If you have been injured in an accident, then you should immediately look for a personal injury lawyer. The right personal injury lawyer will make the difference between suffering the burden of medical bills and lost wages following an accident or securing a favorable settlement. You will need a personal injury lawyer, regardless of whether you were involved in a car accident, a slip and fall, or another type of accident in the State of Florida.
At The Law Place, we have over seventy-five years of collective experience when it comes to managing personal injury cases for clients throughout the State of Florida. Our law firm understands the complex laws surrounding personal injury, and we will guide you through the legal system.
Contact The Law Place on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation today.
What Counts As a Personal Injury?
A personal injury is when a person suffers a physical injury in an accident. It is classed as a personal injury when harm is caused to someone’s body instead of their property. However, a personal injury case can also include damage to the person’s property, but it must involve a physical injury.
If you were involved in an accident that was not your fault, then you should consider filing a personal injury lawsuit to hold the at-fault party accountable for causing your personal injuries. The law allows the injured party to demand compensation from the at-fault party in the State of Florida. A personal injury lawsuit is successful when payment is recovered for the injured party’s injuries and other damages.
What Are the Different Types of Personal Injury Cases?
A personal injury case arises when a person’s action or inaction leads to hurting another person. The most common types of personal injury cases include:
- Car accidents.
- Bicycle accidents.
- Motorcycle accidents.
- Truck accidents.
- Slip and fall accidents.
- Dog bites and animal attacks.
- Medical malpractice.
- Work accidents.
- Poor road maintenance.
- Construction accidents.
- Assault and battery.
- Faulty product accidents.
What You Should Look for When Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
Determine the Area of Law That Your Case Falls Into
If you do not know how to find the right lawyer for your case, then you are not alone. Firstly, you will need to figure out the area of law that your case falls into. There are lawyers who specialize in every area of law.
If you have been injured in an accident that was not your fault, then you will need to hire a personal injury attorney. A personal injury attorney will fight for your rights and recover compensation for damages sustained in an accident that was caused by a negligent person. A personal injury attorney can specialize in handling car accidents, motorcycle accidents, slip and fall accidents, medical malpractice, and much more. You should focus on hiring a personal injury lawyer who has experience and knowledge in your practice area. For example, if you were injured in a car accident, then you should look for a Sarasota accident lawyer.
Search for a Legitimate, Licensed Lawyer
Once you have found the right area of law, then you will need to search for a legitimate, licensed lawyer in your area. When you are looking on Google for a lawyer, you should always consider their experience. You can search within Florida’s state bar association or search professional organizations based on the special nature of your case. You should also check to see if the lawyer is board certified in their practice area.
Look Out for a Discipline History
You should look for a lawyer with a clean track record. The easiest way to find one is by looking into the Florida Bar’s Department of Lawyer Regulation. The Attorney Consumer Assistance Program administers a state-wide disciplinary system. You can visit the Florida Bar website to search public record information regarding all Florida Bar lawyers.
If you find a lawyer with a disciplinary history, then you should stay clear of them. If a lawyer has been noted, then it means that the lawyer “has received a professional discipline for violating the rules” by the Florida Bar.
Scope Out Size and Resources
The age, size, and experience of the law firm are all important aspects when you are looking to hire a personal injury lawyer. The connections with doctors and medical professionals are also important.
However, do not be quick to eliminate smaller law firms. Larger law firms have frequent advertisements on billboards, and they will most likely charge more, but you might also receive less time and attention to your case.
You should always look for a law firm that has a collection of reviews, connections, and referrals from other personal injury attorneys in your area.
Look at Past Client Reviews
Reviews from past clients are a great way to know more about a personal injury attorney before committing to a consultation. You can see whether past clients have recommended the lawyer or whether they had an issue coming to an agreement with them.
An attorney-client relationship is a highly personal one. Sometimes former clients will share whether they felt comfortable with the lawyer and whether they were confident in their skills in reviews. Past client reviews can also offer you insight into a lawyer’s negotiation abilities.
Call the Office to Schedule a Consultation
You can find a good amount of information about a lawyer on the internet, but there are still questions that you should ask in person or via the phone. We highly recommend that you call the lawyer that you found and set up an appointment. The majority of law firms will offer a free consultation, like The Law Place.
