Car Accident Attorney in Panama City

If you or your loved one has been injured in a car accident in Panama City, you may consider speaking with an experienced car accident lawyer. Speaking with such an attorney can significantly increase your chances of recovering damages caused by the car accident. 

Here are the different ways a car accident attorney can help: 

Case Evaluation: When you get injured in a car accident, an attorney can help determine whether you may be eligible for compensation. Whether you intend to file a claim against the other party or your own insurance company, a car accident attorney can help establish if you have a valid claim. At Morgan & Morgan, we offer free case evaluation for individuals who have been injured in a car accident in Panama City and its surroundings. All you have to do is fill out our confidential case evaluation form. 

Evidence Collection: You'll need evidence to support your claim and receive the compensation you may be entitled to after a car accident. Unfortunately, insurance companies don't always play fair even if you've been their most loyal client. Even though Florida is a no-fault state, meaning your own insurance company pays for the damages after a car accident, insurers will always try to avoid liability. However, when you have strong evidence to prove that your claim is valid, it becomes more difficult for the insurer to deny liability.

Assessing Damages: Many people fail to secure the compensation they deserve after a car accident simply because they don't know what exactly they may be entitled to as compensation. Unfortunately, your insurer isn't going to inform you about everything you may be able to recover because they are responsible for compensating you. However, you can always trust an experienced car accident attorney to assess the actual value of your injuries.

Bear in mind that in Florida, all drivers are required to have Personal Injury Protection insurance for vehicles registered in the state. But most people don't know that this type of insurance covers more than just medical expenses. Instead, it covers lost wages, funeral expenses, survivors' loss, essential services, etc. 

Filing a Claim: The process of filing a claim against an insurance company after a car accident might seem pretty straightforward, but it isn't. It involves complex paperwork and strict deadlines. Since car accident attorneys are familiar with such complex processes, you can count on their experience to help you file a claim correctly. 

Negotiating Settlement: After establishing how much you may be entitled to as compensation for your injuries, the attorney will also help negotiate a reasonable settlement with the insurer. The outcome of the negotiations usually depends on the kind of legal representative you choose to work with. For this reason, you need an attorney who will always put your interests first. When you have such an attorney by your side, they won't settle for less than what you deserve. Unfortunately, many lawyers opt to settle for less than what their clients deserve because such attorneys may lack the kind of legal resources required to pursue the claim in court. 

Court Representation: As mentioned before, insurance companies don't always play fair. And when that happens, you need an attorney who is prepared for every possible scenario. For example, if the insurance company is unwilling to settle out of court, you need a lawyer who won't give up on the case. Instead, the attorney should be able to file a lawsuit against the insurer. It will then be up to the judge to decide the way forward. 

At Morgan & Morgan, we never hesitate to represent our clients in court if the insurance company refuses to settle out of court. Our law firm has powerful legal resources to fight for our client's rights in and out of court. In fact, our lawyers are required to settle a certain number of cases in court every year. So if the insurance company thinks that a court battle will probably discourage you from pursuing the compensation you need and deserve, Morgan & Morgan will fight for you till the end. 

In Florida, you have up to four years from the date of the accident to file a claim with the insurer. If you don't file a claim within this period, the court will most likely dismiss your case. 

However, although you have four years to file a claim with the insurer, it's always advisable to contact an attorney as soon as possible. This gives the attorney enough time to investigate the accident and build a strong case, increasing your chances of getting a favorable settlement.

If you or your loved one has been injured in a car accident in Florida, PIP insurance laws require you seek medical attention no later than 14 days (two weeks) after the accident. If you don't seek medical attention within two weeks, the insurance company will most likely deny your claim.

It's also important to note that seeking medical attention after a crash isn't all about increasing your chances of filling a successful claim. Instead, it helps identify potential injuries that require urgent treatment. For instance, internal injuries caused by car accidents are not always that easy to detect without medical tests. As a result, many people lose their lives or undergo expensive treatment procedures due to such injuries. 

When you fail to seek medical attention within the 14 days per PIP insurance laws, the insurance company could also argue that you weren't injured in the car accident. Rather, they'll claim that you got injured elsewhere. Even though the insurer might be wrong in their judgment, you should always expect them to cling to any reason to minimize or jeopardize your claim. Seeking immediate medical attention makes it nearly impossible to disregard the injuries sustained from the accident.

