Lakeland Car Accident Lawyers

Car accidents are a source of great concern across the United States. Some circumstances, like dangerous intersections, may make those dangers worse: for example, at the intersection between U.S. 98 N and Griffin Road, or the intersection between Kathleen Road and West 10th Street, many drivers may face enhanced danger due to the increased potential for an accident.

In other cases, accidents may occur because one driver failed to pay adequate attention behind the wheel or because a driver chose to engage in potentially risky behaviors like speeding.

At Dolman Law Group, we understand car accident victims' challenges in the Lakeland area as they struggle to seek much-needed compensation for their injuries. Contact a Lakeland car accident lawyer to discuss your injuries and your right to compensation.

Dolman Law Group: Personalized Help for Lakeland Car Accident Victims

When you suffer injuries in a car accident, you need a Lakeland personal injury law firm that will focus on making sure you get the support you need as you navigate the often complex elements of your car accident claim.

At Dolman Law Group, we understand how devastating it can feel when the law firm does not seem to take you seriously, or you end up fighting just to get in touch with a lawyer, much less to move forward with your claim.

As a teen, founding lawyer Matthew Dolman watched his father struggle to get a law firm to help him after a car accident. His dedication to law stems from his determination to ensure that his clients would not face similar challenges.

We have the resources to fight against major car insurance providers.

When you suffer severe injuries in a car accident, you may feel like the insurance company holds all the cards. The insurance company may have the resources necessary to fight aggressively against you, effectively minimizing the compensation you can seek after your accident. Without similar resources of your own, you may worry that you will ultimately end up without the compensation you deserve.

At Dolman Law Group, however, we have those much-needed resources, and we can fight just as aggressively as the insurance company. We aim to help our clients recover reasonable compensation for the injuries they may have sustained in their accidents.

Need to fight Progressive? Geico? Allstate? At Dolman Law Group, we have the resources necessary to tackle popular insurance providers and help our clients on their journey to compensation.

We have a strong history of results in past car accident claims.

While the results of our past car accident claims cannot guarantee the results you will obtain in your car accident claim, they display our dedication to fighting for our clients as they pursue reasonable compensation for their injuries.

Take a look at some of those past claim results:

• $5 million after a car accident that resulted in burns
• $1 million after a car accident with severe injuries
• $775 thousand for a father and son injured in a car accident
• $425 thousand for a car accident victim with a lower back injury
• $380 thousand after a rear-end collision resulted in a herniated disc

At Dolman Law Group, we work to provide comprehensive legal representation for every client. In many cases, we have helped car accident victims maximize the compensation they can recover after their accidents.

We offer personalized legal care for each client.

You do not want a one-size-fits-all approach to your Lakeland car accident claim. Instead, you want a lawyer to provide you with personalized legal support based on your specific needs. At Dolman Law Group, we focus on delivering a customized experience for each client. We strive to make each one feel supported, represented, and heard while we fight to help them maximize the results of their claims.

Did you suffer injuries in a Lakeland car accident? At Dolman Law Group, we aim to help our clients seek the results they deserve for those car accident injuries. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support you as you progress with your claim.

How Much Is Your Lakeland Car Accident Claim Worth?

When they realize that they have sustained severe injuries in a Lakeland car accident and need to pursue compensation, many may start by questioning the value of their car accident claim. How much compensation can you get as part of a Lakeland car accident claim, and how do you know you have received a fair settlement offer?

At Dolman Law Group, we cannot guarantee the results of your claim.

How much compensation you can obtain for your Lakeland car accident injuries may depend on several factors, including:

• Who caused the accident
• Whether multiple parties contributed to the accident
• What coverage the insurance policies offer
• The extent of your injuries

Having a lawyer on your side can make it easier to recover the compensation you deserve, increasing the odds that you will get a fair settlement offer for your injuries. At Dolman Law Group, we help our clients take a comprehensive look at the damages they sustained as part of their car accidents. We help them formulate a personal injury claim that lays out all those losses and pursues the compensation they deserve.

Compensation for Medical Costs

Your medical costs can become some of the most financially devastating after a car accident in Lakeland. While Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center may provide a high standard of care for Lakeland car accident victims who do not want to go outside the area for care, that care may come along with high medical costs. Furthermore, you may end up dealing with ongoing treatment for your injuries, which can further increase your medical costs and ongoing needs.

