Yes! In most cases, you can afford to hire a Tampa car accident lawyer since they work on a contingency fee basis. Their fee is contingent on your financial recovery, making their legal service risk-free. You do not have to deal with the legal and insurance aftermath of a car accident alone out of concern about the cost of hiring a lawyer.
Your lawyer will cover all the upfront costs of your injury claim, and you will only pay them if you receive compensation from the at-fault driver. If you do not receive a financial award, you will not owe the law firm any legal or attorney’s fees.
How Much Is The Lawyer’s Percentage With A Contingency Fee?
This fee structure also means you do not pay a hefty retainer or lose time waiting to save enough to hire a lawyer. Each lawyer and law firm will vary in the percentage of your final settlement they receive. Thus, don’t hesitate to ask your lawyer for a precise breakdown of their fee and ensure you have clarity before signing a representation contract.
Your lawyer will take time to answer any case- or fee-related questions in clear, easy-to-understand language and ensure you are both comfortable before moving forward.
What Fees And Costs Does A Contingency Fee Agreement Cover?
While every case will vary in costs and fees, the law firm handling your case will cover the costs of investigating, building, and preparing it. In most cases, your law firm will cover:
- Paperwork and documentation
- Court filing forms and fees
- Discovery and deposition fees
- Expert witness consultations
- Investigation and evidence costs
- Miscellaneous costs (e.g., postage)
Your Tampa personal injury lawyer will clarify the costs of your case, what the agreement covers, and how they receive their fee. Look for a law firm that offers fee transparency and will be clear and concise about these important details.
What Are The Benefits Of Hiring A Car Accident Lawyer On Contingency?
You do not have to pursue damages from a negligent driver yourself. While hiring a lawyer is not mandatory, having one can significantly benefit your pursuit of financial recovery. While youfocus on getting better, your lawyer will take care of everything else. On your behalf, they will:
- Speak to the insurance company and adjuster
- Collect, organize, and submit your evidence
- Manage all verbal and written communication
- Document the monetary value of your damages
- Negotiate the best possible monetary settlement
A lawyer can be particularly beneficial if your car accident claim is complex. Does it involve multiple vehicles (like a chain reaction accident)? Is the at-fault party denying liability? Are they balking at settling the claim? Your legal team will establish the required elements of negligence and represent you in court if they cannot negotiate an acceptable settlement agreement.
How Will A Lawyer Prove Negligence Caused A Tampa Car Accident?
Negligence is critical to car accident cases since its existence allows you to seek compensation. It is also significant if the other driver alleges you caused or contributed to the crash, which could reduce or eliminate your potential compensation.
To establish the at-fault driver’s negligence, your lawyer will prove:
- Duty: The at-fault driver owed you a duty of reasonable care, such as the safe operation of their vehicle.
- Breach: The at-fault driver’s actions caused or contributed to your accident (e.g., ignoring traffic signs or texting while driving).
- Causation: The clear connection between the at-fault driver’s action and your accident and resulting injuries.
- Damages: The financial consequences (economic and noneconomic) you suffered due to the accident.
To prove these elements and the monetary value of your claim, your lawyer will build a comprehensive collection of physical evidence and documentation. Your case file will include your police report, witness statements, expert testimony, and more.
How Does A Tampa Car Accident Lawyer Assess The Value Of An Injury Claim?
After a car accident, payment for some of your immediate medical bills and income loss comes from your insurance company via your policy’s personal injury protection (PIP). If you exhaust your PIP limits or your claim meets the catastrophic injury threshold, you can also seek the following damages:
- Economic damages: Medical, rehab, and therapy bills, loss of income and future earning potential, assistive medical devices, treatment-related travel expenses, and property damage, destruction, or diminishment.
- Noneconomic damages: Temporary or permanent impairment or disfigurement, physical pain and suffering, mental and emotional anxiety, and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Wrongful death damages: Funeral costs, loss of the decedent’s financial support, loss of their contributions to your household, and loss of consortium, companionship, and guidance.
Your lawyer will compile bills, receipts, and other evidence to document your individual and collective damages. They will also collect tangible evidence that proves the value of your noneconomic damage request.
When Will A Lawyer File A Car Accident Lawsuit In Tampa?
Car accident lawsuits in Florida are time-sensitive. If you don’t file your lawsuit in time, the court could bar or dismiss it. Either of these outcomes could mean you have no legal standing to file your lawsuit or compel the at-fault driver to compensate you.
In general, you have two years to file your personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, according to Florida Statutes § 95.11(5).
When a car accident attorney represents you, they will interpret the statute of limitations and file your lawsuit on time and in the appropriate Tampa courthouse.
Find Out If You Can Afford To Hire A Car Accident Lawyer In Tampa
If you or someone you love suffered an injury in a car accident, you should be able to get legal support without worrying about whether you can afford a Tampa car accident lawyer. At the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, we represent injury victims on contingency, and we don’t get paid unless you do.
Learn more about working with our client-focused, results-driven law firm. Contact one of our consultation team members to get started today.
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