Is It Worth Getting a Lawyer for a Minor Car Accident?

If you have been involved in a minor car accident, you are likely frustrated and unsure what to do next. You don’t want to deal with the consequences of someone else’s mistake, and you really want to get back to your normal life. You’d like help, but you don’t know if it is worth getting an attorney for a minor collision.

So, is it best to deal with your situation on your own, or should you hire an Orlando car accident lawyer to help you?

5 Reasons You Might Need a Lawyer for a Minor Car Accident

The truth is that there are several reasons to talk to a lawyer after a minor car accident in Florida. Even dealing with a minor car accident can be frustrating, and you can easily get overwhelmed. You can also make mistakes that limit the amount of your financial recovery, or even prevent you from recovering any financial compensation at all. 

Here are five reasons why you might need a lawyer after a minor car accident in Florida: 

1. Your Car Accident Might Not Be All That “Minor”

While your car accident might have seemed relatively harmless, this might not actually be the case. Vehicle repairs can be surprisingly expensive, especially if your car suffered damage that you can’t see from the outside. Additionally, even if you feel fine right now, you could potentially begin to experience pain, stiffness, limited mobility, and other symptoms in the days or weeks to come. If this happens, you will want to have a car accident lawyer involved in your case to help you seek the full compensation you deserve. 

2. Your Costs Can Add Up Quickly

Beyond repair bills and medical expenses, the costs of a car accident can add up quickly. This is true even if the accident was fairly minor. Will you need a rental car while your car gets fixed? Will you need to miss (or have you already missed) time from work? These are additional costs that a car accident lawyer may be able to help you recover. 

3. Dealing with Your Auto Insurance Company Isn’t Easy

When you are involved in a minor car accident in Florida, recovering your losses generally means dealing with your own insurance company. This is due to Florida’s “no fault” auto insurance law. 

Under this law, all Florida drivers must carry personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, and you are limited to filing a PIP claim under your own policy unless you can prove that you suffered a “significant” or “permanent” injury. However, even though your insurance company is supposed to pay regardless of fault, securing auto insurance coverage in any amount can still prove to be a challenge. 

4. You Might Have a Claim Outside of Auto Insurance

If your losses exceed your PIP coverage—which is a very real possibility even after a minor car accident—you may need to seek financial compensation outside of auto insurance. The other driver might not have liability insurance, his or her liability insurance might not be enough, or your injuries might not qualify for liability insurance coverage. If this is the case, you will need a car accident lawyer to pursue any available claims on your behalf. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, possible “third party” claims include:

• A claim against the other driver’s employer (if he or she was working)
• A claim against an establishment that overserved the other driver (if he or she was drunk)
• A claim against a vehicle manufacturer, dealership, or repair shop
• A claim against a government agency or road construction contractor

5. You Only Get One Chance to Protect Your Legal Rights

When you are involved in any type of car accident, you only get one chance to protect your legal rights. If you wait too long, if you settle too soon, or if you make other mistakes, you could end up without the financial compensation you need to move on. 

Why Not Talk to a Lawyer?

While asking whether it is worth getting a lawyer for a minor car accident is a valid question, it is also worth asking, “Why not talk to a lawyer?” You can get a free consultation, so it costs nothing to find out what (if anything) a car accident lawyer can do to help you. If you decide that you want help, then you can engage the lawyer to handle your claim (or claims) on your behalf. 

Talk to an Orlando Car Accident Lawyer for Free

Were you involved in a car accident? If so, we welcome you to contact Colling Gilbert Wright today for a free, no-obligation consultation. To discuss your situation with one of our Orlando car accident lawyers in confidence, call (407) 712-7300 now. We welcome clients from across Florida, including Orlando, Tampa, Miami, and other areas.