Talk to your lawyer about medical treatment costs after your car accident. Keep in mind that, in Florida, you will need to use your personal injury protection insurance to cover the initial cost of medical treatment following a car accident. PIP insurance usually provides coverage for 80 percent of the first $10,000 of medical care, minimum, that you may face after a car accident. If your medical needs exceed those costs, you may have the right to pursue an injury claim for the additional costs.

Compensation for Lost Wages

Did you end up missing out on income because of your car accident? Many car accident victims find it incredibly difficult to return to work after a car accident. They may have a tough time working due to pain, confusion, and disorientation from a brain injury or the impact of their medications. Others may find that their employers have specific policies that prohibit them from returning to the job until they have moved forward with their recovery after a car accident.

Talk to your lawyer about any income you missed out on because of your car accident. Did you have to miss time at work right after the accident? Go back on a limited schedule? Miss time for follow-up appointments and further procedures? Make sure you take a comprehensive look at all those losses and how they have impacted your finances.

Pain and Suffering

While your financial woes may cause considerable problems as you deal with the aftermath of your car accident, you may find that other challenges cause even deeper, longer-lasting problems. For example, you may find that your injuries lead to substantial physical pain or that the limitations of your injuries prevent you from enjoying many of the things you did before your car accident.

At Dolman Law Group, we understand that the funds from an injury claim cannot do away with that suffering. They can provide you with the compensation you may need to rebuild your life despite staggering injuries and losses. Let us know about the challenges you have faced during your recovery so that we can help you craft an injury claim that accurately reflects those losses.

Lakeland Car Accidents: By the Numbers

Lakeland car crashes can occur for several reasons: distraction, intoxication, weather challenges during Florida's often-heavy rains, and more.

Look at some of the significant car accident numbers, facts, and statistics in the Lakeland area:

• 18 to 24 fatal car crashes occur in Lakeland each year.
• Accidents may occur more frequently in dangerous intersections around the Lakeland area. For example, U.S. 98 North and Griffin Road, and Kathleen Road and West 10 Street, serve as some of the most dangerous intersections in the Lakeland area.
• According to Florida law, Lakeland car accident victims have up to four years following a car accident to move forward with an injury claim that may help them recover compensation for those injuries.
• Lakeland car accidents can result in severe injuries, including brain injury, spinal cord injury, or multiple broken bones.

A Lakeland car accident can feel incredibly difficult on your own. Many people miss out on the total compensation they deserve for their injuries. Working with a lawyer gives you a better idea of what to expect as you file an injury claim after a car accident in Lakeland.

Fighting the Insurance Company After a Lakeland Car Accident

Car insurance companies often have extensive legal teams devoted to minimizing the compensation the car insurance company has to pay out after an accident as much as possible.

Unfortunately, suppose the car insurance company manages to avoid that payout. In that case, it generally means that you, as the accident victim, will end up without the compensation you deserve for the injuries you may have sustained in the car accident.

If you find yourself fighting with an insurance company, including Progressive, Nationwide, or Farmers, as you pursue the compensation you deserve after a car accident in Lakeland, Dolman Law Group can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.

What to Do After a Lakeland Car Accident

What should you do next when you sustain injuries in a Lakeland car accident?

Of course, you probably went straight to the hospital or an urgent care center to assess your injuries and receive treatment, but what happens after that?

• Get in touch with Dolman Law Group as soon as possible. Having a lawyer on your side can make it easier to navigate everything from low settlement offers to any conversation with the insurance company that might prevent you from recovering the compensation you deserve.
• Check the accident report from your car accident. Get in touch with the police department that issued the report to correct any inaccurate information, especially the time or place of the accident. We can help you do this.
• Track all your medical spending once you exceed your PIP policy coverage. Make sure you keep track of all receipts. You may also need to show evidence of how you used your PIP insurance to cover your initial medical costs.
• Document your recovery. Keep a journal that shows what suffering you faced throughout your recovery and how you have dealt with it.
• Avoid talking to the insurance company alone. Insurance companies often push victims to accept low settlement offers or liability for the accident. By working with Dolman Law Group and letting us handle those interactions for you, you can increase the odds of a more satisfactory resolution to your claim.

After a car accident, you may have many more questions about how to best handle yourself and your next steps. Let Dolman Law Group know about the challenges you may have faced so we can help guide you through the claim process.

