Asked 16 attorneys to answer a simple, yet important question: “When do I need to hire a car accident lawyer?
Keep in mind that the insurance carriers have teams of lawyers and adjusters who begin evaluating your injury claim once they receive notice of such. Thus, it is essential you retain legal counsel immediately (assuming you are injured as a result of the collision) to level the playing field.
It is important to note that not all personal injury law firms are the same. In fact, many of the biggest advertising firms are little more than settlement mills. A settlement mill is a firm that relies on heavy advertising as the lifeblood of their business and litigate a disproportionate amount of their cases. Such firms do not rely on current or former clients to refer cases via word-of-mouth and can thus afford to employ a mill mentality to their handling of cases.
In fact, settlement mills tend to leave money on the table at the time of settlement as they are more concerned with resolving a volume of cases each month to pay their expensive advertising budget. Keep in mind that even an average trial lawyer is superior to a settlement mill as the insurance carrier must spend money defending a trial or a case that has advanced far in litigation. The goal of any insurance carrier is to save money and forcing them to run up costs gets their immediate attention.
The Dolman Law Group has decades of experience in protecting the rights of car accident victims all throughout Florida. David Neiser is a Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney and our firm has tried a number of cases before Florida juries. We have the financial resources to stand toe-to-toe with any insurance carrier or corporation. Our skilled and dedicated attorneys will fight to ensure that you are fairly compensated for your losses. Call (727) 451-6900 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation today.
If you have been involved in a car accident resulting in a physical injury, your likely next step is to file a claim with your insurance company along with the insurance carrier for the at-fault party. Since Florida is a no-fault state, a PIP insurance(Personal Injury Protection) claim will be opened in order to treat your injuries. You must also file a claim with the other driver’s insurance (if they were at fault) in order to pay for the medical bills and lost wages that exceed PIP’s $10,000.00 in maximum benefits.
This process is fairly routine and most people driving in Florida understand how it works. The “no-fault” system simply means that no matter who is at fault in the accident, you will treat under your own PIP benefits for the first $10,000.00 in medical bills. The purpose of the “no-fault” system is to enable an auto accident injury victim to commence immediate medical treatment without having to wait for a Court of Law to determine who in fact is liable for the car wreck.
Once you’ve filed a claim, it will be up to the insurance company to determine the value of such. The insurance carrier may also deny the claim completely. It can become complicated when filing multiple claims with different insurance companies, facilitating treatment and repairs, and ensuring that you’re getting the compensation you deserve.
If your injuries are minor, then you may continue to try to handle the case yourself. If your car accident injuries are more serious, then you will probably begin to wonder about the hiring process of a personal injury attorney.
We went out and asked 16 different attorneys a simple, yet extremely important question: “When should someone hire a car accident attorney?” Read their answers below.
When do you Need to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?

• Sometimes, establishing negligence can be difficult – When liability after a car accident is contested, investigation may become necessary to establish negligence. A car accident lawyer will know where and how to look for evidence that supports your case.
• You may inadvertently admit fault – Insurance companies are in the business of making money
and train their adjusters to minimize the amount they pay out, even on completely valid claims.
and train their adjusters to minimize the amount they pay out, even on completely valid claims.
In some cases, an insurance company may try and obtain a statement from you or ask certain questions hoping that you inadvertently admit full or partial liability for an accident, which could have a significant impact on your ability to recover. When you retain an attorney, he or she will deal with the insurance company on your behalf and make sure you receive the compensation to which you are entitled.
Matthew Dolman – Dolman Law Group
The answer is short and simple: You should hire a car accident attorney when you are injured in a car accident.
No matter the property damage, severity of injury, or insurance situation–if a moment goes by after you are injured in a car accident when you are physically and mentally able to hire a lawyer, you’ve waited too long. As soon as an insurance company is notified of a car accident, they are figuring out how to devalue your claim. They make a lot of money using this business practice. The only way for you to level the playing field is to hire a car accident lawyer right away. If you hire the right car accident lawyer, you can actually gain the upper hand. If you wait, you’re late. They have a head start and now you have to catch up.
You have a life and you need to live it. Maybe you have a job, or a family to take care of, maybe you are a student with classes and tests. Everyone has responsibilities, so when you are injured by someone else’s driving, you shouldn’t have to take on the responsibility of handling that case on your own. It costs you nothing to have a trained professional handle every aspect of your car accident case. All you should be worried about is treating your injuries and handling your responsibilities. Let a car accident lawyer handle everything else.
Peter Tragos –Law Offices of Tragos, Sartes & Tragos

