Accidents can have major or minor impacts on a person’s life. Regardless of whether your accident injuries are minor or major, you should know how to assess the situation and whether to contact a car accident lawyer or not. This article will help you assess situations involving car accidents, as to what extent you need a lawyer, and whether you should contact a car accident lawyer for minor accidents.

Do I need a lawyer for a minor accident? in Florida

How to assess if you need an attorney or not?

Before you decide to hire a car accident lawyer you would want to make sure one is needed. As a general rule, if you aren’t sure always contact a lawyer. Many injuries manifest themselves days, weeks, or even months after the car accident. If you truly suffered no injuries in an accident, then you may not need to hire a lawyer. However, the first step should always be to at least contact proper medical providers and a lawyer to ensure your rights are covered. If you have injuries that will require multiple doctor visits and a long road of recovery then it’s obviously a no-brainer, and you would want to reach out to an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible. A lawyer would assist you in receiving a settlement to pay for those medical bills and future medical expenses.

For your car, you wouldn’t need to hire your attorney if there were no damages or if it was minor damages. If your car has a little dent or just a scratch that can be wiped away then you may not need an attorney. However, most car accident lawyers offer free consultations. It is definitely advisable to at least contact a car accident lawyer to preserve your rights. If your car has heavy damage then you would always want to reach out to a lawyer to get compensation for those damages. The best time to reach out to a lawyer is if you have severe injuries, heavy damage to your vehicle, multiple people were injured in your car, or you feel like there’s an issue with the overall police report/ statements.

What are the common situations that demand a car accident lawyer?

The common reasons someone would want to hire a car accident lawyer would be that they are in need of compensation. The main reason for a claim going to court is if the insurance companies cannot come to a conclusion over who was at fault for the accident, or there is a disagreement about what the fair compensation for your injuries is. Your lawyer would have to present evidence to show that you were not the one at fault in the accident and the injuries you suffered. They can also argue that if you are at fault, how much of the accident was actually your fault? For example, if you rear-ended a car they can argue that the other party merged without a signal light.

Should you contact an attorney for a minor accident?

If there are no injuries or damages caused to you or another party from the accident then you may not need to contact an attorney. However, as stated previously, many injuries do not manifest themselves for days, weeks, or even months. Therefore, no matter how minor the accident, it is always advised that you at least consult with a car accident lawyer for a free consultation regarding your car. If you have injuries, like whiplash, then it becomes easier to make the decision to call an attorney. Also, don’t assume your car is 100% okay at the time of the accident because some issues won’t be present until you start driving away. You would want to get a check-up for your car and if there are damages that would need repairing then you would want to contact an attorney.

Why is it important to contact a lawyer despite of minor accident?

If you are looking for a settlement to help pay for your damages or medical bills then you should contact an attorney to help you. Even if it is a minor accident then you should contact an attorney because there are minor issues that could be present that you wouldn’t know until you start driving your car. There are also injuries that don’t show signs until a few days later like concussions. Depending on how bad your impact was, the symptoms can take a few days to show so you would want to get checked out as soon as possible.

What could be the disadvantages if you don’t contact a lawyer when involved in a minor accident?

Similar to a case with a severe accident, you run the risk of not being fully compensated or possibly take advantage of by the insurance company. No matter the case you want to make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. You don’t want to be misled by thinking you’re getting the best deal and then finding out that you would have gotten a significantly higher amount if you had proper representation.

Frequently Asked Questions

It is illegal to not call the police after a car accident. To be on the safe side you can call the non-emergency number for police and report the accident. They will let you know whether or not they will send out an officer to the scene depending on how bad the accident is. If it’s a minor accident with a small dent and no injuries then they most likely won’t send someone out but would still advise you of what you should do. It’s better to be safe than sorry because you don’t want to be accused of fleeing the scene of an accident and getting a hit and run charge.

There can be a few damages that your car can receive that wouldn’t be obvious at first glance. Your car can have alignment issues following a fender bender accident. The impact could slightly misalign your vehicle and slowing wear down your tires. The transmission can also have issues because of the impact. Signs that your transmission was damaged can be slower acceleration and your car making clunking noises when you are changing gears. If you don’t repair this then it can lead to damages to your gears that cannot be repaired.

Depending on your insurance you may or may not see your rates get higher for a minor accident. For some insurance companies if it’s a minor car accident and you aren’t at fault then you wouldn’t have to worry about higher rates. Some insurance companies also offer accident forgiveness depending on how severe the accident was and how many accidents you have been in leading up to this one.

No matter the car accident the settlement will be calculated the same way. You would need to provide evidence of damage to your car and how much you would have to pay to get it repaired. For minor accidents, you can mention how your car has a huge dent on the side and the alignment is off, so you need $2000 to pay for the repairs. Especially for older cars, it might be expensive to repair because some parts aren’t easily obtainable. You also want to point out any medical expenses, even minor injuries like whiplash or concussions could leave you with a heavy medical bill.

The first thing you should do is call the police and report the accident. In some cases, the police may tell you that they don’t need to be present and for you to exchange information with the other party. Depending on your insurance you may not need to contact them because of the lack of damage caused on your vehicle. If it’s a minor fender bender with just a scratch, then you don’t want to inform your insurance.

What to do when involved in a car accident?

When you get into a car accident the first thing you should do is alert the police. If it’s not an accident that requires an ambulance or fire rescue, then you can call the non-emergency hotline. After that, you would want to check up on the other party to make sure they are okay. Exchange information with them and then contact your insurance company. You would want to get medical attention as soon as possible whether you go to the emergency room or to a walk-in clinic to make sure you are okay. If you have injuries or your car has been damaged, then you would want to contact an experienced car accident lawyer.

When should I call for a car accident lawyer?

The moment that you find out you have been injured or your car has been damaged you should already be thinking about getting a lawyer. Do your research on what car accident lawyers are near you and how much experience they have. Most law firms offer free consultations so you can talk to them about your case and see what they tell you.

What is the best way to deal with minor car accidents?

First thing you should do is assess the situation. Make sure you and anyone with you are okay and then check on the other driver. Notify the police of the accident and then exchange information with the other party. After that contact your insurance company to let them know. You would want to make sure you get checked out by a medical professional to make sure you are okay. Sometimes you might get a scan done to make sure there is no internal damage. Your car should also get a check-up to make sure everything is okay and there are no issues with the ignition or your alignment. If you received any injuries or damage to your vehicle then you would want to contact an attorney to help with a settlement.

Need a lawyer for a minor accident?

No matter the type of accident you should always take it seriously, even a minor one. Just because you don’t see any damage doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Concussions can hide through headaches and misalignment can later cause tire damage. Make sure you are taking the proper precautions and get everything checked out and taken care of. If you are in need of an attorney to help with your settlement then you would want to do your research to make sure they are the right fit for you.

If you or your loved one are in need of information on Do I need a lawyer for a minor accident, call us at 407-930-8912 to speak with a qualified legal professional or fill out the contact form on this page. We’re available 24/7, we offer free initial consultation and payment plans. In addition to our Orlando location, we have offices in the following cities across the state of Florida:

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