Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C. Tips On When To Hire a Car Accident Attorney

After you’ve been in a car accident, it can be very difficult to know what to do next. You’re likely coping with injuries, the emotional trauma of the accident, and trying to figure out how to move forward to handle any car repairs. This is typically the time when many believe they should contact their insurance companies to file the necessary claims, and while this is true, it is strongly recommended to first hire an accident attorney. Make sure to contact an attorney within a week or two of the accident, or as soon as possible, before starting any type of insurance claim process.

The True Intentions of Insurance Companies

Insurance companies have a primary goal of making as much money as they can. Unless they absolutely have to, companies do not want to pay you to cover the medical expenses related to your injuries or the mechanical expenses to fix your car. And since they only have to pay you this money if details of the accident and your injuries are 100% confirmed, they will find ways to circumvent the facts without proof or evidence. What many don’t know is that the moment you call your insurance company about the accident, they immediately start building a case against you. If you believe that the insurance company is there to insure you against damages and take care of you, think again. They are money machines that want to reserve their  funds and pay out as little as possible. It’s simply their business model. 

It seems very easy and straightforward to contact insurance companies and file a claim, but they intentionally make it as easy as possible in the hopes that you won’t press them for the reimbursement of damages. While we all know that the last thing you want is a long, arduous legal process following the stress and trauma of an auto accident, we urge you to understand how the insurance companies can take advantage of your vulnerability and end up costing you far more money.

The company will start to poke holes in your accident story to pin fault on you. They will do anything they can to undermine the severity of your injuries by blaming it on a pre-existing condition or finding ways out of paying for your medical bills. They’ll also contest you on the value of your car and the severity of its damages. After an accident has happened, these negotiations and debates can be very difficult to handle on top of everything else. Many people are simply guided into submission, and take the measly check that the insurance company writes to them. They think, “thank goodness I got something,” and don’t think twice about how much they truly lost from an accident that wasn’t even their fault. This is why it’s of the utmost importance that you contact an accident attorney as quickly as possible after an accident. 

Accident Review Process With Our Team

At Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C., we’ve streamlined this process to make it as easy for you as it can be. We know how much you are handling in the aftermath of the accident and our job is to be there for you and alert you to your rights. Give our office a call or send an email, and we will schedule a time as soon as possible for one of our representatives to meet with you in person. We will meet you anywhere that’s the most convenient for you, including the hospital or in your home if you’re recovering from injuries. To make it even easier, we have a free case evaluation where you can submit all the details of the accident. When one of our attorney representatives reviews your case, there is no associated cost. Do not worry about needing to pay additional fees to understand the legalities of your case. Stop into the offices of Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C., to discuss the details of your incident. 

This review process includes understanding every detail of the accident, your injuries, injuries of other parties in the car, and vehicle damages. We will take extensive notes to understand what happened and determine the estimated costs of all damages. We are highly experienced in not only this intake process but the defense process in general; with years of experience in the Florida area serving St. Petersburg, Tampa, Sarasota, Orlando, and Lakeland. This experience also allows us to share your rights with you, and help you understand the case that we will construct. We have seen auto accidents on the full spectrum of severities and we are very well educated as to how these cases typically go.

Constructing a Case With Your Information and Testimony

We then take this information and construct a case in your defense. We will outline the details of all traumas and damages against you: physical and emotional. For all the damage that occurs, there is often a chain of unseen consequences attached. For example, if you break your neck in an accident and are on bed rest for months upon months recovering, an insurance company may only pay you for the cost of medical expenses associated with your broken neck. In reality, you deserve all of your economic losses.

Calculating the “True Cost” of Your Injuries and Damages

There are ramifications of your injury far beyond just the medical expenses. If you are required to work on your feet or have a job that requires you to be in the office, you’ll be unable to work for a long period of time as a result of the medical injury. These are damages that must be repaid. That entails the loss of weeks of wages, which further knocks you down after a tragic event. We are highly experienced in advocating for the repayment of lost wages from these injuries, which will give you the time to recover without losing your livelihood. 

Additionally, other physical ramifications may not be visible to the eye or a physician’s analysis. Many people struggle with PTSD and anxiety after a severe auto accident. It may act up at night when they’re trying to fall asleep, when they’re in a car as a passenger, or when they get behind the wheel. Damages, in this case, are also emotional or mental. There needs to be compensation for appropriate therapy and psychiatric services to alleviate you of any anxiety or post-traumatic stress.

In assessing all the costs of these factors, we refer to it as the “true cost.” This is the cost beyond what it appears to be from a one-dimensional perspective, and the cost that matters most for reimbursements. Our strong and experienced legal team will seek to determine the ultimate true cost and make sure you are repaid accordingly. It’s easy to feel left behind or as just another case number when handling these confusing and challenging claim processes after an accident. We want you to focus on healing, while we fight for you to make sure you’re repaid as you deserve to be. 

Author’s Info

Michele S. Mirman is the founding partner of Mirman, Markovits and Landau in addition to being an award-winning personal injury lawyer with over 43 years experience. She has won over $1 billion in awards and settlements for her numerous, long time clients. Michele is known as a tough negotiator and an excellent trial lawyer.

Her trial experience focuses on resolving serious personal injury and wrongful death cases that include medical malpractice, construction accident cases, sexual assault, and injuries from defective machinery and equipment. In 1985 she won the then highest verdict in the United States ($4 million) on behalf of a rape victim.

Ms. Mirman’s trial experience focuses on resolving serious personal injury and wrongful death cases that include, medical malpractice, assault, and injuries resulting from defective machinery and equipment. In 1985 she won the then highest verdict in the United States ($4 million) on behalf of a rape victim.

She has served on judicial rating committees for different New York State organizations, earned Lifetime Achievement to America’s Top 100 Attorneys, is recognized as a high stakes litigator and enjoys an outstanding 10 ranking from Avvo.