Since Florida is a no-fault state, all you have to prove after a car accident is that you suffered a serious injury. In this case, a serious injury could be any of the following:

• permanent bodily injuries;
• permanent loss of bodily function;
• permanent disfigurement or scarring; or
• death.

The validity of a claim varies from case to case. Even if you believe you have a strong case against the other party, it's always advisable to consult an experienced car accident attorney. As mentioned earlier, such an attorney will evaluate your case and offer the legal advice you need to decide your next step.

When you get injured in a car accident in Panama City or anywhere else in Florida, you should:

• Remain calm and call 911 if you need urgent medical attention
• Check on passengers in your vehicle to establish if they are also injured 
• Collect information about the other driver—this includes their name, license plate numbers, contact information, insurance information, and any additional relevant information
• Identify any witnesses at the accident scene and collect their contact information
• Cooperate with police officers and the emergency crew that responds to the accident
• Seek medical attention no later than 14 days after the accident
• Inform your insurance about the accident but do not provide any recorded statement
• Don't discuss the crash in detail—only provide basic information such as the location, date, and time of the accident
• Obtain the police report 
• Contact a Morgan & Morgan car accident lawyer for a free case evaluation

In Florida, you have up to 10 days to report a car accident to your insurance provider. If you fail to report within the first 10 days of the accident, the insurance company could dispute your claim. More importantly, when you notify the insurer about the accident, you should avoid making statements such as “I feel okay” or any other statement that could downplay your injuries and jeopardize your claim.

In addition, don't forget that insurance companies are in business like other companies. They make profits by limiting the amounts they pay to accident victims (expenses) as compensation for their injuries. Therefore, when you claim that you feel “okay” after the accident, the insurance company will relieve themselves of liability as far as your medical expenses are concerned. 

In addition, after a car accident, some injuries might take time to show. For example, the pain caused by whiplash doesn't usually manifest itself right after the accident; it takes a couple of days. But if you admit that you feel fine after the accident but later change the narrative, the insurer could claim that you're not consistent with your statement, giving them enough reason to doubt your claim. 

This further explains the importance of working with a car accident attorney. The attorney will explain everything you need to do—and not do—after a car accident. With this kind of information, you become even more aware of the different tactics insurance companies use to avoid liability after a car accident.

After a car accident, it's understandable that you may not be aware of the things you shouldn't do. You don't always go on a walk or drive expecting to get injured in a car accident. However, knowing these things well in advance can significantly change the entire claims process.

After a car accident in Panama City or anywhere else in Florida:

Do not forget to call 911. It's important that you call 911 if you have suffered injuries or property damage worth $500 and more. However, this rule is usually not so clear because it's difficult to tell the actual value of an injury or property damage without a professional assessment. For this reason, it's always advisable to call 911 just as long as there is any injury or damage. 

Calling 911 helps establish the existence of the accident. Additionally, when police officers respond to the accident scene, they'll write a police report. You can then request a copy of the report and use it when filing a claim with your insurance company. Most insurance providers trust police reports rather than victims' statements. 

Do not forget to document the accident. If you fail to document the accident, you'll have a rougher time trying to prove to your insurance company that you deserve compensation for the accident. Although car accident attorneys can help collect important evidence to help strengthen your claim, this process is more complex if you don't have basic information about the accident. Your attorney will need this information to build a strong case. Similarly, the insurance company will also need this information to verify and process the claim.

Do not admit fault. When you admit fault after an accident, your statements can be used against you when negotiating a reasonable settlement. For this reason, don't admit fault, even if you feel that you're responsible for the accident. Instead, talk to an experienced car accident attorney for further guidance.

Do not discuss the accident without your attorney's consent. Your insurance provider or the other driver's insurer will most likely contact you after the accident. Regardless of who contacts you first, you should avoid discussing the accident in detail without your attorney's advice. One of the most common reasons insurance companies contact car accident victims right after the accident is because they know most individuals are often traumatized and vulnerable at such a time. 

