settlement, you should know that once you accept an offer, the insurance company is off the hook. After this point, you will no longer be able to negotiate for a better settlement.
Call Dave If You Need Help Managing Your Central Florida Accident Claim
If you are in Central Florida and were badly injured in a collision with another vehicle, our team at Dismuke Law is here to help. Our attorneys and staff understand the stress of what an accident can bring. Our primary job is to relieve your stress and get you the most compensation possible.
Feel free to ask Dave to schedule a free case consultation via our contact form. Call Dave today!