Maybe you’ve heard that representing yourself is the best way to save money. Maybe you have friends or relatives who swear by this method. We at Andrew Pickett Law, though, recommend against it.
Though you have the right to represent yourself in Florida’s civil courts, you would likely be severely limiting the amount of compensation you could receive. What’s more, the legal system is too complex for a layperson to navigate. It would also be better for your health to focus on recovering.
Consider the Harsh Reality of the Complex Legal Process
There is no one-and-done way to handle a personal injury claim. Negotiating an out-of-court settlement might seem simple enough, but that’s not all there is to it. Plenty of investigation, paperwork, and preparation must happen to make it possible.
What if you need to go to court? A lawsuit means more paperwork, plus more time and effort, all while the time to settle your case is running out. In Florida, you have only 2 years to file a lawsuit for your claim.
Most, if not all, of the following phases must come to pass in order to pursue your case to completion before the deadline:
- Initial case evaluation: An experienced car crash attorney is the ideal source of a professional, objective assessment of your case’s viability, potential value, and the legal strategies best suited for your situation
- Thorough investigation: Police reports, medical records, eyewitness statements, accident scene photos and expert witness testimony must be gathered, but only relevant evidence that proves a “material fact” may be admissible in court
- Filing the claim: Drafting and submitting precise legal documents is an essential step, not to mention adhering to strict formats and deadlines
- Negotiation with insurers: Insurance adjusters are working for powerful companies and with entire legal teams against you to minimize their payments
- The Discovery Process: When a settlement isn’t reached and a lawsuit becomes necessary, a more formal information exchange begins, including interrogatories, requests for documents, and depositions
- Mediation or arbitration: These alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods may be used to resolve the dispute outside of court but still require time and effort
- Trial: Should all other avenues to settlement fail, the case proceeds to a formal courtroom trial, calling for meticulous preparation, adherence to strict evidentiary rules, and compelling presentation of arguments
- Appeals: In the case of an unfavorable verdict, you may have to make an appeal, which means the journey drags on
Need free legal help in Florida?
We specialize in personal injury claims.
Risks of Representing Yourself
Is it worth the risk? Choosing to self-represent in a Florida car accident lawsuit means you face these potential problems:
- Making mistakes: A single missed deadline, improperly filed document, or problem with proving liability could severely jeopardize your entire claim so you end up with little to no compensation at all.
- Unfair negotiations: Insurance adjusters are rigorously trained. When they recognize that you lack legal representation, they are less likely to negotiate fairly, knowing you may not understand the true value of your claim or how to enforce it.
- Complex paperwork and procedures: Errors in this area can lead to critical evidence being excluded or even your entire case being dismissed.
- Significant time and stress: Self-representing yourself could turn into what feels like a demanding, unpaid part-time job. This adds to your stress while you should be focused on your physical and emotional recovery.
- Lower compensation: Statistics show that the gap between what self-represented plaintiffs and their counterparts who hired lawyers received is significant. One 2016 survey showed that, on average, plaintiffs with lawyers received $77,600, while the others got $60,000 less.
Advantages of Hiring an Attorney
There are, of course, advantages of hiring an attorney besides financial gain. You can work by yourself and learn as you go, or you can work with an entire legal team that can level the playing field for you.
The personal injury lawyers of Andrew Pickett Law offer the following:
- Free, accurate case evaluation: Without any cost or obligation, find out what your case is truly worth. If we take on your case, we will negotiate with the liable parties and their insurance companies to pursue its total value, including both current and long-term economic and non-economic damages.
- Our comprehensive legal expertise: We understand Florida’s personal injury laws, court rules, and statutes of limitations.
- Effective investigation and case building: In addition to our skills in gathering and evaluating evidence, we already have the contacts of accident reconstructionists and other expert witnesses whose input can maximize the value of your case.
- Working on a contingency fee basis: We don’t charge our clients upfront fees for our services; you only pay us if we win your case.
- Trial preparation and courtroom advocacy: We always prepare for a potential lawsuit from the outset of a claim, because we know better than to be caught off guard.
- Peace of mind: By entrusting the legal burdens to us, you can focus fully on your physical and emotional healing and recovery.
Talk to Us Before Making Your Final Decision
Before you commit to representing yourself in a personal injury case, why not speak to the legal team at Andrew Pickett Law? We can examine your claim and tell you what the best course of action is to maximize its value.
Talking with us is free. Schedule your free case evaluation with us by contacting us here on our website or by calling (561) 559-6018, no matter where you live in Florida. Our services are easily accessible to clients statewide.
Need free legal help in Florida?
We specialize in personal injury claims.