Often times the insurance companies will reach out to you and try to get you to give a recorded statement. This is never a good idea. For one thing, the information you give can be used against you in later proceedings. Additionally, the information that you give shortly after an accident may not be fully informed and you may not yet realize the full extent of the harm you have suffered. All communications with the insurance company should pass through your attorney. Once the insurance company is notified that you have obtained an attorney they will no longer contact you and the persistent phone calls will come to an end.
One of the most important responsibilities of a car accident attorney is establishing and fully proving the harm that you have suffered. A good lawyer will recognize harms that you did not even realize you have sustained. These can include: past and future lost wages and loss to future earning capacity, future medical costs including treatment and surgery, a life care plan that lays out all of the future economic harms you will incur as a result of the accident and many others that are not immediately apparent. Your ability to recover for these types of harms can be severely diminished if proper representation is not secured soon after the accident occurs.
Gabriel Levin – The Levin Firm

The serious injury or fatality qualifier is an important one. The value that an experienced lawyer with a track record of success can deliver varies inversely with the size of the case. In a smaller case, an argument can you can get by without an attorney. It is risky even in a small case. But it is not always unreasonable to represent yourself. But it a serious injury or wrongful death case (where policy limits are not the controlling issue), the difference a good lawyer can make is critical. Our firm, and I’m sure most of the other lawyers offering advice here, have received overs that are more than 50 times the settlement offer given to our client before we took over the case.
Also remember to take advantage of the fact that most accident lawyers will offer a free consultation. There are some cases where a delay in hiring a lawyer – based either on the facts of the case or the fact that too much time has already passed – is not likely to be fatal to your claim. Getting good experienced counsel on the phone can make all the difference in understanding what is needed to be done in your case and how urgent it is that you hire a lawyer immediately.
Ronald V. Miller Jr. – Miller & Zois

No-fault laws can make it difficult to secure adequate compensation, but an attorney can help you push for the settlement you need to ensure your long-term recovery.
John K. Lawlor – Lawlor, White, and Murphy

An auto accident attorney can fight vigorously on your behalf, ensuring that you receive adequate compensation not only for medical and repair costs, but also for lost wages and overall pain and suffering.
Andrew Winston – The Law Office of Andrew Winston

Many accident victims don’t realize that retaining a lawyer in the days or hours after an accident means gaining an advocate to help you make critical decisions. It’s never too soon to consult an attorney after a crash. I’ve had clients call my 24-7 hotline from the scene of a crash to get advice on how to proceed. Those clients benefit from receiving professional advice about how to navigate the complicated post accident labyrinth of medical bills, physical therapy and vehicle repairs.
Many people don’t realize they have options in the aftermath of an accident. Most importantly, sharing information with insurance companies can be tricky. It’s critical to contact your insurance company immediately after an accident. However, it is generally never a good idea to speak to the insurance adjuster representing the other driver.
Typically, the other party’s insurer will ask you to give a recorded account of the accident as soon as possible. You have no obligation to give an official statement to the other driver’s insurance company. In fact, locking yourself into a version of events recalled while still under duress from the accident often hurts your damage claims down the line. Soft tissue injuries of the head may not be apparent immediately. As a result, you could make it difficult to recover physical therapy costs down the line if you initially report feeling fine.
Some clients don’t initially consult a lawyer because they trust that insurance companies will fairly cover their medical bills, vehicle repairs and lost time at work. Unfortunately, this is the exception to the rule.
Often clients consult me when they are at their wits end, feeling frustrated with delays or denials of liability from insurers. They are surprised to learn that insurance companies aren’t actually on your side; they are looking out for their bottom line and their shareholders.
If auto insurers can find a reason to deny your claim, they will. Hire a lawyer, so you can recover the compensation you deserve for the injuries, vehicle repairs and time lost to dealing with your accident.
Let your lawyer wade through the paperwork and hours of negotiating that accrues after a crash. Finally, make sure you put your case in the hands of a professional who is adept at dealing with the insurance companies. Only experienced personal injury lawyers understand how to handle the intricacies of a case to ensure adequate compensation.
Randolph Rice – Law Offices of Randolph Rice

