Why you need a Car Accident Lawyer Jacksonville FL?

The consequences of a car crash can be quite serious - especially on your financial situation.

Not only are you stuck with expensive medical bills, but your earning power might get severely hindered as you’re unable to return to work due to your injuries.

You’re a victim and you shouldn’t have to pay for someone else's negligence. This is why you should hire an accident lawyer Jacksonville FL who will fight for your rights and help you receive appropriate compensation.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Why Car Accidents Happen

Determining the cause behind the car crash is your attorney’s main goal as this usually helps identify all potentially liable parties. 

Unfortunately, an accident lawyer Jacksonville FL witnesses a lot of car crashes caused by distracted driving, with smartphones being the usual reason why drivers weren’t paying attention to the road.

Driving intoxicated is also a common occurrence, as is driving sleepy, which presents a similar impediment to driving as low-level intoxication.

Laws and driving rules were created to keep everyone safe, so failure to follow them usually results in accidents. This applies to driving over the speeding limit and even tailgating, with both being the root cause of many road collisions.

Additionally, you can also argue that a driver’s lack of experience caused the accident. 

There are also cases where the other driver is not directly responsible. For instance, the road might have had problems such as potholes. The weather conditions might have also made regular maneuvering impossible. 

Lastly, the vehicle might have had manufacturing or a design defect. 

Best things to do after an accident

Getting in an accident is an overwhelmingly stressful experience so many people make a lot of mistakes. While a car accident lawyer Jacksonville FL can help you defend your rights, you can do a lot of things yourself to strengthen your case, such as:

1. Keeping a post-accident journal

By keeping a journal of your ordeal and pain following an accident, you can ensure you don’t forget any relevant details. This is important because it’s not that hard to lose track of time after experiencing something as traumatic as a car accident. A post-accident journal helps you recall your recovery process in detail.

2. Keeping evidence from the accident

You should keep evidence from the accident safely tucked away. This includes videos and photos from your phone, police reports, witness reports, and license plate numbers. 

3. Keeping information away from social media

People use social media to post about every detail of their life, no matter how insignificant it might be. However, you should avoid doing so about your accident, no matter how badly you want to update your followers about your status. Anything you post can be used against you by the insurance company or some other party, so it’s best to keep quiet.

4. Hiring a lawyer

A car accident lawyer Jacksonville FL, can guide you through the entire process and help you receive the compensation you deserve.

How a lawyer can help you

One of the biggest concerns for a lot of people involved in accidents is handling insurance companies. Unfortunately, these companies are concerned only with making more money - usually by trying to minimize your payments. 

They might put on a friendly face, show some fake sympathy, and try to coax you into accepting the lowest settlement. Many people fall for this trick out of desperation and accept anything that the insurance company offers. 

Even if the insurance company denies a valid claim, many simply give up and go with whatever the company decides.

Nonetheless, you do have rights and a car accident lawyer Jacksonville FL can help you figure out the necessary steps you need to take. More importantly, by hiring legal counsel, you don’t need to even communicate with the insurance company as your lawyer can do that for you. 

Your legal representative can handle all communications, including emails and phone calls, with the insurance company and the other party involved in the accident. 

Do note that your car accident lawyer Jacksonville FL is not just your representative. They also handle different facets of your case, such as gathering and preserving the evidence. If needed, a lawyer can also perform an accident reconstruction analysis.

Demonstrating the full extent of damages caused by accidents is an arduous task that lawyers can easily do with the help of vocational experts. Thus, they can document everything from medical costs, property damage, and loss of work, to anticipated future losses. 

Finally, if all else fails, a car accident lawyer Jacksonville FL can even take your case to court. 

What compensation are you entitled to?

First and foremost - every case is different. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident and the injuries that resulted from it, the compensation can be quite different between two people. A car accident lawyer Jacksonville FL can help you figure out exactly what types of compensation you can receive in your injury case, such as:

1. Compensation for medical expenses: applies to injuries from the accident and any future medical expenses.

2. Compensation for lost wages: includes coverage for any reduction in future earning capacity.

3. Compensation for pain and suffering

Do you need to file a lawsuit right away?

Luckily, the law is pretty favorable when it comes to time limits for filing car accident lawsuits. In most states, the law gives you three years from the date of the accident to file a claim.

If your loved one was killed in a traffic accident, the surviving family members are eligible to receive wrongful death compensation. The time limit here is two years from the date that the person died.

However, some exceptions and circumstances might affect the time limit for filing your lawsuit. This is why you should contact a car accident lawyer Jacksonville FL as soon as possible to see if there are any additional time limits you should be aware of.

A lawyer can help you rebuild your life

Getting in a traffic accident can wreak havoc on your life financially and mentally. On top of fighting your best to recover, you have to communicate with insurance companies that aren’t looking out for your best interests.

By hiring a car accident lawyer Jacksonville FL , you’ll have someone fighting alongside you for the damages that far outweigh the lowball offers from the insurance. They’ll also perform a comprehensive investigation of your accident and pursue the issue in court if needed.

If you’ve got any questions, the Law Offices of RITE law can help you get peace of mind following a car accident. Contact us today for a free case evaluation!