There are 6 million car accidents on average in the United States every year, with 400,000 in the state of Florida alone. These motor vehicle accidents greatly vary in severity, from minor accidents such as fender benders resulting from getting rear-ended at low speeds to accidents involving severe physical injuries and property damages. With so many accidents occurring on roads and highways, hiring a personal injury attorney is a common dilemma.
Figuring out if and when to lawyer up after a motor vehicle accident can be tricky, especially considering how much is at stake. Dan Zohar is a leading Tampa car accident attorney with more than thirty years of experience. Today, he is sharing tips on what to do after a motor vehicle accident in Tampa.
What types of car accidents require a lawyer?
If you happen to be involved in a car accident that resulted in severe physical injuries or property damages, hiring a car accident attorney is an obvious choice. However, what about car accidents that cause moderate or minor injuries and damages? As a rule of thumb, whenever you are involved in a car accident, regardless of the severity, you should always consult a personal injury attorney in Tampa.
Even if you decide to file a personal injury claim on your own, you should consider consulting a personal injury attorney before settling with the at-fault party or accepting an offer from the insurance company. Knowing your rights and the exact extent of the damages and injuries is the only way to make sure you are not settling for an unfair amount.
Insurance companies are in the business of making money
The most obvious reason why everyone should consult a personal injury attorney is that the insurance companies are in the business of making money. They are usually represented by an experienced legal team that wants to get you to settle for the least amount of money possible.
Some insurance companies even use shady negotiation tactics such as stalling. For example, they might drag out the negotiation process knowing that the plaintiff needs the money as soon as possible to make up for the missed wages and cover the medical bills and living expenses. By doing this, they hope the plaintiff will accept any offer just to move on with their lives and regain their financial freedom.
Know your rights
If you decide to negotiate your settlement on your own, you might end up collecting far less than what you are genuinely entitled to. Medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages often manifest slowly, which means you will not be able to get the full picture right away and without professional help. A personal injury attorney can help you understand what it will take to make a full recovery and which long-term medical expenses you should take into consideration.
Schedule your free consultation today
Dan Zohar has spent more than thirty years negotiating for thousands of injury victims and ensuring they are fairly compensated. Call (800) 963-3311 toll-free today and schedule your free consultation or simply have your questions answered by a leading Tampa personal injury attorney.