If you suffered a concussion in a car accident or slipped and fell on a greasy floor in a restaurant and broke a hip, you’re likely suffering from pain and discomfort, dealing with costly medical treatments, and missing days from work.
If you want to hold the responsible party liable and recover compensation for your injuries and losses, you need a personal injury lawyer to handle your claim. But how do you find the right personal injury lawyer for your case?
You don’t have to spend a lot of time looking for a good attorney if you have some pointers in mind when you begin your search.
What Accidents Do Personal Injury Lawyers Handle?
Personal injury lawyers help people who suffered physical and/or psychological injuries in accidents or incidents caused by the negligence of another person or party.
Some examples of cases that personal injury lawyers handle include:
- Truck accidents
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Rideshare accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer for My Case?
If you’re injured, the last thing you want to do is deal with insurance companies. Having an experienced personal injury lawyer can give you peace of mind knowing a professional will handle all the legal aspects of your case. But legal representation can also improve your chances of recovering maximum compensation in your case money you and your family need and deserve.
A recent study by the Insurance Research Council (IRC) and All-Industry Research Advisory Council (ARAC) found that victims of personal injury who hired a lawyer received settlements more than 3.5 times higher than accident victims who did not retain legal representation.
After an accident, the insurance company may offer you a settlement to cover your medical bills and lost income. The adjuster may even throw in some compensation for your pain and suffering. The offer may look attractive, especially in your time of need.
But you may not realize all the damages you deserve compensation for, such as future medical needs, loss of future earning capacity, or mental anguish. If you accept the insurance company’s offer and your injuries require more medical treatment than you realize, you cannot go back to the insurer and ask for more.
Before you accept an offer from an insurance company, consult a personal injury lawyer to understand the full value of your case. Most personal injury lawyers offer free consultations.
But you don’t want to choose just any lawyer. You want to find the right one for your case.
Why Is Choosing the Right Personal Injury Lawyer Important?
When shopping around for a personal injury attorney, it’s easy to get distracted by the silly ads some lawyers use. Before you fall for a catchy slogan, consider the outcome you want. You don’t want to risk ending up with substandard legal representation. You want a personal injury lawyer who will take your case seriously and do the leg work required to fully investigate your case, identify all liable parties, and determine the full extent and value of your damages. You want a lawyer who will play hardball with the insurance company to ensure you get full compensation.
You also deserve respect and compassion from the lawyer who will represent you so you know they will fight for justice should your personal injury case go to court.
Tips for Choosing the Right Personal Injury Attorney
An experienced personal injury lawyer knows personal injury law. They will build a strong case for you and help you avoid common legal pitfalls. Here are some tips on how to conduct your search.
Look for a Personal Injury Lawyer with Expertise in Your Type of Accident
Whether you suffered injuries in a car accident, a truck accident, or a slip and fall incident, begin your search for the right personal injury lawyer by looking for attorneys who have successfully pursued similar claims. Websites provide the perfect research material.
Look for a “Lawyer Near Me”
Choosing a personal injury attorney in your city offers several advantages. First, they understand the local legal landscape and know local courts, judges, and opposing counsel. They may also know professionals in your area who can evaluate or provide expert testimony in your case, such as medical experts and accident scene investigators. A local lawyer is also more accessible, making it easier to schedule face-to-face meetings, visit their office for advice or support, and attend court hearings as needed.
Evaluate Their Success Rate
Client reviews and testimonials provide important insight into a lawyer’s work style. Most law firms have a section on their website dedicated to testimonials where you can learn more about the attorneys’ expertise, work ethic, and communication style. You can also gain insight from Google ratings and reviews.
Consider Their Track Record
A skilled lawyer with years of experience practicing personal injury law has developed the skills and knowledge to successfully handle cases. But you also want a lawyer with a proven track record of verdicts and settlements both in and out of the courtroom that show they can deliver on their promise to recover compensation for you. Many law firms’ websites have sections that list recent verdicts and settlements.
Schedule a Consultation
Plenty of lawyers may fit the bill so far in your research. But to find the right one for you and your case, schedule a consultation. Most personal injury lawyers offer free consultations and case evaluations.
This gives the lawyer a chance to listen to you and determine whether they find it viable enough to pursue. But it also allows you to ask them questions, assess their approach to your case, and see if you feel comfortable working with them.
Use this opportunity to ask them about their communication style. How will they value your case? Will they keep you up to date on their progress? Will they make themselves readily available if you have questions?
Finally, ask about their fee structure and any costs associated with your case. The lawyer should provide an honest breakdown of any potential costs.
Make an Informed Decision
Doing some research helps you identify qualified attorneys. But, in the end, you’ll want a lawyer you can trust to fully investigate your case and face off against insurance companies to get the maximum compensation a lawyer that will treat you with respect and compassion. Ultimately, finding the right personal injury lawyer for your case may come down to a gut decision.
What Compensation Can Your Personal Injury Case Recover?
Personal injury -accident victims may recover two main types of compensation for economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages represent financial losses related to the accident, such as:
- Past medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Lost income
- Loss of earning capacity
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Property damage
Non-economic damages constitute more subjective losses like:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
In some cases, Florida courts will award punitive damages if the at-fault party acted with deliberate disregard for the safety of others, such as driving intoxicated. These damages punish wrongdoers and dissuade others from engaging in similar behaviors.
What Is My Personal Injury Claim Worth?
Some accident victims suffer severe or catastrophic injuries that leave them permanently disabled and in need of long-term medical treatment and care. When the injured person is the head of the household and primary provider, the impact can devastate the entire family.
The financial compensation you may receive for your damages depends on:
- The extent and severity of your injury
- The type of current and future treatment and care required
- Whether your injury is disabling and permanent
- The amount of income lost due to your injuries
- Whether you can work in the same capacity as before the accident, or at all
- The level of your pain and suffering
- The strength of your evidence
- Your ability to live the life you desired
- Whether the accident damages the quality of your life
- The willingness of the insurance company to offer you fair compensation
- Your patience as your attorney works your case through the legal process
What Is Florida’s Statute of Limitations for Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
Florida has a two-year deadline for filing personal injury cases in civil court. The clock begins on the date of your injury or when you discovered your injury. In most circumstances, this is the date of your accident. If you miss the statute of limitations, you cannot recover compensation for your damages through the court.
Some exceptions may lengthen or shorten this deadline. Your personal injury lawyer will ensure you meet all necessary deadlines in your case.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer from Redemption Law Today
When you suffer injuries in an accident due to the negligence of another person, you deserve compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. Having the right personal injury attorney one with experience in the area of practice of your accident, experience negotiating with insurance companies, and a solid track record for getting clients full compensation is key.
Contact a personal injury attorney in Miami today. Start with a free consultation and case evaluation and see if you can find a lawyer you can trust to treat you with compassion and respect and fight for maximum compensation for you.