How To Settle A Car Accident Claim Without a Lawyer

If you watch the news it can seem that car accidents are happening each day and at an increasing rate. This means your insurance premiums increase, dealing with agents becomes harder, and the risk of financial and physical harm increases.

In Florida, a no-fault state, every driver must have car insurance. Not only that, their insurance must cover at least $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Property Damage Liability (PDL) coverage. And for some, that might cover the extent of the damages from their car accident.

Or so it may seem.

If you decide to handle your car accident claim by yourself, it’s important to understand a few things. You’ll need to fully grasp what the process involves and what you could potentially be giving up.

An insurance adjuster assesses the damage to a car after an accident

How to Get the Most Money from a Car Accident Without a Lawyer

Getting the most money from a car accident without a lawyer primarily involves diligent evidence collection and effective negotiation. Start by documenting every detail about the accident, taking photographs, and gathering witness statements. Promptly seek medical attention and save all relevant bills and medical reports. These records are key in demonstrating the extent of your injuries and costs.

Then, calculate your total damages, considering future medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. Create a comprehensive demand letter detailing the accident, your injuries, treatments, total costs, and desired compensation. This formal request will guide negotiations with the insurance company.

Remember, accident victims should not accept the first offer, as insurance companies often anticipate negotiations and start low. Keep emotions at bay, stay patient, and let your compiled evidence guide your negotiations for a fair settlement.

What It’s Like To Settle a Car Accident Claim Without an Attorney

The first thing you need to do in the event of an auto accident is assess your damages.

What is the assessed value of your vehicle and the associated cost for its repair or replacement? What injuries did you or your passengers suffer and what’s the treatment process? Will you have to miss work because of the accident?

These are the major questions you need to answer before deciding your best course of action.

When you speak with your insurance adjuster, you’ll likely need a police report to determine who was at fault. Your adjuster will make their own assessments of the damages owed and what your insurance policy covers. For a lucky few, this may be enough to cover their losses after an accident.

If you don’t have legal expertise, you need to take steps to protect yourself and obtain what you deserve. You are the one who needs to collect all of the important evidence that shows why you need more money.

You’ll need to provide things like doctors’ notes and medical records about your health. You’ll need to show any lost wages due to the accident, and possibly prove that you will have lost future income. This can help convince the insurance adjuster that the accident caused more damage than their offer covers.

If people can’t agree on who caused the accident, eyewitness statements can help your case. You may need to retain an accident reconstruction specialist or hire someone to download the Event Data Recorder (EDR.) You may need to be prepared to spend thousands of dollars on experts.

A car accident lawyer possesses more experience in knowing what information a judge or arbitrator needs compared to an average person. It might seem simpler to go through the settlement process yourself. However, dealing with your insurance company could make things more difficult. Trying to settle a car accident claim without a lawyer could potentially harm you in the long run.

Do You Need a Lawyer If The Accident Didn’t Cause Any Injuries?

If your car accident didn’t cause any injuries, you only need to assess the damages to your car or other properties. While medical expenses can skyrocket faster than most other costs, that doesn’t mean you should overlook property damage costs.

If your car accident causes significant damage to another vehicle, your standard property damage liability policy might not be enough.

The more damage done during an accident, the longer it may take for insurance companies to assess the claim and pay. And the longer you go without your vehicle, the more lost income you’re facing. Additionally, you’ll need to decide whether to secure a rental vehicle for use during your vehicle’s repair period.

Moreover, the absence of apparent injuries from the accident doesn’t guarantee there won’t be lingering health effects later.

A car accident with no injuries can simplify settling a claim. However, there are still things that might not occur to most people. A good car accident attorney knows to leave no stone unturned before settling.

Two people on their phones assessing damage from a car accident.

Tell Us About Your Case

Do I Need a Lawyer If I’m Not At Fault?

As previously mentioned, Florida is a no-fault state. Everyone needs to have car insurance that includes at least $10,000 in both PIP and PDL.

Even if an accident isn’t your fault, you can file a claim with your own personal insurance. This can help you avoid delaying medical treatment or payment. However, PIP only pays 80% of your medical bills, leaving you to resolve the remaining 20% on your own.

You also need to ensure that you reimburse anything that health insurance pays. If you are on a government health program and fail to reimburse the insurer, you may lose coverage.

However, being not at fault and filing with your own insurance doesn’t guarantee you’ll receive proper care. The insurance company is always going to be looking out for itself first and foremost.

Settling a car accident claim on your own might seem appealing, particularly if the accident did not result in any injuries. But a certified car accident attorney might help you get a bigger settlement offer without costing you more.

Most importantly, a lawyer knows the importance of timing in a claim or lawsuit, including any statute of limitations. Speaking to a lawyer right away can give you a good understanding of your case. You’ll also better understand every step of the car accident settlement process.

Find the Right Lawyer to Settle Your Car Accident Claim

Despite the frequency of car accidents in Florida, experiencing one personally can still be quite startling and unsettling. Your life, daily routine, and future disruption deserve the highest level of importance.

Hiring an experienced car accident attorney is the absolute best way to ensure you get what you need and deserve.

The personal injury attorneys at Beers and Gordon, a certified law firm, will fight hard to get you what you deserve. We offer free consultations to give you an honest and realistic assessment of your case. Plus, we work on a contingency basis. This means you won’t pay us any legal fees until a settlement or award has occurred.