Do I Need a Lawyer After an Orlando Car Accident?

In recent years, the Orlando metropolitan area has averaged more than 25,000 car accidents each year. As a result of those car accidents, an average of 20,000 people are injured and another 200 are killed each year in Orlando. For a car accident victim, the impact of a car accident can extend beyond physical injuries to include emotional trauma and financial difficulties. If you were injured in an Orlando car accident, one of the first decisions you should make is whether to hire an attorney.

At Malik Law, we understand how stressful the time period following a car accident can be. Deciding whether to consult with an Orlando car accident lawyer should not be yet another source of stress for you. Ultimately, the decision to hire an attorney or go it alone is yours to make; however, some factors should be taken into consideration when making your decision. If you wish to discuss your legal options, we encourage you to consult with an experienced and compassionate Orlando car accident lawyer at Malik Law. Contact us today by calling 407-500-1000 to find out how we can help you.

When Might I Be Eligible for Compensation for My Orlando Car Accident Injuries?

When deciding if you need a lawyer after an Orlando car accident, it helps to have a broad understanding of the applicable law. For another party to be legally considered at fault in a car accident, that party’s negligence must have caused or contributed to the collision. Negligence is a legal term that involves four elements, including:

1. A duty of care that the potentially at-fault party owed to the injured party (you).
2. A breach of the duty of care by the at-fault party.
3. Injuries that were caused, entirely or partially, by that breach of duty.
4. Damages

It helps to understand how negligence works in practice. While some types of personal injury accident cases require a complex analysis to determine if a duty of care exists, car accidents do not. The law accepts that anyone who operates a motor vehicle on a public roadway owes a duty of care to others on the roadway. Therefore, the focus in a car accident case is on the breach of that duty of care. Common examples that would qualify as a breach of the duty of care include driving while under the influence, speeding, texting while driving, or aggressive driving. This is far from an exclusive list; however, it gives you an idea of what might qualify as a breach of the duty of care that might then lead to your eligibility for compensation for your injuries.

What about Florida’s No-Fault Insurance Law?

The State of Florida is one of several states that has a “no-fault” insurance law. That law mandates that all motorists must carry a minimum amount of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance coverage. When a motorist is involved in an accident, his or her own PIP coverage covers medical bills and lost wages regardless of who caused the accident up to the maximum PIP coverage amount of $10,000. Also note that PIP only covers 80 percent of your medical bills, and 60 percent of lost wages, and does not provide any compensation for non-economic damages, including pain and suffering. You can pursue a traditional car accident lawsuit if your injuries meet the Florida “serious injury” threshold, meaning you suffered one or more of the following because of the car accident:

• Significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function.
• Permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability.
• Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement.
• Death.

Do I Need an Orlando Car Accident Lawyer?

Not long after being involved in an Orlando car accident, you will likely start to wonder if you need an Orlando car accident lawyer to help you pursue compensation. When involved in a car accident, the adage “better safe than sorry” applies. It cannot hurt to consult with an attorney, but it may help. Factors to take into consideration if you are debating the need for a lawyer include:

• Fault. For you to be entitled to compensation, another party must have caused or contributed to the collision. If that is the case, or if there is a dispute as to who caused the accident, it is in your best interest to consult with an Orlando car accident lawyer.
• Type and severity of injuries. If you were seriously injured in a car accident, you need an attorney to help ensure that you are fairly compensated for those injuries. The “serious injury” threshold can be intimidating, causing many people to believe they cannot pursue a traditional car accident lawsuit. Before you make that mistake, contact an experienced Orlando car accident lawyer and ask them to review the facts and circumstances of your case and your injuries.
• Difficult facts or defendant. The more complex the facts are, or the more difficult the other party (or parties) is, the more likely it is that you need an attorney on your side. For example, if the crash was a multi-vehicle crash or the defendant was a truck driver, typically meaning there will be multiple defendants, you should have an experienced lawyer advocating for you throughout the legal process that follows.

If you were injured in an Orlando car accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your physical injuries, emotional trauma, and economic hardship. The best way to ensure that you are fully and fairly compensated for all your injuries is to have an experienced Orlando car accident lawyer on your side as soon as possible following a collision. At Malik Law, we understand what you are going through and are committed to helping you recover the compensation to which you are entitled from the at-fault party or parties. Call us at 407-500-1000 or submit our online form today. An experienced Orlando car accident lawyer will explain your rights to you and discuss your legal options at no cost.