When you have been seriously injured in an accident in Florida, you may wonder what steps to take next. One core question most accident victims ask is whether or not they need to hire a lawyer. The short answer is that you are not legally obligated to retain a personal injury attorney. However, when something as big as an accident happens, the last thing you want to do is deal with insurers. You just want to heal and go back to your life before the accident happened, putting the whole thing behind you.

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Unfortunately, it is not that simple. “Insurance companies also want everything to be over quickly. That means they will lowball you with a ridiculously low settlement and pressure you to accept it,” says personal injury attorney Mitchell Feldman of Feldman Legal Group. Keep reading to see if you can handle your personal injury case in Florida or need a lawyer.

Risks of Not Having Legal Representation

You are more likely to lose a significant amount of settlement money if you choose to handle your case yourself. Insurance companies do not mind taking advantage of accident victims, knowing that they are at their most vulnerable. Therefore, they will offer very low settlement amounts, hoping that you jump at the money and that they can quickly close the case. They often succeed because many victims think the initial settlement is huge and quite generous when they could get more. Furthermore, you may not know the full extent of your injuries when an insurance adjuster contacts you soon after the accident. Also, you may be unaware of the forms of compensation you are eligible to collect—such as medical bills and lost earnings.

Evaluating Initial Offers by Insurance Adjusters

Before you agree to any offer an insurance adjuster brings, you should have a lawyer review it first. We understand you want to put everything behind you, but the insurance adjuster might be taking advantage of you. Considering that they are not in the business of losing money, insurance companies will hardly make an offer in your best interests. Meanwhile, once you sign the agreement, you can never again file a lawsuit against them for a bigger settlement. If you later discover that the amount does not cover your medical bills, you cannot ask for more. The insurance company will not understand that circumstances have changed and new damages have occurred due to the injuries. Once you sign the letter, you invariably say you will not ask for financial compensation anymore once they pay. However, with a lawyer, you will get the maximum compensation amount for your injuries, taking into consideration present and future expenses.

The Ways in Which a Lawyer Can Help

Talking to a personal injury attorney helps ensure insurance companies do not cheat you, but it is more than that. They can also provide emotional support while you go through this difficult time, helping you to gather concrete evidence. A lawyer or legal team can conduct necessary investigations on your behalf, talk to the police and witnesses, and obtain expert opinions. They will do all this while you focus on getting medical treatment for your injuries and recovering.

What Happens If You Wait Too Long?

Florida gives you four years to file a personal injury lawsuit—but that doesn’t mean you should procrastinate and leave it for the last minute. Evidence doesn’t sit around forever. Witnesses forget things. Security footage gets erased. The longer you wait, the harder it is to prove what really happened. And if you miss that deadline? Your case is probably dead in the water. No judge, no payout. Even if your injuries are serious, courts don’t make exceptions just because you didn’t know the rule. That’s why acting quickly is so important. A good lawyer will get started right away so that no piece of evidence slips through the cracks.

Conclusion

Florida’s personal injury law is complex and challenging for someone not legally oriented. Apart from dealing with insufferable insurance companies and defendants unwilling to accept fault, knowing your claim’s value can be difficult. Retaining a Florida personal injury attorney is best for you and your family; they can protect your legal rights.