Most of us, at some point, will get into a fender bender. Thankfully, most car accidents are minor. Car accident lawyers in Lakeland, Florida certainly handle more than their fair share of serious car accidents. But, for the most part, people who get into a car crash are able to walk away with a few bumps and bruises. However, they usually suffer some sort of damage to their car. And, even if their injuries are minor, they may end up missing some time from work. These are the sorts of things the other driver should be held responsible for if they were at fault. In order to make that happen, however, you need to prove that they were at fault. That’s where your Florida car accident lawyer comes into the picture.
In order to prove anything, your lawyer is going to need a copy of the police report. If you don’t call the cops for some reason, it’s going to be your word against the other driver’s word. No matter how confident you are that they were at fault, that doesn’t mean a jury will believe you. Nor does it mean the insurance company is going to pay your claim. In fact, if you don’t call the police, your insurance claim may be denied. The insurance adjuster needs to be able to confirm what happened. The only real way to do that is with a police report. Plus, if you don’t have the report, it’s going to make your car accident lawyer’s job that much harder. Here, we’ll talk about a few of the reasons people decide not to call the cops after an accident in Lakeland, Florida.
There’s Never A Good Reason To Agree Not To Call The Police
If you’ve ever stood on the side of the road waiting for the cops to arrive at the scene of an accident, you know how frustrating it can be. Even if it’s only fifteen or twenty minutes, it feels like a lifetime. So, when the other driver offers to just pay to get your car fixed, you may be tempted to take them up on the offer. It would make life a lot easier. You won’t have to deal with insurance companies. You don’t have to worry about either of you getting a traffic ticket. Plus, you can get on your way and not have to worry about standing around all afternoon. However, this is never a good idea.
When the other driver promises to take care of the damage to your car, they may mean it. More often than not, however, you end up with fake insurance information. Or, they lie about who they are and give you a disconnected phone number. By the time you find out, they’re long gone. You have no way to go to the police. You probably don’t even know how to get in touch with them.
There are a few reasons why the other driver would ask you to not call the cops. No matter how bad you feel for them, never agree to this. Some of these reasons include:
- They don’t have insurance
- Their license has been suspended or revoked
- They are under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- They are driving a stolen car
If any of these are the case, you’ll be asking for trouble if you agree to not call the cops.
Contact An Experienced Car Accident Lawyer In Lakeland, Florida
A lot of people think that, if their accident is minor, they don’t need a lawyer. And, technically you don’t. The law doesn’t require you to hire a lawyer. You have every right to handle the case yourself. And, if you weren’t seriously injured, you may see no reason to hire an attorney. If all you’re asking for is the money to get your car fixed, you may be able to deal with it. However, if your insurance claim is denied, you won’t be getting any money. Or, if the other driver doesn’t have insurance, you are going to have to pursue the other driver personally. This can get difficult. And, without a police report, it can be near impossible.
That’s why you should consider contacting an experienced car accident law firm in Lakeland right away. Even if you decide not to retain them, you can at least take advantage of the free initial consultation. Sit down with someone who can answer your questions and, hopefully, set your mind at ease.