For this reason, they stand a higher chance of admitting fault for things they are not even liable for. They also are more likely to agree to a settlement offer without legal guidance. So next time an insurance company contacts you after an accident, it's not because they care so much for you; they're trying every possible way to dismiss or jeopardize your claim.

Do not discuss the accident on social media. In the modern world of technology, social media has become part of our lives. So when you get injured in a car accident, you may want to update your friends or family on social media about your status. However, did you know that the insurance company might hire a private investigator to monitor your movements, hoping to find any reason to jeopardize your claim? 

Some investigators will even monitor your social media activity, trying to find anything to relieve themselves from liability. So when you post a photo of yourself partying with your friends, even if it is an old picture, they could use it against you in court. 

Most car accident claims can be settled out of court. Here's how it works:

When you contact Morgan & Morgan for a free case evaluation, we'll review your case and determine whether you have a valid claim against the other party. Once we've determined that you have a valid claim, we'll build a strong case against the other party and begin negotiations for a reasonable settlement.

Most insurance companies agree to settle out of court, especially when they realize that Morgan & Morgan's car accident attorneys represent the accident victim. This is because we are the largest personal injury law firm in the country with a proven history of winning such cases. In addition, we have access to powerful legal resources to pursue different types of claims. 

Remember that not all insurance companies agree to settle out of court. This mostly happens when they realize you don't have a strong case against them or access to the legal resources required to investigate such an accident. Some insurance providers will also refuse to settle if you made certain mistakes after the accident. For example, if you told the insurance company that you felt okay after the accident, they could use such statements against you. 

Whether or not they decide to settle the case out of court isn't something we're always worried about. As the country's largest personal injury law firm, we have the resources to fight for our client's rights in and out of court. So if the insurer refuses to settle out of court, they'll see us in court. 

And when we take the claim to court, the other party will have to pay even more if we win the lawsuit. This is because settling a case in court comes with more legal expenses than an out-of-court settlement. 

When looking for a car accident attorney in Panama City, you'll come across numerous law firms and attorneys that promise to provide the best legal representation. However, the truth is that not every attorney or law firm you come across is worth your time. Here are some key factors to consider when looking for the best car accident lawyer in Panama City. 

Experience: You need an experienced attorney. At Morgan & Morgan, we've been providing legal representation for car accident victims in Panama City and all over Florida for over 30 years.

Resources: A law firm or attorney with access to powerful legal resources will most likely conduct thorough investigations and file a strong claim on your behalf. That's what you get when you hire Morgan & Morgan personal injury attorneys. We have unlimited legal resources to fight for your rights.

Reviews: What do other clients think about that law firm or attorney? This could give you a rough idea of what to expect when you work with them. For example, at Morgan & Morgan, we have over 28,000 5-star reviews on Google from happy clients who wouldn't hesitate to recommend us to new clients.

Payment: Finding out more about the payment structure helps avoid surprises. At Morgan & Morgan, we charge our clients on a contingency basis, meaning they don't pay us unless we win.

Morgan & Morgan is the law firm to contact when looking for the best car accident attorney in Panama City. Our team of experienced attorneys is always ready to fight for our client's rights in and out of court, ensuring they receive the compensation they need and deserve following a car accident.

Besides, we have been providing legal representation for our clients for over three decades and have recovered more than $20 billion as compensation for different injuries. So if you're looking for a law firm with proven experience in handling such cases, you've come to the right place. 

Although we're the country's largest personal injury law firm, we don't charge any upfront or hidden fees. So actually, you do not have anything to lose but so much to gain when you contact Morgan & Morgan for a free case evaluation.

You'd think that it's easy to process a car accident claim in Florida since it is a no-fault state. But that's not always the case. Whether you need to file a claim with your own insurer or the other driver's, you should always expect disputes along the way, especially if the claim involves huge amounts of money. However, working with a Morgan & Morgan car accident attorney is a huge step towards securing the compensation you need and deserve. Insurance companies know that we take our client's rights seriously and stop at nothing less than total compensation for their injuries.

If you or your loved one has been injured in a car accident, you may be eligible for compensation. Working with us transforms your eligibility into reality. Call 850-876-7800 to speak with one of our representatives today or fill out our confidential online consultation form, and we'll get back to you within 24 hours.