There are numerous critical problems with waiting to call a lawyer, including the destruction or disappearance of needed evidence or witnesses. Also, accident victims without lawyers usually do not deal with medical providers in the best way, nor visit all medical providers that they need quickly enough. Good lawyers will spend the time to educate their clients regarding how to navigate their medical situation, which is essential because medical records are probably the most important evidence presented during any accident lawsuit.
Additionally, accident victims without lawyers often make big mistakes when talking with insurance adjusters. Insurance adjusters pretend that they want to help, while trying to convince the injured victims to take often far less than they deserve after any car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, or bicycle accident. Make no mistake: the insurance company only cares about paying you as little as they can. So adjusters often do not mention legally available damages when an injured victim contacts them without an attorney. For example, the adjuster may not explain that you are entitled to future medical expenses, pain and suffering damages, as well as any lost wages.
Potential clients should also make sure they are not dealing with a settlement mill law firm, where case managers or paralegals dealing with hundreds of cases each have little incentive to help individual clients maximize their recovery.
Tina Willis – Tina Willis Law

If you were injured in the accident then it is more likely that you will want to hire a car accident lawyer. Still there may be instances where you can handle the claim on your own. For example, if you have relatively minor injuries that do not require or did not require more than a few weeks of conservative treatment (i.e. no surgery etc.), then you may be able to handle that claim on your own. Much like the property damage claim, insurance companies tend not to play games with the value of minor injury claims. We typically tell potential clients that if your medical expenses are less than $10,000.00 then it is something you may be able to settle on your own without the need for a lawyer’s help.
If you were severely injured and/or your treatment has lasted well beyond just a couple of weeks, it is probably time to hire a lawyer. As your claim increases in value, so does the chances that the insurance company is going to dig in and fight to minimize your claim as much as possible. So if you have bills over $10,000.00 or found out you have a major injury like a herniated disc or broken bone, it is probably time to hire a lawyer.
In conclusion, remember the first rule that if at any point in the claims process, regardless of your injuries or the amount of your medical expenses, you feel uncomfortable handling your claim on your own, it is time to seek legal representation.
Ted Spaulding – Boling Rice, LLC

It is always good sound advice to seek out an experienced car accident attorney. Regardless of the extent of your damages and the value of your claim you can learn a wealth of information about how to move forward and protect yourself from exposure in a disputed case. Most firms will offer a FREE consultation to individuals injured in a car accident regardless of situation. Therefore, you should strongly consider seeking out an experienced car accident attorney.
Clay Burgess – The Law Offices of L. Clayton Burgess

Many attorneys will give you a free consultation, so contact an experienced one and see what they can do for you and your case.
Anthony Bruning Jr. – Bruning Legal

1) If you are injured get treatment at the scene or go to the hospital;
2) Obtain the other driver’s personal and insurance information;
3) Take pictures of the property damage and accident scene;
5) Give a statement to the police;
6) Do not talk to anyone other than the police.
2) Obtain the other driver’s personal and insurance information;
3) Take pictures of the property damage and accident scene;
5) Give a statement to the police;
6) Do not talk to anyone other than the police.
Our firm believes the most important part of a personal injury claim is your health. If you are injured you need to seek medical attention immediately.
Hiring a personal injury attorney is important when you are injured. I know most people believe the insurance companies will take care of them in an automobile crash. However, most insurance companies are more concerned about the bottom line than the injured party. This is not in your best interest.
Your attorney will help you get a recovery that is equal to your damages.
Your attorney will help you get a recovery that is equal to your damages.
Robert Clements – Clements & Clements

Stewart Guss – Stewart Guss, Attorney at Law

Here’s a little known secret! Medical providers who have not been fully paid can be forced by law to settle for pennies on the dollar if you are working with an attorney. If you deal directly with the insurance company you can lose this privilege. The best time to contact an attorney is when you decide that you and your family want the maximum coverage possible with the least amount of stress. Statistically speaking victim net more with the help of an attorney than going at it on their own.
Kenneth P. Carp – Law Office of Kenneth P. Carp

In some cases where the injuries are so minimal that hiring an attorney would be against your best interest and an experience personal injury attorney will recognize that right away and instruct you to either settle with your insurance company on your own or file suit in a small claims court. Most small claims courts have specific instructions on how to handle your own claim and a personal injury lawyer can point you in the right direction.
Regardless, if you are involved in a car accident you should reach out to a car accident lawyer, most if not all offer free consultations and will steer you in the right direction.
William W. Hurst – Law Office of William W. Hurst