Lakeland Car Accident Lawyer FAQs

When you suffer devastating injuries in a car accident, you may have several questions about your right to compensation and how to best pursue it. Contact Dolman Law Group to discuss any specific questions you may have about your Lakeland car accident claim.

1. I already got a settlement offer from the insurance company after my Lakeland car accident. Do I need to talk to a lawyer about it?

Yes. Talk to our Lakeland car accident lawyers about any settlement offer you receive from the insurance company. A settlement offer can feel like a welcome relief. It serves to acknowledge that the insurance company accepts its driver's liability for the accident, which means you can pursue the funds you need in compensation for the damages you sustained because of the accident.

However, an initial settlement offer might not reflect the damages you sustained in the accident. When you receive that settlement offer, sit down with an attorney and discuss your actual losses after the accident and the compensation you should realistically expect. Does that settlement offer reflect your damages, or does it represent only a fraction of the losses you sustained? Make sure you know the answer to that question before accepting any settlement offer.

2. What should I do about my medical costs after a Lakeland car accident?

For many Lakeland residents, medical bills after a severe accident can feel incredibly daunting. Fortunately, you may have several options to help you manage those extensive costs.

Start with your PIP coverage.

Florida drivers must carry personal injury protection coverage along with the other insurance on their vehicles. That protection can be essential following any type of car accident that results in injury.

PIP coverage in Florida offers 80 percent coverage for the first $10,000 of medical expenses associated with an accident, and you can use that coverage regardless of who caused the accident. That means you do not have to wait for the insurance company to sort out who bears liability for your accident to use your PIP coverage. You can simply use that much-needed assistance to cover the cost of your medical care.

Use your health insurance if you carry it.

If you have health insurance, you may discover that your health insurance coverage offers the best protection you can get following your Lakeland car accident. Many types of injuries, from brain injuries to back injuries, require you to undergo ongoing medical treatments long after the initial incident.

Your health insurance can help alleviate those costs.

Talk to your insurance provider about what type of coverage you have for any treatments you know you will need throughout your recovery. You may, for example, want to ask questions about how much coverage you have for durable medical equipment or whether you may have coverage for in-home care. Your insurance agent can let you know how much assistance you can expect for those vital elements of your care.

Plan to use the funds from your car accident claim.

A car accident claim can provide much-needed compensation for the financial damages that often accompany a serious accident. Medical bills add up fast, and you may not have the funds on hand that you may need to take care of them. A car accident claim offers compensation for the medical costs related to your car accident.

However, that does not mean that the party that caused your accident, or that party's insurance company, will have to pay your medical bills directly. Instead, you will receive a settlement, which you can then use to cover the cost of treatment.

3. What happens if the driver that hit me in Lakeland does not have insurance?

More than 20 percent of Florida drivers do not carry auto insurance. That high number of uninsured drivers may increase the odds that you will end up involved in an accident with someone who does not carry insurance.

Fortunately, you may still have options to help you get the compensation you need.

Your lawyer may uncover another party that shares liability for the accident.

Sometimes, a lawyer can take a comprehensive look at what led to your accident and provide you with other parties who may share liability for the incident. For example, you might have the right to pursue compensation from the employer of a driver on the clock when the accident occurred, especially if the employer allowed or pressured that driver to get behind the wheel without insurance. That party may have insurance covering the cost of an accident claim, which may put you in a better position to recover compensation.

You may have the right to pursue compensation from the liable party directly.

If the liable party does not carry insurance, you can often sue the responsible party directly for the damages you sustained in the accident. A claim directly against the liable party may prove more complicated than a claim against an insurance company, so working with a lawyer as you navigate your claim can prove critical.

You may choose to pursue compensation through your own insurance.

Many drivers carry uninsured motorist coverage as part of their insurance policies. Uninsured motorist coverage will provide the same compensation after an accident caused by another driver that it would pay out if you caused an accident. In many cases, that coverage can prove essential after an accident with a driver without insurance.

Even if you pursue compensation through your own insurance company, you may need a lawyer to help you understand your rights based on the terms of your insurance policy. A lawyer can help ensure that you get reasonable compensation from your own insurance after a devastating auto accident.

4. The driver that hit me in Lakeland does carry insurance, but not adequate insurance based on my medical needs or the damages to my vehicle. How can I get compensation for those additional damages?

