If you get into a car accident, you could end up feeling vulnerable and disoriented. In one moment, you’re enjoying just another commute home, and then the next moment, you’re suddenly dealing with police officers, insurance companies, and doctors. This can all be very overwhelming and even scary.
If you’re not careful, your property, finances, and rights can end up being taken advantage of. That’s why it’s so important that you work with an experienced and reliable Tampa car accident attorney. But with so many options for attorneys out there, it can be difficult to know which one is going to be best for you.
Luckily for you, we’ve come up with a checklist that you can follow so that you can find the best Tampa car accident attorney out there. If you’re interested in knowing more, then keep on reading and we’ll take you through everything you need to know!
1. Experience in Car Accident Injury Cases
First off, you want to make sure that you’re hiring a car accident attorney who actually has experience with car accidents. Car accident suits are unique because they involve a complex interaction between insurance policies and traffic laws.
It’s not good enough just for your attorney to be knowledgeable about the subject. They need to have a good amount of experience too so that they can most efficiently navigate the legal process as obstacles and bumps in the road come up.
When it comes to car accident injury cases, the stakes are usually high and you don’t want to be the trial run for a new car accident lawyer. When you’re considering hiring a lawyer, ask them about their previous cases as well as their previous wins.
You should try to get a sense of how many auto accident cases the lawyer has undertaken and whether those cases were similar to your current situation.
2. Deep Understanding of How Insurance Companies Work
When you get into a car accident, one thing is for certain – you’re going to have to deal with insurance companies. In a car accident case, the insurance company is usually your main opponent. The insurance company is not on your side.
The business model of insurance companies is to pay out as little and as infrequently as possible. They’ll do everything they can to reduce your settlement. That’s just how it works, unfortunately.
In the United States, car crashes cost nearly one trillion dollars in economic loss every year. And insurance companies want to make sure that they’re saving as much as possible when an accident occurs.
This means that your attorney is going to have to understand how the insurance companies operate. They need to know the traps that the companies lay and the tricks they try to pull to reduce your settlement. Your lawyer also needs to be able to figure out the fair amount you deserve.
By understanding the ins and outs of insurance companies, your car accident attorney will always be able to be one step of them and know how to maneuver around each roadblock that they try to set up.
3. Detailed Advice on How to Protect Yourself and Collect Evidence
A reputable car accident lawyer will have your best interests at heart. They won’t simply be after a paycheck. That means that they should be able to give you detailed and clear advice on how to legally and financially protect yourself.
As we mentioned earlier, the insurance companies will try to get you to say and do things that are not in your best interest. Your lawyer will able to advise you on what you should and should not do.
They should also explain to you how to collect evidence after your accident and injury that will be helpful and legally valid in your case. The lawyer should also let you know that you shouldn’t see any doctors that are provided by the insurance company.
A good lawyer will tell you when to take photos, and of what. They can also assist you in building a folder of documents that include information from the accident scene and your medical records.
All of these things are going to be critical to creating a successful auto accident case. Helping make sure that you’re protected and comfortable is a major aspect of the attorney-client relationship.
4. Strong Grasp of Local and State Laws
Your Tampa car accident attorney should live locally and be well-versed in the laws of Hillsborough County as well as the State of Florida. For example, in Hillsborough County, your case will be heard in different court divisions depending on how much money you’re seeking.
A respected and local car accident lawyer will be able to quickly and effectively make sure that your case is going through the correct legal channels. This will make the whole process much smoother and efficient.
5. Guidance on How to Get Immediate Care
As great as it is to get started on a successful car accident case, it’s also important that you receive the necessary medical care after your accident. Every year, three million Americans are injured in car accidents.
Your attorney should give you advice on where to seek the care that you need. They’ll also let you know which documents will best support your case and how to get a genuine testimony from your doctor about your injuries.
The Importance of Knowing What to Look for in a Tampa Car Accident Attorney
After reading the above article, you should now have a much better idea of what to look for in a Tampa car accident attorney. As we can see, much of what you should be looking for comes down to knowledge, experience, and helpfulness.
Are you looking for reliable and experienced car accident attorneys in the Tampa area? If so, then contact us today and see what we can do for you!