Hit And Run Accident Lawyer Lakeland, Florida
After an injury in a car accident, you might wonder about taking potential legal action to help cover medical expenses and recoup some of your personal losses. However, deciding anything too quickly might be a mistake. Before charging forward with your personal injury claim, it is critical to understand its value, and for that, you need to know how worth is determined in these claims. For most personal injury claims, the value of pursuing action versus potential gain comes down to three factors. A hit and run accident lawyer in Lakeland, Florida can help.
1. Liability or Fault
The first and likely most important factor to consider is the liability, which refers to the responsibility for the accident, or more plainly, who’s at fault. Unfortunately, this issue is not so cut-and-dry because states have their own adopted philosophies surrounding the idea. Therefore, you will need to review your state to determine if it practices a pure or contributory negligence system. If it is a pure system, then things are more straightforward. However, if it is a contributory system, then you need to prove that the other driver was more than 51% responsible for your injuries. A hit and run accident lawyer in Lakeland, Florida can evaluate your case to determine liability.
2. Injury and Damages
Once you have determined the other driver is at fault, or at least more at fault than you, it is time to assess the value of your injuries or damages. For this, you will need to collect all medical records, bills and receipts for any expenses related to the accident. Also, you will need to determine any lost wages. Your Lakeland, Florida hit and run accident lawyer will help you figure out the less specific expenses, like pain and suffering and loss of consortium.
3. Source of Recovery
The last and most likely the most important factor in determining the worth of a claim and whether it is worth going to trial over is the source of recovery. To put it more plainly, the ability of the liable party to pay you restitution. In a perfect world, everyone has insurance or at least adequate coverage. Unfortunately, this is not reality, and some drivers do not have insurance. If you are in a collision with an uninsured or underinsured driver, then there is a good chance that they cannot make it right. Therefore, pursuing legal action for restitution may not be advisable. Instead, use your own personal injury protection and uninsured driver coverage to help recover some of your losses. An auto accident lawyer Lakeland, FL trusts will know which legal options are the best for your case.
Let a Lakeland, Florida Hit and Run Accident Lawyer Help
There is a lot of information that goes into the decision and discussions of a personal injury claim. If you are considering filing a claim against an at-fault driver, then consider hiring an experienced hit and run accident lawyer Lakeland, Florida clients recommend from David & Philpot, PL.