The time after an accident can be stressful and confusing. You probably have a million questions about what will happen next. Getting answers to those questions on your own can sometimes be difficult.
After an accident, you could be entitled to significant compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. An experienced Florida personal injury attorney can help through this time and help get you the compensation you are owed.
Getting answers to all your questions does not have to be difficult. Learn everything you need to know about personal injury claims below from some of the most common questions that personal injury clients ask us. If you need more information or help, reach out to Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers to set up a free consultation. You can contact us online or call (904) 356-6071. We will be there to guide you every step of the way.
What is a Personal Injury Claim?
A personal injury claim arises when you are injured due to someone else’s negligence. Most all personal injury claims are based on the legal concept of negligence. At a basic level, negligence means that someone was acting carelessly and injured another person.
From a legal perspective, negligence includes four elements. These are:
- Duty of care: A responsibility to act in a manner consistent with a reasonable person in a similar situation
- Breach of duty: Failure to act in a reasonable manner as required by your duty of care to others
- Causation: The injuries sustained must have been both a direct and foreseeable consequence of the wrongdoer’s conduct
- Damages: Some loss suffered by the victim, such as property damage, medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering.
All four of these elements must be present and proven in order to be successful with your personal injury claim.
How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help Me?
Even though you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, getting it is not always as easy as it sounds. The insurance company is out to protect their bottom line, so they will often do everything possible to avoid paying your claim.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you with every detail of your case and help you get all the compensation to which you are entitled. Some ways a lawyer can help you after an accident include:
- Thoroughly investigating your accident to determine who was responsible
- Identifying all potential defendants and potential sources of compensation
- Interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence to help prove your claim
- Handling all paperwork and conversations with the insurance company
- Negotiating a full and fair settlement that compensates you for all your injuries
- Filing a lawsuit and fighting for you in court when necessary
After your accident, don’t let the insurance company take advantage of you with a lowball settlement offer. Get the help of an experienced attorney who can help protect your legal rights and get you the compensation you are owed.
What Are Some Common Types of Personal Injury Cases?
Injuries can happen almost anywhere, and many of these situations can create a potential personal injury claim. Personal injury lawyers help with many different types of cases. Some of the most common types of personal injury cases are:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Dog bites
- Nursing home abuse
- Premises liability cases
Regardless of the type of personal injury case you may be facing, the experienced team at Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers can help you with your claim. Give us a call today to schedule your free consultation.
How Much is My Personal Injury Claim Worth?
The value of your claim depends mostly on the nature and severity of your injuries. Cases involving more severe injuries will be worth more than those involving only minor injuries. On average, a personal injury claim involving moderate injuries can be worth anywhere from $5,000 to $35,000. Some other factors that can affect the value of your claim include:
- The total amount of your medical bills
- How long you were out of work due to your injury
- Whether you will be able to return to work
- Your expected future medical care needs
- How your relationships with friends and family have been affected
It is not uncommon for cases involving catastrophic injuries to be worth six figures or more. The best way to understand the potential value of your claim is to seek the help of an experienced Florida personal injury attorney.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
The time after an accident can be financially difficult. You may have medical bills starting to pile up, and your injuries might be preventing you from working. The cost to hire a lawyer might seem like an obstacle you cannot overcome.
Thankfully, hiring a personal injury lawyer will not usually cost you any money up front. Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. When using this type of fee, the lawyer does not require an upfront payment. Instead, their fee is taken as a portion of any compensation received by the client.
Average contingency fees in personal injury cases can range from 25% to 50% of the total recovery. Some factors that influence the amount of the fee are:
- Location
- Complexity of the case
- Severity of the injuries involved
- Lawyer’s experience level and track record
- Timing of the case’s disposition (settlement before a lawsuit, settlement before trial, jury award)
The Florida Court Rules require contingency fee agreements to be in writing, and they must clearly state how the fee will be calculated. Make sure you fully understand the fee agreement prior to hiring a lawyer.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Florida?
Florida has a two-year statute of limitations for most personal injury cases. This means that you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline can cause you to lose all your rights to recover compensation.
The longer you wait to pursue your claim, the more difficult it can be to prove your case. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help determine the specific filing deadline for your case and make sure that you do not lose your right to be compensated for your injuries.
Contact a Florida Personal Injury Lawyer For Help With Your Case
If you have been injured because of someone else’s negligence, you need an experienced lawyer who can help you with your case. You do not have to go through this difficult situation alone. Contact Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free consultation with a Florida personal injury lawyer. We can answer all your questions and will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.