How A Personal Injury Attorney Can Help With Your Claim
While most people don’t expect to be involved in an accident, they do occur frequently in Florida, often through no fault of the victim. Depending on the nature and severity of the accident, a victim could find his or her life drastically changed, forced to suffer painful injuries and lost income. Fortunately, Florida law does provide an avenue for accident victims to collect compensation for their injuries. Filing a claim can, however, be a complicated endeavor, especially for those without a legal background, so if you or a loved one were hurt in an accident, you should consider reaching out to an experienced Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer for help.
Personal Injury Attorney
Personal injury attorneys are lawyers that represent accident victims who were hurt because of another person’s carelessness or negligence. There are a number of different types of personal injury cases, but most involve slip and fall accidents, car crashes, dog bites and animal attacks, and defective consumer products. Because personal injury is such a broad area of the law, some attorneys specialize in multiple areas, while some focus on one particular area of the law, such as car accidents.
An Objective Opinion
It can be difficult to be objective after sustaining an injury. For claimants without attorneys, this can prove dangerous to the outcome of a case, with plaintiffs making decisions based on emotion. A personal injury attorney won’t be directly affected by an accident and so will be able to remain objective and give a client a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of his or her case. This in turn, can affect the legal strategy that the parties use.
Gathering Evidence
There are a lot of ways that an experienced personal injury attorney can help with an an accident case. One of the most important things that a legal representative can do for a claimant, however, is to investigate the cause of the accident and begin collecting evidence, including police reports, medical records, eyewitness testimonies, and video recordings. A dedicated lawyer knows what type of evidence is needed and how to obtain it.
Negotiating a Settlement
Most personal injury cases don’t actually make it to court, but are resolved via settlement in an out-of-court setting. This is where having an experienced attorney on your side can be crucial, as he or she will be able to recognize a fair offer, decline low offers, and counter with strong arguments.
Representation in Court
If two parties are unable to resolve their differences in settlement proceedings, then they may need to be prepared to go to court. An attorney’s understanding of the legal system can be a huge advantage at this stage, as he or she will be well-versed in not only how to present arguments and evidence, but the proper procedures and deadlines for filing documents with the court.
Hire a Florida Personal Injury Lawyer
If you were injured in an accident, you may find yourself up against unscrupulous insurers and at-fault parties who refuse to acknowledge responsibility for an accident. Having a personal injury attorney on your side can level the playing field. Call Boone & Davis at 954-566-9919 today to learn more.
Resource:
law.cornell.edu/wex/personal_injury