Do I Need a Lawyer for My Personal Injury Case?
In the aftermath of an accident, you may be juggling a range of emotions and difficult questions.
“Why did this happen? How will this injury affect me? Can I afford these medical bills? What if I’m too hurt to work?”
As you struggle with the pain, stress, and confusion, hiring a personal injury lawyer may be the furthest thing from your mind. Yet in many circumstances, finding an experienced injury attorney to help file a personal injury claim may be the solution to many of the problems you are grappling with. With an injury lawyer on your side, you may be able to obtain compensation for medical bills and lost wages. A skilled personal injury attorney can even help you secure compensation for the pain, suffering, and other losses you experienced because of the injury.
While many different types of personal injury claims can benefit from the help of a knowledgeable professional, you should absolutely seek legal guidance from a personal injury lawyer in the following circumstances:
Auto accidents. Though Florida is a “no-fault” insurance state, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage often falls far short of covering costs like medical bills, income loss, and other costs related to recovery. In the likely event that your PIP payout is insufficient, you may need the help of a personal injury attorney to prove the other driver was responsible for your accident in order to obtain fair and just compensation. Their legal guidance will be indispensable for accidents involving any kind of vehicle— including motorcycles, trucks, and boats— regardless of whether you were involved in the incident as another driver, a cyclist, or a pedestrian.
Medical malpractice. The laws surrounding medical malpractice are complex, and it is unadvisable to attempt to handle this type of claim on your own. If a medical professional’s negligence or incompetence caused you injury or illness, you should seek legal counsel and representation from a personal injury attorney with experience in medical malpractice cases.
Trip and fall accidents. While they may sound deceptively minor, trip and fall accidents can result in severe, life-long injuries. If your trip and fall occurred at work, in a business, or a public area due to unsafe conditions—such as a slippery floor, poor lighting, or cluttered walkways—a personal injury may be able to help you hold the property owner accountable.
Cruise ship injuries. Cruise ships operate under maritime law, a unique and complex branch of the law that governs
accidents that occur on water. For this reason, it can be difficult to obtain just compensation from cruise injury claims on your own. If you’ve been involved in a cruise ship accident, you’ll need to work with a personal injury attorney who understands this unique legal area if you want to win your case.
Wrongful death. Grieving the unexpected death of a loved one can be the most painful experience you ever have to endure. If you lost a loved one because of the negligence or reckless behavior of another, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim to recover damages for loss of love, companionship, and guidance. A claim could also help to cover high costs associated with funeral expenses and medical bills. Wrongful death cases can be incredibly overwhelming and stressful, so it’s best to enlist the aid of a wrongful death attorney when pursuing these types of claims.
These are only a few examples of the many cases that may require representation from a compassionate and knowledgeable personal injury attorney. In truth, any situation where you, a child, a family member, or a loved one was injured or harmed by the behavior of another merits the guidance and support of a trusted legal professional. Don’t struggle through the emotions, pain, and high costs of injury alone—contact a personal injury lawyer to handle your claim, so you can focus on your physical and emotional healing.
About the Author:A partner at Lawlor, White & Murphey and a distinguished personal injury lawyer, Ben Murphey tries complex disputes that include civil appeals, maritime and admiralty claims, wrongful death, and labor disputes. Mr. Murphey has been recognized for his excellence in the area of personal injury litigation by being rewarded with a 10/10 Avvo Rating and named a Super Lawyers “Rising Star” for the last four consecutive years (2011-2014). Mr. Murphey regularly tries cases in state and federal courts around the country, being admitted to practice before all Florida courts and the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.