When to Call a Personal Injury Lawyer in Florida?
You should call a personal injury lawyer in Florida when you:
- Have suffered injuries and losses in an accident
- Know (or even just suspect) that the accident was caused by someone else’s negligence
- Have received medical care for your injuries and are not in immediate danger
- Are ready to start exploring your legal options for recovering compensation
When Should You Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Florida?
You should give yourself time to get medical care and speak to several personal injury law firms in your area before you hire any particular attorney. This way, you avoid rushing into an important decision when you are not feeling well, and you also make sure that the personal injury law firm you hire:
- Is knowledgeable about personal injury law
- Has relevant experience
- Is the right legal team for you
Why Hire a Florida Personal Injury Lawyer?
If you have been injured or lost a loved one in an accident that another party caused, our personal injury attorneys can fight for the compensation you deserve. You can use this money to support your family and replace whatever income you have lost because of the accident.
Consider the following scenarios. If any of them match your situation, it may be a good time to call a personal injury lawyer in Florida.
You Want Help Identifying and Assessing Your Personal Injury Damages
Your damages may be extensive, and you may not be able to identify all of the losses you incurred that warrant compensation.
Furthermore, some losses are not based on specific values and cannot be estimated without special calculations that the average person likely does not know. Put more simply, you might want professional help to accurately convert your physical pain and emotional trauma into financial terms so you can be fairly compensated.
Types of Damages That Florida Residents May Be Able to Recover
Common recoverable damages include:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of wages
- Diminished future earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of quality of life
- Emotional distress
Our lawyers in Florida can identify every damage you deserve for your suffering. This helps ensure you do not leave any money on the table.
You Have Severe or Permanent Personal Injuries
Serious and catastrophic injuries can come with medical bills and lost wages that total into the tens or hundreds of thousands—sometimes even higher. Permanent injuries often have costs that continue for the rest of your life. This could happen to you if:
- You suffered paralysis or nerve damage that prevents you from walking.
- You sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that keeps you from working full-time ever again.
- You will require constant or recurring medical treatment to address permanent injuries and chronic pain.
The Insurer Offers You a Lowball Personal Injury Settlement and You Need to Negotiate for More
You may think that you just need to take what you can get, even if the insurance company’s offer does not cover your projected medical expenses. This is not true. You can always negotiate for more, and our personal injury law firm can handle that process for you.
The first offer from an insurance adjuster is often very low, as they are hoping the injured party does not know better. If you accept a settlement without legal advice, you risk losing substantial compensation.
The Florida Insurer Refuses to Handle Your Claim in Good Faith
Insurance companies are businesses and, as such, will protect their bottom line. This means that they may refuse to pay you what you are entitled to, especially if you attempt to work with them on your own.
If you are handling your case alone, they may think they can take advantage of you. Do not try to speak to the insurance adjuster directly, no matter how friendly they seem. Instead, tell them to send all inquiries and offers to your personal injury law firm, and let us take care of the rest.
The Other Party Claims You Are at Fault for the Personal Injury Accident
Florida follows a modified comparative negligence law. This law, found at Florida Statutes § 768.81, holds that you cannot recover compensation if you are more than 50 percent responsible for an accident. The insurer may therefore be eager to pin the blame on you so that they can get out of paying you a fair settlement.
It is very important to get legal help if the other party is claiming you were responsible or if you think you may have contributed to the accident. One of our accident injury attorneys can gather the necessary evidence to prove the other party is liable.
You Do Not Want to Handle an Injury Claim or Lawsuit Alone
You always want to hire a personal injury attorney when fault is disputed or the insurance company is refusing to treat you fairly. However, it is also good practice to hire an attorney if you do not feel equipped to manage an injury claim. Your legal action could require some or all of the following actions:
- Gather evidence
- Identify all liable parties
- Prove liability
- File paperwork
- List and seek compensation for all your damages, even those you did not know were compensable
- Negotiate a fair settlement with the insurer
- File a lawsuit, if necessary
- Prepare and present your case in court, if necessary
These tasks can be very difficult to do, especially if you are recovering from serious injuries or caring for an injured loved one. Our team can manage every aspect of your case while you focus on yourself and your family.
The Advantages of Discussing Your Case With Our Injury Attorney Quickly
It is beneficial to consult with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after any accident or incident that involves injuries. Doing so can help preserve evidence and allow legal counsel to begin working on your case promptly.
It is also important to get a lawyer on your case because you have a limited time to take action, per Florida Statutes § 95.11. You may need to file a lawsuit to recover the compensation you deserve, but you only have two years to do so. If you fail to file your lawsuit within Florida’s statute of limitations deadline, you may find yourself unable to recover any compensation.
What Kinds of Personal Injury Cases Can Florida Lawyers Help With?
That depends on the firm. Some deal with only a narrow range of case types, while others, like ours, can assist clients with all types of injury accidents, including:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Boat accidents
- Bus accidents
- Dog bites
- Slips and falls
- Wrongful death
Make sure that you hire a firm that has the right skills, experience, and knowledge to tackle your specific case.
Call the Florida Personal Injury Lawyers From Meldon Law Today
The legal professionals at Meldon Law are dedicated to representing our clients with compassion and integrity. We can take on your fight as if it were our own and aggressively pursue the compensation you need and deserve during this difficult time.
You can call our personal injury lawyers in Florida whenever you are ready to discuss your legal options. Contact us today to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.
