Car accidents are a common occurrence. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 36,560 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2018.

Given the frequency of car accidents, you may think they are commonplace enough that you do not need to work with a personal injury attorney in the wake of one.

We discuss why this could not be further from the truth.

How the Right Personal Injury Attorney Can Help You

Car accidents aren’t just settled by exchanging insurance information and continuing on your merry way. Quite the opposite.

Insurance companies are notorious for denying legitimate claims and leaving motorists on the hook for expenses they shouldn’t have to pay.

Even though we pay our insurance companies a monthly or bi-annual fee to cover us in the event of an accident, they will look for any excuse (no matter how bogus) to deny our claims and protect their bottom line.

This is one of the reasons why it’s vital for you to work with a personal injury attorney who has the experience and resources needed to take on large insurance companies. In addition to that, a qualified attorney can help you by:

Launching an Investigation and Gathering Evidence

Many personal injury attorneys are in contact with experts in the investigative and law enforcement fields who can recreate an accident, piece together precisely what happened, and prove the other party’s liability.

Knowing Your State’s Laws

Many laws, including those focusing on car accidents and car insurance, vary from state to state. An experienced personal injury attorney will know the ins and outs of your state’s unique laws and be able to work within those laws to help you through the process as seamlessly as possible.

Negotiating with Insurance Companies

While some people may be accustomed to negotiating for a better price on a used car, virtually no one is suited to handle negotiations with a large insurance company.

For attorneys, however, it’s part of their job description.

Seasoned attorneys are used to negotiating with insurance companies on their clients’ behalf and ensuring their clients do not do or say anything to jeopardize their claim.

Representing You in Trial

If the liable party in your car accident does not offer you a fair settlement (or any settlement at all), you may decide to file a lawsuit and take your case to trial.

In this instance, it’s absolutely vital that you have an experienced attorney who can represent your best interests in the courtroom.

Operating on Contingency Fees

Many people may be deterred from even contacting an attorney because they believe they cannot afford to work with one. Many personal injury attorneys, however, including those at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, operate on a contingency fee basis.

This means you do not pay the attorneys any money unless they succeed in your case and win you a settlement.

How Much is My Car Accident Claim Worth?

One of the main concerns that car accident claimants have is how much their claim will be worth.

The simple answer, unfortunately, is that there is no simple answer.

A car accident claim’s value depends on several factors, including the following:

Both Parties’ Insurance Coverage

Most states have “at-fault” insurance laws, which means the liable driver (and their insurance company) will pay for the damages caused to the other party. Typically, this is only up to the driver’s policy limits. At that point, the driver becomes responsible for footing the rest of the bill (with funds they may not have).

Florida, on the other hand, is a “no-fault” insurance state, which means that your own car insurance company will pay for damages you sustained in an accident. So, the amount of coverage you have may determine how much compensation you recover from your insurer.

The Strength of Your Case

A strong case depends on strong evidence. As such, the more evidence you and your attorney can gather, the better chance you have of recovering maximum possible compensation.

There are several measures you can take immediately after an accident to protect evidence at the scene and save them for your attorney, including:

  • Gathering contact, insurance, and vehicle information from the other driver.
  • Gathering contact information from any witnesses at the scene.
  • Taking photos of any property damage and physical injuries.
  • Seeing if there are any traffic or security cameras nearby whose footage may be used down the line.
  • Seeking medical treatment and retain all records.
  • Obtaining a copy of the police report.

Contact the Clearwater Car Accident Law Firm of Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today

For more information, please contact the legal team of Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for a free initial consultation with a car accident lawyer in Clearwater. We have four convenient locations in Florida: Clearwater, New Port Richey, and Tampa.

We serve throughout Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, Pasco County, and its surrounding areas:

Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Clearwater Office
1811 N. Belcher Road, Suite I-1
Clearwater, FL 33765
(727) 787-2500

Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Congress Ave Office
2360 Congress Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33763
(727) 591-5610

Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Tampa Office
6601 Memorial Hwy Suite 202
Tampa, FL 33615
(813) 686-7588

Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – New Port Richey Office
2515 Seven Springs Blvd.
New Port Richey, FL, 34655
(727) 815-8442