Short answer? Yes. Long answer? Also yes.

If you’re feeling pain or think you may have sustained an injury after a crash—even a “minor” one—you should talk to a personal injury lawyer. Worst-case scenario? We review your situation and tell you there’s no case to pursue or no available avenue of recovery. But if you try to handle things on your own, you’re stepping into the insurance company’s playing field, and trust us, the wrote the rulebook.

The Truth About Handling It Yourself

Insurance companies love when you go it alone. Why? Because their job is to pay out as little as possible, and if there’s no lawyer involved, they can take advantage of your lack of experience. You might be tempted to just “get it over with,” especially if you are offered a check quickly. But that check? It’s often a fraction of what your case is actually worth.

We’ve seen clients who were offered $500-$1,000 before they even knew the full extent of their injuries. Some were still in pain, hadn’t gotten imaging done yet, and didn’t realize they would need months of treatment. Once you’ve cashed their check, you’ve usually signed away your rights for good.

Why It’s Risky to Wait

Many people wait until something goes wrong—medical bills start piling up, their pain worsens, or the insurance company starts ghosting them. The problem is, the longer you wait, the more evidence disappears, and the harder it is to present a strong case. A personal injury lawyer will help:

• Preserve evidence (dash cam footage, 911 calls, surveillance videos)

• Document your injuries properly

• Navigate insurance coverages (PIP, UM) and health insurance liens

• Track down hidden insurance policies

• Fight lowball offers and build your claim’s true value

And in our firm’s case, we also provide emotional support, clear explanations, and a human touch throughout the process—because we’ve been through it ourselves, and we treat our clients like family.

What If I Was Partially At Fault?

Florida follows a modified comparative fault system. That means if you’re found partially responsible for the crash, your compensation may be reduced—but it doesn’t mean you are out of luck. In fact, this is one of those situations where having a lawyer becomes even more important, because your version of events needs to be supported and well-documented to avoid being unfairly blamed.

You Have Nothing to Lose (But a Lot to Gain)

At Kushel Law Group, we don’t charge you anything upfront. Our consultations are completely free, and we only get paid if we win your case. So even if you’re unsure whether you “really” need a lawyer, there’s no harm in having us take a look. If your case doesn’t require an attorney, we’ll tell you. And if it does, we will gladly guide you every step of the way.