There are various reasons you may be injured in Miami, Florida. You could be harmed in a car accident. After all, you can’t prevent others from being careless behind the wheel.
Or, perhaps you’re at the grocery store, and an employee failed to put up a sign indicating a section of the floor was wet. In this case, you may be injured in a slip and fall accident. You may even be injured by a negligent doctor due to medical malpractice.
Those are just a few examples. Hopefully, you will never be injured in a way that significantly impacts your life.
Still, you should be familiar with your legal options in case you ever sustain an injury that leaves you facing financial struggles like costly medical treatment and lost wages.
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When Do You File An Injury Claim?
In many cases, you can seek compensation for your losses by filing a claim to collect from an insurance company. Your main option will often be to pursue compensation from the insurer of the negligent party who caused your accident.
That said, there are exceptions. Florida is currently a no-fault state for auto insurance and car accidents. That means your own insurer is responsible for compensating you after a car crash, even if someone else caused it. Florida’s workers’ compensation laws are also no fault.
You will file a claim with your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company after an accident, even if you are responsible for your injuries.
It’s important to understand that insurance companies are still profit-driven businesses. The goal of any business is to make money, not lose it.
That’s why many insurance companies have been known to avoid paying claimants instead of compensating them. If you’re submitting an insurance claim, you can increase your chances of securing compensation by reviewing your case with an attorney.
Is it Always Necessary to Hire a Lawyer When Submitting an Insurance Claim?
There are some instances when you may not need legal representation if you’re filing an insurance claim. However, it’s virtually always a wise idea to at least schedule a free consultation with a lawyer before beginning the claims process.
Insurance companies often go to great lengths to limit how much money they pay to claimants. It’s not uncommon for insurance companies to try to find reasons to deny them entirely. If an insurer can’t justify rejecting a claim, the adjuster may still make an unreasonably low settlement offer.
These are the key reasons you should strongly consider hiring a lawyer for your personal injury claim. Benefits of hiring an attorney include the following:
Decreasing Your Burden
The claims process can be tedious. It typically involves numerous tasks, including:
- Gathering documentation of your losses
- Writing and submitting a demand letter
- Corresponding with adjusters
- Often, providing evidence showing your accident was the result of another party’s negligence
- Negotiating for a fair settlement if the insurance company is unwilling to pay what you’re asking for
You need to focus on your recovery after being injured. This can be difficult when you are spending time fighting for compensation.
You don’t have to handle these tasks yourself. Your attorney can do so on your behalf. This will make your life easier during what may otherwise be a stressful experience.
Investigating the Accident
You typically need evidence to indicate why you deserve to be compensated for your claim. Gathering such evidence may require a thorough investigation into the accident.
This is another time-consuming task that can interfere with your recovery. Perhaps more importantly, it’s a task for which you may not be prepared. Conducting a proper investigation often requires extensive skills and resources.
A law firm will have access to such resources. A firm’s lawyers will also have the experience needed to conduct a thorough investigation. They’ll help you gather the evidence you need to prove to an insurance company that you should be compensated.
They’ll also help you account for your losses when writing a demand letter. Along with your medical bills, you may be eligible for compensation for lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
Negotiating With the Insurance Company
This is one of the most significant benefits of hiring an attorney when filing a claim. Their assistance will improve your chances of arriving at a fair settlement or being awarded damages in court.
First, an attorney will handle all correspondence with the insurance adjuster. This will ensure you don’t say something to the adjuster that they can use to offer you less compensation.
More importantly, personal injury attorneys understand how insurance companies attempt to defend themselves financially. They are prepared to negotiate for a fair settlement and to guard against the range of tactics an insurer might employ to avoid paying you.
Hiring an Attorney Does Not Involve Any Financial Risk
Some people assume they should not hire a lawyer when filing a personal injury insurance claim. They believe doing so may be too costly. They’re likely already facing financial struggles in the form of medical bills and lost wages, so they do not want to add to those struggles.
However, the initial consultation with a lawyer will be free. More importantly, most personal injury lawyers utilize contingency fee agreements. This type of agreement protects clients.
When you enter into a contingency fee agreement, your lawyer will not charge any fees unless they recover compensation for you first. If you don’t receive compensation, you don’t have to pay your lawyer a dime.
It’s also worth noting that your lawyer’s fee will be a percentage of the compensation they recover for you. This incentivizes them to pursue as much compensation as they can possibly recover.