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If you sustained an injury due to negligence or figured in an accident because of the other party’s disregard of safety measures, you might need the services of a personal injury attorney.
A Florida Personal Injury Lawyer will make sure you get the compensation that you deserve. Personal injury cases usually don’t have heavy punishment, unlike criminal cases. However, a personal injury case may turn into a criminal case if a crime is proven.
If the defendant proves that there was no intention of causing harm or injury, the settlement can happen after deposition. However, if the damage was a direct result of negligence on the defendant’s part, the case may take longer to settle.
Let’s see a few of the frequently asked questions regarding a personal injury claim:
What types of cases fall under personal injury claim?
The cases vary, but the most common ones include:
- Motor vehicle crashes
- Pedestrian-motor vehicle crashes
- Pedestrian-bicycle crashes
- Medical malpractice
- Dog bites
- Premises liability
- Nursing home or senior care neglect
- Company negligence
As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 5 dog bites in the US require medical attention. That means paying for anti-rabies shots, anti-tetanus shots, or hospitalization.
How much does a Florida Personal Injury Lawyer charge?
Unlike criminal lawyers who charge an upfront fee, you don’t have to pay the personal injury lawyer right away. They collect their payment once the compensation gets awarded or a verdict gets handed out when the case goes to trial.
Some lawyers, however, will charge a small retainer fee when they take your case. Once the compensation gets awarded, the lawyer will cost about 30% of the total amount. The retainer will get subtracted from his fees. Meanwhile, the lawyers will also deduct the contingency fee that they incurred while working on your case.
What will the attorney require of me?
The personal injury attorney will typically ask you details on the accident such as when and where it happened, as well as the circumstances behind it. You will also need to provide:
- Names and contacts of your witnesses
- Insurance coverage or details
- Medical report
- Treatment details and hospital bill
- Income statement and wage information
Should I settle or go to trial?
Experts advise settling your case out of court. Statistics show that only about 5-10% of personal injury cases proceed to trial; that means, about 90-95% of the cases get settled out of court. The problem is that the odds are against you when the case does go to trial, mainly when their peers judge them. The data shows that the winning cases happen when only a judge is present when the claim was presented.
Questions to ask your attorney
Before hiring a personal injury lawyer, you need to clarify some things:
- Who will cover the contingency fees incurred during the processing of my injury claim?
- What types of cases do they specialize?
- How long have they been specializing in personal injury cases?
- What are your rates after compensation?
Hiring a personal injury attorney is a very straightforward process. You must contact one immediately even if you have no plans of filing a case. A legal counsel should be present while you are negotiating with your employer or the insurance company.