During a free consultation with The Law Place, a personal injury lawyer will discuss the details of your case and answer all of your questions. Remember that you should always feel comfortable and at ease with a lawyer because you are trusting them with your case. If you do not feel comfortable or at ease during a free consultation, then you should find a different lawyer.
The personal injury lawyers at The Law Place are always welcoming and receptive. They will pay special attention to you and your case, and they will let you speak your mind. At the end of a free consultation, you are free to decide what you want to do.
Come With Prepared Questions
If you set up a free consultation with The Law Place, then a personal injury lawyer will talk you through the details of your case. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions that will help you to decide if you would like to move forward with The Law Place or if you would like to visit other law firms.
However, it is worth taking the time to ask a few important questions during a free consultation:
- Have you worked on similar personal injury cases in the past?
- Have you tried or settled similar cases in my country?
- Do you have the time and energy to invest in my case right now?
- If you are not responsible for my case, then who will work on it?
- How will you update me on the progress of my case?
- What is your history of negotiation like?
- Do you think my case will go to trial, or are there other options?
- Do you have trial experience?
- What is my part in the case?
- What are your contingency fees and costs?
- Will I be responsible for costs in the event that my case loses?
- What do you believe the outcome of my case will be?
Rate Your Comfort
It is important that you take notes of your comfort levels when you are discussing your case with a personal injury lawyer. If you sense doubt or hesitation in their answers, then you should trust your intuition and move on. If you feel like you were able to converse freely and trust in the personal injury lawyer, then it is a good sign that you have met the right lawyer.
Comfort is the key to a successful attorney-client relationship.
Review Your Options
You should take the time to review your options once you have met with all of the personal injury lawyers on your list. It could be worth sleeping on the decision. However, you do not want to spend the next weighing your options.
You should think about what you learned during the free consultations. Does the personal injury lawyer have experience in managing cases like yours? Are you comfortable with their history? What were the past client reviews like?
Sign a Contingency Fee Agreement
Once you have decided on the right personal injury lawyer, then the next step will be to sign a contingency fee agreement that will include the terms of your working relationship and the fees.
You will want the best possible chances of recovering compensation for all of your injuries, medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and more. However, the chances will depend on whether the lawyer is skilled, honest, and determined to fight for your legal rights. At The Law Place, we have a team of personal injury attorneys that are always ready to pursue compensation on behalf of our clients.
If you are hiring a personal injury attorney, then you should keep all of the tips that we have given you in mind before making a decision.
Call The Law Place to set up a free consultation now.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim
If you were hurt in an accident that was not your fault, then you should seek legal counsel with a personal injury lawyer and file a claim. The most common losses that you can recover in a personal injury claim include:
- Medical bills (past, present, and future) – You can recover compensation for surgery, hospitalization, visits to the doctor, physical therapy, rehabilitation, prescription medication, and more.
- Lost wages – You can recover compensation for lost wages, along with future lost earnings and a reduced earning capacity.
- Property damage – You can recover compensation for property damage, such as damage to your motor vehicle, clothes, phone, and other property.
- Pain and suffering – You can recover compensation for a loss of enjoyment of life following an accident, which includes physical pain, mental suffering, and emotional anguish.
- Wrongful death – You can recover compensation for a loved one who died in an accident by filing a wrongful death claim (funeral expenses, medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and more). Florida Statute 768.21 explains the law on wrongful death.
Contact The Law Place Today
If someone else’s negligence caused you to suffer an injury in an accident, then you could be entitled to compensation in the State of Florida. You should consider hiring a personal injury lawyer to help you to pursue the compensation that you are owed.
At The Law Place, we have over seventy-five years of combined experience and knowledge in winning compensation for clients all over the State of Florida. Our law firm has managed hundreds of personal injury cases over the years with great success. If you put your trust in us, then we will be sure to succeed with your case too.
We understand the difficulties of your situation, and we want to encourage you to file a personal injury claim to recover the compensation that you deserve. It is important that you hold the at-fault party responsible for all of your injuries and other damages, and a personal injury lawyer will help you to achieve your goal.
If you call our office now, then you can discuss your case with a personal injury lawyer and ask all of the questions that you have in mind. Our phone lines are open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, so do not hesitate to pick up your phone and call us now.
Contact The Law Place on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation today.
