Table of Contents
Many car accident victims end up with very little compensation for their damages because they handle the claim on their own. They believe that they don’t need and can’t afford to hire a Hollywood car accident attorney just to file a PIP claim against their insurance.
In reality, hiring a lawyer is not a financial burden to anyone and will result in a significantly larger settlement amount. Here are the reasons for it.
Car Accident Lawyers Work on a Contingency Fee Basis
First of all, you do not have to worry about paying advance fees for legal services. Most personal injury lawyers, including those specializing in car crashes, work on a contingency fee basis.
This means that the lawyer gets their fee only after winning your claim, as a percentage out of the settlement amount. This percentage varies between 33% and 45%. Yet, the amount the accident victim gets to keep is still larger than what they could have obtained on their own.
Your Insurance Company Will Not Be Sympathetic to Your Plight
Just because you are filing a PIP claim with your insurer does not mean that they will treat you fairly. They care about their profits more than they care about doing what is right. You will still be faced with an insurance adjuster who will try to deny or reduce the value of your claim.
Without an attorney, you will be defenseless against the adjuster’s tactics which range from trying to get you to accept a lowball offer to tricking you into admitting fault in order to deny your claim.
You Can Also Get Compensation from the Other Driver’s Insurer
The comparative negligence rule adopted in 2023 allows anyone who is less than 50% at fault for their accident to file a claim or sue the other driver for economic and non-economic damages. Many drivers still do not know about this chance.
And those that do are not sure what to do and what kind of paperwork to file in order to open a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance policy. Since your PIP coverage does not pay more than $10,000 for medical care and lost wages, this new possibility allows you to recover all your eligible damages.
Contact an experienced Hollywood car accident lawyer to start this process and walk away with a fair settlement.
You Must Prove the Other Driver’s Fault in Order to Get Compensation
Filing a claim under the comparative negligence principle places the burden of proof on your shoulders. As a plaintiff, you have to show that the other driver caused the accident through their negligence. Also, you have to prove that the accident caused your injuries and economic damages.
Lawyers know how to find and use evidence to prove every item in your claim. They also know how to negotiate with insurers and dismiss their arguments that you were just as much at fault as their client, or even more.
The Statute of Limitations Is Now Shorter
Another big change in Florida laws for car accident cases refers to the period of time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit. From 4 years after the date of the accident it was shortened to 2 years.
This may appear as a sufficient period of time, until you consider the following:
- You may need months to recover
- Your lawyer will need weeks or months to track down evidence and eyewitnesses
- Insurance companies try to stall the claim process and won’t contact you for months
Little by little, time flies and you get hit with a lowball offer or claim denial just when it is too late to file a lawsuit.
A lawyer will not allow this scenario to happen. They will speed up negotiations when the insurer tries delay tactics and even threatens with filing a lawsuit.
Schedule a Free Case Review with a Hollywood Car Accident Attorney!
Damages after a car accident can range between a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on the severity of your injuries. However, insurance companies are not willing to pay a cent, if they can get away with it.
To avoid being left in debt by a car crash which was not your fault, contact a skilled Hollywood car accident attorney at the Klotzman Law Firm as soon as possible. We will analyze your evidence, tell you how much your case is worth and represent you on a contingency fee basis.
As a new client, you also benefit from a free case evaluation, so call us today at 954-787-1583!
Written By Scott Klotzman
Scott is passionate about holding insurance companies accountable. As the Founder of Klotzman Law Firm, he fulfills his dream of helping people and making a difference. After earning his undergraduate degree, Scott worked at a top NYC law firm before attending Quinnipiac University School of Law, where he earned his degree and met his wife, Nancy.
Recent Resource Articles
Fighting for Miami & South Florida
Don’t Settle for Less
