Do I Really Need to Hire a Lawyer After a Ruskin Car Accident?

Jim Curtis • August 15, 2024

Nobody expects to be in a car accident.  Every year, thousands of people are forced to deal with the consequences of a car accident and the devastating effects that it can have on one’s life. In addition to dealing with injuries and vehicle damage, many people also face mounting medical bills, lost wages, and other financial pressures. Worse yet is the stress of having to deal with multiple insurance companies that will inevitably begin calling before the dust from the accident even has a chance to settle. 


Despite these facts, there are many people who are tempted to try to handle their own car accident claim. This is especially true in the case of a “minor” accident. These people are under the mistaken belief that handling their own claim will somehow save them money. Unfortunately, most people who handle their own claims quickly learn otherwise.


There are many advantages to hiring a lawyer after a Ruskin, Florida car accident. Here are some of the key advantages to working with a lawyer after a car crash:


Key Advantages of Working with a Lawyer After a Car Accident


Investigate and Gather Evidence


After a car accident, one of the most important things that needs to be done first is to properly document the accident and preserve key evidence. In addition, if there is any dispute as to how the accident occurred, a thorough investigation must be conducted. This involves much more than just taking a few photographs at the scene. An experienced car accident lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation to help build you the strongest case possible. This will often involve:


  • Visiting and documenting the scene
  • Interviewing witnesses
  • Canvassing the area for surveillance footage
  • Reviewing traffic cameras if available
  • Examining vehicle damage
  • Obtaining and analyzing vehicle EDR data (Black Box data)
  • Analyzing skid marks
  • Hiring and consulting with an accident reconstructionist if necessary


Assist in Building Your Claim for Damages


When you’ve been injured in a car accident, it’s extremely important that you properly document all of your injuries and obtain the right medical treatment to effectively maximize your claim. It is not enough to just simply go to your primary care doctor or to some specialist right after your accident, and then expect the insurance company to pay you. While they may pay you, the amount that you will receive will be far less than when you properly document and build your claim for damages. A lawyer will ensure that you see the right medical providers and that your injuries will be properly documented for the insurance company to thoroughly assess your claim.


Accurately Valuing Your Claim


Fairly valuing a person’s injuries can often be difficult. This is especially true if the injuries are your own and you have no experience in assessing the value of the various types of injuries commonly seen with car accident claims. That’s why hiring an experienced injury lawyer is important for your claim. An experienced Ruskin injury lawyer will evaluate all of your damages to determine fair compensation, including:


  • Past medical expenses
  • Future medical expenses
  • Past lost wages
  • Loss of future earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering (Past and future)
  • Loss of enjoyment of life (Past and future)
  • Mental anguish/emotional distress
  • Property damage


Skilled Negotiation with the Insurance Company


Not every case settles before trial, but there is a time during which negotiations will take place on your claim. This is the time when the insurance company will try everything possible to minimize any potential payout to you. Insurance companies do this on a daily basis, which is why it’s even more important that you hire a lawyer that focuses solely on injury claims. An experienced injury lawyer will:

  • Present all compelling evidence to support your claim
  • Negotiate from a position of strength using legal and evidentiary arguments
  • Recognize and counter common tactics used to devalue claims
  • Credibly threaten litigation if necessary


Litigation Experience and Resources


Unfortunately, insurance companies don’t always pay fair compensation to settle claims. That’s when a lawsuit becomes necessary. Filing lawsuit and litigating your case can help force an insurance company to treat you fairly. However, litigation can often be complex and, in some cases, expensive. Hiring an injury lawyer with litigation experience can help put you on an even playing field with the insurance company. An experienced injury lawyer has:


  • Resources to cover litigation costs
  • Access to necessary experts
  • In-depth knowledge of the relevant laws and procedures
  • Experience presenting all relevant information persuasively in court


Avoiding Costly Mistakes


This is one of the most important advantages to hiring an injury lawyer to handle your case. The claims process can be confusing and there are many pitfalls for those unfamiliar with the process. Any mistake can prove costly to your case. An experienced Ruskin car accident lawyer can help you avoid the serious consequences associated with these mistakes.


Relieve Stress and Save Time


Handling a car accident claim can take a significant amount of time. When you’ve been injured in a car accident, the one thing you likely won’t have is time. Between going to various doctors while still trying maintain your normal life and schedule, adding the burden of fielding multiple phone calls from various insurance companies and the worry of doing the right thing to avoid hurting your claim can all be overwhelming. Hiring a lawyer allows you to focus on your physical and emotional recovery without any of this added stress.


Higher Settlements


Most importantly, hiring an experienced injury lawyer can increase the value of your claim. In fact, according to the insurance industry’s own research, people who hire an injury lawyer after a car accident recover, on average, three times more than those who don’t.

