If you were hurt in an accident in Florida, you can be entitled to compensation in a personal injury claim. If someone else’s negligence was the cause of your injuries, you can seek payment for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other costs of the accident. An experienced Florida personal injury lawyer can help.
To hire the best lawyer for your Florida personal injury case, you want to make sure you are asking the right questions. Your consultation is your chance to interview your potential lawyer and make sure you’re going in the right direction. It’s helpful to know the questions to ask a personal injury lawyer during a free consultation.
1. What Types of Personal Injury Cases Do You Handle?
You should seek a lawyer with experience in the type of case that you are involved in. If you were involved in a car accident, you want a lawyer who’s handled many car accident cases before with great results.
Some cases can be even more unique. For example, if you were injured at Disney World, proving your claim can require help from an experienced premises liability lawyer who’s won claims against Disney before. A personal injury attorney with experience in your type of case will know the laws involved and have skills and resources that will help you in your claim.
2. How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
You’ll want to ask your potential lawyer about attorney’s fees before getting started. Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means you do not pay upfront and only pay legal fees if you win your case. Contingent fees are based on a percentage of the jury verdict or settlement in your case. You’ll need to know what this percentage would be given the circumstances of your case.
You will also want to ask about how costs such as filing fees, expert witness fees, investigator fees, and other expenses in your case will be handled. In most cases, these will be paid from your final settlement.
If, for any reason, a personal injury lawyer will expect you to pay hourly fees as the case proceeds or a retainer upfront, you will need to know this. You are likely already dealing with unexpected medical bills, lost pay, and other expenses – you might have trouble paying attorney’s fees upfront.
3. How Long Will It Take to Settle a Personal Injury Claim?
Different factors will be involved in settling a personal injury claim. From start to finish, a personal injury claim can be processed in several weeks or over a year. This depends on the issues involved and how complex the case is.
If you are still going through treatment for your injuries, this can impact the timing of your settlement. You do not want to settle your personal injury claim before completing treatment for injuries caused by the accident. Your overall financial damages will be hard to determine until you’ve gone through medical treatment and have an idea of the impact on your career.
Different types of cases will also take longer than others. A fender-bender claim can settle much sooner than a catastrophic injury claim, for example. An honest, experienced lawyer will be able to estimate how long your claim might take to settle but can not make guarantees.
4. What Damages Can I Receive in a Personal Injury Case?
Your damages in a Florida personal injury case will typically include economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages can include medical costs, past and future lost income, property damage, therapy costs, and out-of-pocket expenses.
Non-economic damages can include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of companionship, disfigurement, and disability.
When you meet with an attorney, they can review the facts of your accident and discuss potential damages with you. However, they can not promise any certain amount or know the true value of your claim right from the start. As your lawyer gathers evidence and builds your case, they will be able to give you a better understanding of the monetary damages you could be entitled to in a personal injury claim.
5. Will My Personal Injury Case Go to Trial?
Most often, a personal injury case will not go to trial. In fact, over 90% of personal injury cases will settle before going to a court trial. Why is this? As a claim proceeds through the insurance claims process and then into litigation (when needed), evidence about your injuries and the accident will be shared with the other side.
Through the process of discovery and negotiation, both sides can often get a fair estimate of what the claim is worth. An experienced personal injury lawyer will continue fighting aggressively until a settlement reflects your claim’s value.
If a fair settlement is not offered, however, you want a lawyer who has the skill and experience to win at trial. You’ll want to ask any personal injury lawyer about their approach when a case must go to trial. You do not want to hire a lawyer who will take the first settlement offer available.
6. Will I Hear Updates From My Lawyer?
A good lawyer will communicate with you every step of the way in a personal injury case. Your case should be as important to them as it is to you – too much is at stake. Ask your potential lawyer how they communicate with clients and how often you can expect to hear from them. You are entitled to updates regarding your case – especially when new information is available, or a settlement offer is made.
A Florida Personal Injury Lawyer Can Answer Your Questions in a Free Consultation
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Florida, you should seek experienced legal help. You are entitled to ask questions and don’t have to hire the first lawyer you meet with. Contact the personal injury lawyers at Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law to learn more about your options and have your questions answered. Schedule your free consultation with our office today. Call us at (407) 801-3000.