After you get into a car accident, it’s normal to be unsure of what to do next. Your car may need repairs and you may need medical attention for your injuries. If you don’t have medical insurance, you’re probably worried about how you’re going to handle the financial burden. It’s important to immediately contact an attorney who has extensive experience handling these types of cases.
It’s not in your best interest to handle your car accident yourself with the insurance company. It’s best to hire a lawyer who handles Tampa car accident cases. Your lawyer should have experience with car accident so that you can ensure the best outcome for your case.
Jack Bernstein has over 36 years of experience as a car accident lawyer in Tampa, FL and can help you through this very difficult time. The insurance companies know that the average person does not understand the complex laws and rules that affect a car accident case in Tampa, FL.
Car accident attorneys know the in’s and out’s of the whole process. These include filing processes, common causes, rules, and regulations for your location. Your case manager and attorney will help you get your vehicle repaired, or get a pay-off if the car was totaled.
Your lawyer will also ensure that you get the medical treatment you need to treat short- and long-term injuries, including compensation for emergency room visits and ongoing care by physicians, massage therapists and other medical professionals.
Paralegals will help you fill out and file the necessary forms. Those forms will also be read and reviewed by a lawyer who is familiar with car accident forms, including property damage release documents. It’s necessary to use the correct release for property damage, rental charges, storage charges and any other charges related to the car accident. If these forms aren’t properly filled out and filed, you could accidentally sign away your right to get additional money for the property damage if it’s discovered after the initial repair.
It’s also possible that you won’t be able to receive damages for any injuries that are related to the accident and discovered later on. Sometimes, an insurance adjuster will send a general release with the property damage check, which can prevent you from getting damages for repairs and injuries.
Insurance companies put together a team of people who have the goal of working on a case against theirs. The main focus of this team is to put together a lawsuit that serves their best interests and minimizes the damages you can collect. If the insurance company does not come up with a fair settlement, your lawyer can continue to negotiate or they can file a lawsuit. If you don’t have an attorney on your side that understands car accident cases, it’s possible that the insurance company will try to take advantage of you.
Your car insurance company will have a licensed insurance representative who will handle your claim. The goal of the insurance representative is to protect the insurance company, not you. Unfortunately, this means that they won’t always prioritize your best interests. Their employer’s interests – that of the insurance company – will be their main concern.
Your insurance company will need to pay what the law requires they pay, but they won’t pay any more than that.
Remember that insurance companies are businesses that need to make a profit. Their main concern is maximizing their profit and not putting out any more money than is absolutely necessary. Insurance companies are never generous when it comes to compensating car accident victims. They won’t hurry to have your car fixed and they’re not concerned about the extent of the medical care you receive. They want to pay as little as possible.
There are a lot of drawbacks to handling your car accident case yourself. An experienced personal injury attorney would recommend that you not rush into a settlement after a car accident. If you’re experiencing pain, you should visit a doctor who is experienced with working on car accident victims and trauma injuries.
Before settling your case, you should get any medical help that is necessary, like physical therapy, chiropractic care and massage therapy. It’s best to follow your doctor’s orders and get any additional medical attention that could help with your pain and injuries. It’s not uncommon for injuries to get worse instead of better as time passes. If you visit a doctor or chiropractor who is experienced with car accident and trauma victims, it’s possible that they’ll have you undergo a CAT scan or MRI to see any structural damage that resulted from the accident, like a herniated disk. It’s possible that you’ll need epidural injections and surgery to alleviate the pain. There are also some injuries that can develop slowly, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. You don’t want to settle your case until you know the full extent of your injuries.
If you don’t have medical insurance, your doctor will likely want you to pay in full with either cash or a credit card when you receive medical treatment. This can cost a lot of money and the financial burden is worsened if you’re not able to work due to your injuries. If you have a lawyer, it’s more likely that your doctor or chiropractor will wait to be paid in full. A lien letter allows the medical practitioner to be paid out of the settlement money. Additionally, some MRI companies, pharmacies, orthopedic doctors and medical offices will provide medical help and not require that you pay the full amount upfront; many will be fine with waiting for payment until your case is settled.
It’s important to work with an experienced lawyer – they will sign a letter of protection, which tells the medical practitioner that the law office will pay the medical bills once the settlement is received. If you’re not represented by a lawyer, the doctor may not be so willing to wait for payment because there’s no guarantee that you’ll actually pay. If you don’t have medical insurance and you want to receive medical care following a car accident, it’s best to have a lawyer working on your behalf so that you’re not required to pay the full amount for medical care upfront.
Following a car accident, an insurance claims team will meet to discuss how they will pay for your accident, including your injuries and car repairs. Your attorney will be able to represent you in these meetings and negotiate a fair settlement. Without a lawyer, it would be extremely difficult for you to get the settlement you deserve.
In personal injury cases, victims are compensated by being awarded money for certain damages. These damages may include:
Just like medical professionals, loan companies are less likely to let you borrow money if you don’t have a lawyer working on the case. Funding companies are more likely to grant a loan to a person who’s been in a car accident if the lawyer signs the agreement to pay back the loan with the settlement money. If you have a lot of expenses related to the car accident and you’re not able to work due to your injuries, you may need a loan to help you get through this difficult time.
Additionally, there are some car rental companies that will let a person who has been in a car accident rent the car and pay out of the settlement money. However, they’re only able to let you pay later if your lawyer makes a promise to pay.
For over 36 years, Jack Bernstein, Injury Attorneys have represented car accident victims and worked diligently to award their clients a fair settlement to pay for repairs, medical bills and any other damages as a result from their car accident. Jack personally gets involved in negotiations and settlements – a good lawyer will be part of the team instead of just instructing the team on what to do.
If having an experienced car accident lawyer on your side is important to you, call (813) 333-6666 today for a free evaluation of your case. There is no fee unless we win.