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If you were recently injured in an auto accident in Florida, one of the most important decisions you need to make is whether to hire an attorney to represent you. While you are not required to hire an attorney, you have the option to do so—and hiring an experienced Fort Myers car accident attorney with Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. costs nothing out-of-pocket in this scenario.

So, how important is legal representation after an auto accident in Florida?

7 Reasons Why Florida Auto Accident Victims Need Experienced Legal Representation

The short answer is that legal representation is very important for auto accident victims in Florida. This is especially true for those who have suffered significant or permanent injuries. If you were severely injured in a collision, here are seven important reasons to put an experienced attorney from Spivey Law Firm on your side:

1. You Need to Preserve Evidence of Liability

To recover just compensation for your auto accident, you will need to prove who (or what company) is legally responsible for your injuries. This means that you need evidence of liability. Evidence of liability can take many forms and be available from many sources.

Once you hire an attorney to represent you, your attorney will work quickly to preserve the evidence you need. Without proper preservation, this evidence could disappear before you have a chance to take legal action.

2. You Need to Know What Claim (or Claims) to File

Should you file a claim with the other driver’s insurance company? Should you file a claim with your insurance company? Is the other driver’s employer or rideshare company legally responsible for your injuries? Is some other company legally responsible?

The answers to these questions are critical, and they depend on the specific circumstances of your case. After investigating your auto accident, your attorney at Spivey Law Firm will be able to determine what claim (or claims) you need to file in order to seek the financial compensation you deserve.

3. You Need to Thoroughly Document Your Losses

Speaking of the financial compensation you deserve, it is also essential to thoroughly document your accident-related losses. This involves much more than just collecting your medical bills and receipts. When you have an auto accident claim in Florida, documenting your losses also involves:

• Documenting the costs of your long-term medical needs
• Documenting your lost income, benefits, and future earning capacity
• Documenting any other financial losses you are entitled to recover
• Documenting your physical pain and suffering
• Documenting your emotional trauma, loss of enjoyment of life, and other non-financial losses

Your attorney at Spivey Law Firm will be able to assist with gathering all of the documentation you need, which may involve working with medical specialists, financial analysts, and various other experts. This is a critical step in the process—if you cannot prove your losses, you will not be able to file a successful claim.

4. You Need to Accurately Calculate Your Damages

Along with proving your losses, filing a successful claim also requires you to have a clear understanding of the amount you are entitled to recover. Calculating the financial and non-financial damages resulting from an auto accident is a multi-step process that requires an in-depth understanding of the relevant legal and financial principles.

Do you know how much money you will need to cover your future medical expenses? Do you know what constitutes “just” compensation for your pain and suffering? If your answer to these questions is “No,” you are not prepared to file a claim. The insurance companies know that most accident victims do not know how much they are entitled to recover, and they use this to settle victims’ claims for less than they deserve.

5. You Need to Protect Yourself Against the Insurance Companies

All aspects of dealing with the insurance companies present risks for auto accident victims in Florida. Despite what they say, the insurance companies are not on your side. When you file a claim, “your” insurance adjuster works for the insurance company, and his or her job is to protect the insurance company’s financial interests—not yours.

From outright denying liability to making unreasonably low settlement offers, insurance companies use a variety of tactics to take advantage of unrepresented accident victims. By working with the skilled attorneys at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., you can make sure you do not fall for these tactics.

6. You Need to Make an Informed Decision About Settlement

When you have a liability claim after an auto accident, the best-case scenario is obtaining a fair insurance settlement that allows you to begin the process of moving on with your life. If a settlement offer is on the table, it is imperative that you make an informed decision about whether to accept.

Why? Because once you accept, you generally cannot go back and ask for more. If you let the insurance companies convince you to settle for less than you deserve, this is a mistake that you may have to live with for the rest of your life.

7. You Need to Be Prepared to Go to Court if Necessary

While accepting a fair settlement offer is generally the best-case scenario, this will not be an option in some cases. If the insurance companies refuse to offer the financial compensation you deserve, your best option may be to take your auto accident case to court.

If going to court is your best option under the circumstances at hand, you will need an experienced attorney on your side. Litigating auto accident cases is extremely complicated. With that said, having an attorney with Spivey Law Firm on your side can also help reduce the risk that you will need to go to court, as the insurance companies will often be more willing to settle for compensation when they know that being taken to court is a real possibility.

Arrange a Free Consultation with a Fort Myers Car Accident Attorney Today

Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., has received a Preeminent Attorney Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest rating standard, signifying the greatest level of professional excellence for legal knowledge, communication skills, and ethical standards. The Preeminent Attorney Rating from Martindale Hubbell shows that our firm has reached the height of professional excellence and is recognized for the highest level of skill and integrity. As stated on Martindale-Hubbell's website, an AV certification mark is a significant rating accomplishment at the highest level of professional excellence.

If you suffered serious injuries in an auto accident and are on the fence about hiring an attorney, we strongly encourage you to contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. for more information. To arrange a free consultation with an experienced Fort Myers car accident attorney as soon as possible, call us at 239-337-7483 or toll-free at 888-477-4839 or  contact us online at SpiveyLaw.com today.