Know what to do. Hire a lawyer in your mind. Have knowledge before the glass breaks. Learn about the best accident attorneys in your state today. Be ready. Don’t send in the joker lawyers, send in the best to represent. Hire them today in your mind, but hire them immediately after you have your injuries checked out after an accident.
Charlotte Christian – Charlotte Christian Law
People involved in a serious car accident frequently fail to recognize the fact that insurance companies for at-fault drivers begin defending building a defense for their cases almost immediately after an accident. Auto insurance companies have teams of accident investigators who are experienced with putting together information that can be used to assist them in defending or denying a legitimate injury claim.
Consequently, it is imperative that people injured in a car accident take steps on their behalf to protect their legal rights– by most importantly– hiring a lawyer to look out for their interests.
Hiring an attorney experienced with auto accident claims can substantially improve the chances that vital information from an accident is collected after a crash. When insurance companies see that an individual is represented by a competent attorney who is actively involved in the prosecution of the case, the chances of a successful outcome increase drastically. As I tell my clients, ‘prepare for war and hope for peace’.
Jonathan Rosenfeld – Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers
Retaining a lawyer immediately following a car accident can make the difference between keeping your life on track and facing thousands in medical bills. If you were involved in a car accident, seeking medical attention and focusing on your recovery should be your first step. Contacting and hiring a personal injury attorney is a very important second step.
The insurance industry is complex. Often, insurance companies will contact the victim of a car crash shortly after the accident offering a settlement amount or asking for a statement. It is wise to speak with an attorney before talking to the insurance company. Car accident attorneys are experienced in handling insurance adjusters. They know the questions to ask and evidence to collect in fighting for the most compensation possible for a car accident victim. The sooner you hire a personal injury lawyer, the sooner that attorney can investigate the accident, collect evidence to support your claim, find and talk to witnesses, and file necessary paperwork. In addition, many involved in car crashes are unaware of the severity of their injuries or the fact that they may be able to receive compensation for certain damages including lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering. Hiring the right lawyer can make all the difference. The attorney can estimate the compensation you deserve and fight for it either from the insurance agency or in the courtroom. After an accident, it is best to contact an attorney as soon as possible so they can do the work for you and you can focus on what matters – your health and recovery.
John Yannone – Price Benowitz
Short answer: ASAP
An accident victim should consult with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after an accident. My colleagues in this article have already raised many important issues such as post accident investigation and the perils of giving a recorded statement, so I will touch on a couple additional issues that I have personally observed in the Chicago area.
Insurance carriers sometimes trick plaintiffs into settling injury claims immediately. They might offer quick money, in my experience usually $500-$2000. What they don’t tell you is that this is it, there’s no additional money for medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of normal life and lost wages.
They also may try to offer a small sum of money plus medical treatment for 30 days. That might sound good, but they are already responsible for medical treatment related to the collision. They are just fooling you into limiting treatment to 30 days.
An aggressive insurance adjuster might even try to record your acceptance of the offer over the phone, attempting to block you from subsequently consulting with an attorney. It’s questionable whether a recorded settlement would hold up in court, but you’re unnecessarily creating a significant hurdle for yourself.
All of these moves are made by insurance adjusters to try to limit your financial recovery and stop you from consulting with a lawyer before settling. If you’ve been injured in an accident, contact an attorney before you damage your own case. Remember, most injury law firms offer free consultations and there’s no fee unless you win.
David Abels – Abels & Annes, P.C.
Dolman Law Group
Deciding on Which Florida Car Accident Attorney to Hire
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, picking a car accident lawyer can be an added stress to the situation. Though the process of selecting an auto accident lawyer should not necessarily be difficult, it is an important decision. Some car accident lawyers use an assembly line system to get one client in, get them settled, and get them out the door. This settlement mill process almost always ends up leaving money on the table and a bad taste in the client’s mouth.
So when it comes to choosing an automobile accident lawyer, be sure that the firm you choose has the dedication, drive, and resources to pursue a case to the lengths necessary to ensure that you case’s fullest value is realized. The Dolman Law Group has the experience, the skill, and the initiative to get the job done while still maintaining a strong focus on the attorney-client relationship. Visit our Florida Car Accident Lawyers page for more information.