Questions To Ask a Lawyer After a Car Accident in Gainesville
Car accidents occur regularly in Gainesville, FL, but that doesn’t make them any easier to contend with. If you or a loved one were injured in a collision, you might wonder what your options are regarding holding the at-fault driver accountable and receiving compensation.
Contacting a Gainesville car accident lawyer is an excellent idea towards that end. Most attorneys in the area offer free consultations to review your case, so it won’t cost you anything but your time to reach out. Call our offices today at (877) 255-3652.
Further, knowing the right sorts of questions to ask a lawyer after a car accident in Gainesville can be beneficial. Doing so will allow you to make a more informed decision about your best course of action and help you understand your legal rights and options.
In this article, the experienced legal team with Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers will go over the most important questions to ask an attorney in this type of scenario.
How Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, Can Assist After You’ve Been Hurt in a Car Accident in Gainesville
At the onset, it can be helpful to understand how a car accident lawyer can help you after a car accident in Gainesville, Florida. A car crash can leave you with many consequences, including but not limited to medical bills, pain and suffering, emotional distress, repair costs, lost wages, and out-of-pocket expenses.
Depending on the severity of your accident (more on this below), you may be able to pursue compensation for each of these consequences and more. Hiring a Gainesville car accident attorney can set you up for a successful outcome.
Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, has assisted personal injury victims in the area since 2007. Our personal injury lawyers have a combined 100 years of experience, and we’ve secured hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. We can assist by:
- Investigating your case to arrive at the full value of your claim and to collect evidence
- Negotiate with the other party for a fair settlement agreement, and file a lawsuit if they won’t settle
- Handle all of the necessary paperwork and communications throughout the process
- Protect you from allegations that you’re to blame for the car crash
You can call us at any time at (877) 372-9030 if you’d like to learn more or are ready to get started. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to go over your case.
Questions You Should Ask a Gainesville Car Accident Attorney
To help you make a more informed decision when selecting a car accident lawyer in Gainesville, we’d like to mention the following questions that should lead to fruitful answers.
Do I Have a Case?
The first question you should ask the lawyer is whether you have a case in the first place. Florida is a “no-fault” state when it comes to car insurance, and every driver in the state is required to purchase Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance coverage.
The benefit of this insurance coverage is that it provides you with compensation in the event of an accident, regardless of whose fault the collision was. However, the downside is that unless your accident results in what state law considers a “serious injury,” you cannot pursue additional money from the driver who caused the crash.
When you meet with an attorney about your case, they may be able to evaluate the facts involved in your crash and determine whether you have the ability to file a claim for more compensation. If your accident resulted only in minor property damage (such as a fender-bender), hiring a lawyer may not be in your best interest since utilizing your PIP coverage is your best option.
What Is Your Experience With My Type of Car Accident?
No two car accidents in Gainesville are exactly alike. However, some car accident cases are more complex than others. Car crashes that might result in especially complicated legal processes include:
- Multi-vehicle accidents, especially those involving at least three vehicles
- Car accidents that result in the wrongful death of a loved one
- Accidents involving pedestrians, motorcyclists, or bicyclists
- Collisions with a commercial motor vehicle (CMV)
- Car crashes that involve a defective part or machinery
- Accidents that entail filing a lawsuit against the government
This is not an exhaustive list. If your car accident case involves a special circumstance like those mentioned above, it is important to hire a lawyer that has the expertise necessary to successfully help you. Ask the attorney about their prior case results with accidents that are similar to yours to ensure they are qualified.
What Resources Will You Dedicate To My Case?
It is also crucial to ensure that the lawyer you hire will be able to effectively assist you with your case. If a law firm stretches itself too thin, allocating enough resources to every case it takes on can become difficult. Some of the types of resources that a Gainesville car accident attorney has access to include:
- Hiring experts, such as accident reconstructionists, to analyze and strengthen your claim
- The ability to fully and accurately assess the value of your claim, identify the liable parties, and do the necessary legal research
- A willingness to file a lawsuit if your case requires it, even bringing it all the way to trial
In this vein, you should ask the lawyer whether they’ll be willing to do everything in their power to help you achieve a favorable outcome. If not, it is probably best to consult with another lawyer.
How Much Do You Charge?
Most, if not all, car accident attorneys in Gainesville work on a contingency fee basis. That means that you won’t have to pay the lawyer upfront to represent you. Instead, they will take their payment as a percentage of the financial award they obtain for you at the conclusion of your case.
Attorneys have only limited discretion when it comes to how much to charge with a contingency fee (i.e., which percentage to take). However, you should still ask the lawyer how the fee might operate, given the facts of your case, as there can still be some leeway.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Gainesville Car Accident Lawyer Today
After a car crash in Gainesville, your health and well-being are the most important. If you hire an experienced Gainesville car accident lawyer to help you with your claim, you’ll be able to focus on your recovery first and foremost. In the interim, your attorney can take care of virtually every aspect of your pursuit of compensation.
If you set up a free case review with a lawyer and ask the appropriate kinds of questions, you’ll be in a better position to achieve your goals. Contact Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, today to schedule a free consultation. We’re here 24/7 to take your call.