In some cases, you may discover that, while the driver that hit you does carry insurance, that insurance coverage does not provide adequate financial protection based on the damages you sustained in the accident. You may need to pursue compensation from the liable driver or another liable party directly, or you may have the right to use underinsured motorist coverage on your vehicle to cover the cost of your damages.

Talk to your lawyer about your coverage under your policy and how you can use it to help ensure you get the compensation you need after a devastating auto accident in Lakeland.

5. Why do I need a lawyer to handle a Lakeland car accident claim?

If you have dealt with a car accident claim that involved only property damage in the past, you may assume that you do not need a lawyer to handle an injury claim, either. Insurance companies exist to provide financial compensation after an accident, after all, and you can clearly show the damages you sustained in the accident. Can a lawyer help?

Having a lawyer on your side in an injury claim can provide several key advantages. In many cases, an injury claim after a car accident will not proceed as smoothly as a claim involving only property damage. You can navigate that claim more successfully with a lawyer on your side.

A lawyer can thoroughly review the policy and your damages to give you a better idea of how much compensation you deserve.

When you file a property damage claim alone, you will generally take your car to a certified repair shop chosen by the insurance company, and the shop will let you know what it will cost to repair the vehicle. The insurance company will issue a check in that amount or authorize the shop to take care of the repairs and pay the shop directly.

On the other hand, an injury claim may prove much more complicated. You may have a more comprehensive array of damages to claim, from the cost of medical treatment for your injuries to the wages you lost because you could not get to work after your injuries. Furthermore, you may deserve compensation for your suffering after the accident.

A lawyer can help lay out the damages you deserve as part of your injury claim, which may make it easier for you to establish what compensation you expect from the insurance company.

A lawyer can collect essential evidence regarding your car accident.

To file a car accident claim, you must show that someone else's negligence caused your car accident. In some cases, that may prove more complicated than anticipated. The liable driver may not accept liability for the accident. As the injured party, you may end up being blamed for the incident. A lawyer can help guide the investigation process and identify who caused the accident.

Furthermore, a lawyer's support may become essential to establish whether any other parties may share liability for your Lakeland car accident.

Do you need to pursue compensation from the employer of a driver on the clock at the time of the accident? Do you need to seek compensation from a mechanic who recently worked on the vehicle or a vehicle manufacturer who put out a vehicle that had a vital error that increased the risk of an accident?

A lawyer can help build your case so you can more clearly establish all parties that share liability.

A lawyer can lay out your case clearly and in a compelling manner.

You need a claim establishing the full extent of the damages you suffered and the compensation you deserve. In addition, you want your claim to display who caused your accident.

A lawyer has the experience necessary to put together those critical documents, which may help you establish the compensation you deserve.

A lawyer can fight for you.

Insurance companies have their own interests in mind as they navigate your claim. The other driver may focus on what liability could mean for their driving record, their insurance, and their future. On the other hand, you need to focus on your rights and the compensation you deserve after a devastating accident. A lawyer helps fight for you, keeping the focus on your losses and your needs so that you can move forward with your claim more effectively.

6. How long does it take to file a car accident claim in Lakeland?

Even a car accident claim that involves only property damage can take weeks to settle. A car accident claim that involves injuries of any type can take even longer.

If you suffered injuries in a Lakeland car accident, expect it to take several months before you recover compensation.

You will need time to recover from your injuries. Your doctors might predict your recovery and your progress soon after the accident, but that does not necessarily leave you with an accurate look at what complications or challenges you might face on the way to recovery. Your lawyer may advise you to wait until you have progressed several months into that recovery before filing your claim.

Both sides will need time to investigate the accident. A full investigation may involve a close look at all factors contributing to your accident and your medical progression and recovery.

Negotiation may take longer than anticipated, especially after an accident involving substantial injury.

If you have to go to court to settle your car accident claim, you will need to wait for an open court date, then present your case in court. Often, that means substantially more time added to your claim.

At Dolman Law Group, we strive to streamline the car accident claim process as much as possible for our clients. However, getting the resolution you deserve from the insurance company can take time.

Do You Need a Lakeland Car Accident Attorney?

Following injuries in a Lakeland car accident, you may need to pursue considerable compensation for the losses that may have gone along with your car accident. Unfortunately, the insurance company may not make it easy. Dolman Law Group can help with your fight for compensation. Contact us today at (833) 552-7274 (833-55-CRASH) for your free consultation.