If you’ve never had a personal injury claim before, you may not know what the process involves. Below are the top 10 things you should know before filing a personal injury claim in FL.
Personal Injury Suits Protect Your Rights and Interests
Suffering injury in an accident or other incident that was caused by someone else will leave you with significant financial burdens and personal losses, including medical bills, lost earnings, physical pain, and emotional distress. A personal injury lawsuit is intended to protect your rights and interests by providing you with an opportunity to be compensated for your financial and personal damages from the party or parties responsible for your injuries.
Injury Victims Represented by Counsel Recover More Money
Personal injury claimants who hire an attorney for their case can receive as much as three times the amount of compensation that claimants who try to handle their case on their own receive. Personal injury attorneys have the knowledge and experience to properly value a personal injury claim and to pursue a settlement or a result in court that provides fair and full compensation.
Read more: How Much Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?
Getting Legal Help Sooner Can Improve Your Chances
Having legal assistance early in the personal injury claims process can help you protect your rights and options and prevent you from making mistakes that can ruin your chances of obtaining full compensation for your damages.
Personal Injury Lawyers Don’t Cost Anything Up Front
Most personal injury attorneys and law firms work on a contingency fee basis. That means that a personal injury claimant does not have to pay anything upfront to hire a lawyer. Instead, the lawyer gets paid only if and when the lawyer wins compensation for the client, usually receiving an agreed-upon percentage of the total recovery in the case.
Read more: What Makes a Good Personal Injury Case?
Never Sign Documents from the Insurance Company Before Talking to a Lawyer
The insurance company will try everything possible to get you to accept as little money as possible for your claim. They may offer you a quick settlement that may represent far less money than your case is truly worth. Always consult with an attorney before accepting something sent by the insurance company.
You Have Multiple Options to Recover Compensation
If you file a lawsuit, you can ultimately choose to settle your case out of court. Filing a personal injury lawsuit gives you two options for getting the compensation you deserve. First, you can accept a settlement from the other party. Or, you can win by going to trial.
You Need to Prove the Other Party’s Negligence
You will only win your personal injury lawsuit if you can prove that the other party was negligent. In other words, that they failed to exercise reasonable care, which caused you to suffer injury. You cannot recover compensation if you can’t prove that the defendant breached the duty of care owed to you.
Personal Injury Lawsuits Take a Lot of Time
Personal injury cases can often be factually and legally complex. As such, they might require months or even years to resolve through settlement negotiations or at trial. Many insurance companies often like to drag out personal injury cases as long as possible. They do so in the hope that your financial situation worsens, so you’ll accept less money. You may need to ensure that you are prepared to recover full compensation in your case.
Evidence Needed to Prove Your Damages
It’s impossible to make an argument for the value of your personal injury claim without evidence of your losses. This includes medical bills or lost wages. As such, you’ll need to compile documents and other evidence to back up your claim for compensation.
You Have Limited Time in Which to File Suit
In Florida, you only have four years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you wait too long to file, your case may be dismissed out of court.
Contact a Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Case in Florida
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries in Florida? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Lawlor, White & Murphey represent clients injured in Coconut Creek, Plantation, Pompano Beach, and Pembroke Pines, and throughout Florida. Call (954) 525-2345 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 2211 Davie Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312, as well as offices in Pembroke Pines, Weston, Coconut Creek, Plantation, and Pompano Beach.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.