 

Call Jim The Lawyer, Accident and Injury Attorney, After a Ruskin, Florida Car Accident


If you’ve been injured in a Ruskin, Florida car accident, Jim The Lawyer is here to help you fight to get the maximum compensation you deserve for your injury. If you’ve been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, contact Jim The Lawyer, Accident and Injury Attorney, at
(813)937-9907 for a FREE Consultation and Case Evaluation.

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Do I Have to Call the Police After a Car Accident in Florida? There is nothing more inconvenient than being in a car accident. That’s why many people don’t even wait around to call the Police after one occurs. But is this legal? The answer depends on the circumstances of the crash, but understanding the legal requirements and practical implications can help you make an informed decision in an otherwise stressful situation. Florida’s Legal Requirements for Reporting Car Accidents Florida law requires you to file a police report if your crash meets any of the following criteria: · If there is any injury or fatalities · When there is property damage exceeding $500 · Hit-and-Run situations · If there is suspicion of impaired driving · The accident involved a commercial vehicle · A vehicle needs to be towed from the scene Failure to report your accident in such a case could potentially result in criminal penalties. However, although the law requires a report of the crash if any of these criteria are met, the law does allow drivers up to 10 days to file a crash report with local authorities if they did not call the police at the scene. This obviously would not apply in the case of injury or fatality, or if a driver is impaired. These should be reported immediately. Regardless of the situation, it is always best practice to call the Police after a car accident. Why You Should Call the Police Even When You’re Not Legally Required to Do So There are number of reasons why you should still call the Police after a car accident even if you don’t meet any of the criteria that would legally require you to do so. The reasons include: There is Less Chance for Conflicting Stories When information is gathered quickly at the scene of an accident by the Police, it can then be preserved and there is less chance that it can be misconstrued in the future. 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In such a case, without a Police report documenting your complaints, the insurance company may question whether you were even hurt in the accident, especially if it took 4-5 days for you to get in to see a doctor. When You Might Choose Not to Call the Police Although it is always best to call the Police after a Florida car accident, there are times where it may not be imperative that you do so. One such situation would be in the case of a minor accident with no injuries. If the crash is minor and all vehicles are driveable, and nobody is complaining of any injury, waiting around for the Police to show up and take down your information may not be necessary – as long as you still take steps to properly document your accident. Those steps should include: · Exchanging Information: Take a photo of the other driver’s license and make sure to get insurance information. · Take Photographs: If you are not going to call the Police after your accident, it is even more important that you document the crash by photographs. Be sure to take photos of the scene of the accident, and of the damage to all of the vehicles involved in the crash. · Witness Statements: If there are witnesses to your accident, ask for their names and phone numbers so you can get a statement from them later, if necessary. From here, contact a lawyer if you have any questions about filing an insurance claim, or if you begin to feel pain and believe that you may have been injured. Challenges in Pursuing an Insurance Claim Without a Police An insurance company will question everything after an accident. This is especially true if there is no Police Report. Without a Police Report, there is a good chance that liability may be disputed, as there is likely to be conflicting stories from each driver. The Police will investigate the crash and determine who they believe caused the accident. This can help if there are conflicting versions of what happened. Another challenge is in proving that your injury is related to the accident, and not to something else. Without a Police report documenting your complaints, the insurance company may dispute your injuries and their relation to the crash. This is especially true if you don’t seek treatment right away. Call Florida Car Accident Attorney, Jim The Lawyer, for Legal Help Hiring an experienced car accident lawyer can make all the difference in the outcome of your Florida car accident case. If you’ve been injured in a Florida car accident, Jim The Lawyer is here to help you fight to get the maximum compensation you deserve for your injury.  Contact Jim The Lawyer, Accident and Injury Attorney, at (813)937-9907 for a FREE Consultation and Case Evaluation.
By Jim Curtis April 1, 2025
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Here are the top four things you should do after a Riverview, Florida car accident: 1. Prioritize Safety The first thing you should after an accident is to make sure that everyone in your vehicle is safe. If your vehicle is in a place of danger, move it to safety to avoid a secondary collision if possible. Then be sure turn on your hazard lights to ensure that your vehicle is visible to oncoming motorists. 2. Call 911 Calling the Police after a Riverview, Florida car accident is important for several reasons. First, the Police will document the crash and all parties involved, and conduct their investigation as to who is at fault for the crash. Second, the crash report that the Police will prepare documenting your crash will be your first opportunity to document any physical complaints you may have while you are still at the scene of the crash. 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If you’ve been injured in a Riverview, Florida car accident, Jim The Lawyer is here to help you fight to get the maximum compensation you deserve for your injury. Contact Jim The Lawyer, Accident and Injury Attorney, at (813)937-9907 for a FREE Consultation and Case Evaluation.