Dealing with an accident can be stressful and time-consuming. This is especially true if you suffered significant injuries or property damage.
If another party caused your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. While this helps with the financial hardships of an accident, getting compensation can be stressful. Accident victims have to deal with the responsible party’s insurance company. If the insurance company is not reasonable, they have to file a lawsuit.
Filing a personal injury claim can be difficult and frustrating. Personal injury lawyers help accident victims navigate this process. They deal with insurance companies to get victims the compensation they deserve.
Here’s a look at how personal injury lawyers help victims after an accident.
How an Orlando Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You
If another party caused your accident or injuries, they could be responsible for your damages. This means they are responsible for compensating you for your losses after an accident.
A personal injury lawyer helps victims get the compensation they deserve. There are usually two ways to do this:
- File a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company.
- If the insurance company does not make a reasonable settlement payment, file a lawsuit to recover your damages.
However, if you were injured in a car accident, you are required to go through your own insurance company as Florida is a no-fault state. Before dealing with an insurance company or filing a lawsuit, there are some things personal injury lawyers must do to set their clients up for success.
Investigate the Accident
The first thing your lawyer will do is investigate your accident to determine who was at fault.
The investigation process is thorough and will include:
- Photos and videos from the accident
- Police reports and accident reports
- Eyewitness testimony
- Accident reconstruction experts
- Expert witness testimony
After conducting a thorough investigation, your attorney can use the evidence gathered to strengthen your claim.
Calculate Damages
Once your team has determined that another party was at fault, it’s important to calculate the amount of your damages. Calculating damages can be tricky, and your team will gather evidence to calculate the amount of your losses and support your personal injury claim.
Negotiate With Insurance Companies
Once your lawyers have gathered evidence to show fault and support damages, they’ll send a demand letter to the at-fault party’s insurance company.
It’s important to note that in car accident cases in Florida, the process is a little different. In these cases, victims first file a claim with their insurance company for damages. In other types of cases, demand letters are sent to the at-fault party’s insurance company.
A Florida personal injury lawyer can help you determine where to file a claim and will issue a thorough demand letter. This will include damages and evidence supporting your claim. Your lawyer will also negotiate with the insurance company to ensure you get a reasonable settlement.
Handle All Administrative Tasks
Personal injury lawyers handle all of the administrative tasks associated with a personal injury claim, including:
- Gathering necessary records and reports
- Responding to correspondence from the insurance company
- Knowing and complying with the Florida statute of limitations
- Meeting all court deadlines and requirements
It can be difficult to stay on top of the administrative tasks while focusing on your recovery. An experienced personal injury lawyer can handle these crucial tasks for you.
File a Lawsuit on Your Behalf and Represent You in Court
If the at-fault party’s insurance company does not offer a reasonable settlement, your lawyer will file a lawsuit on your behalf to get the compensation you deserve. In car accident cases, it’s often necessary to file a lawsuit if your damages exceed the amount of your insurance coverage. Personal injury lawyers understand this process and will file a lawsuit in a timely manner and represent you in court.
Personal injury claims are complex and time-consuming. Contact an Orlando personal injury lawyer for help with your case. Your lawyer will handle all of the logistics so that you can focus on getting your life back to normal after an accident.
Help You Recover Damages
Damages are awarded after an accident to compensate victims for their losses. The purpose of damages is to make accident victims “whole” after their accident. This includes both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages reimburse victims for tangible losses incurred after an accident. These are expenses that can be calculated and documented.
Economic damages include:
- Medical bills and expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and therapy expenses
- Home care expenses
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
Non-economic damages compensate victims for less tangible losses after an accident.
Examples of non-economic damages include:
- Emotional distress and emotional anguish
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
- Decreased quality of life
- Disfigurement
A personal injury lawyer will evaluate your case to determine the damages you’re entitled to.
The evidence necessary to calculate and support damages includes:
- Medical bills and medical records
- Physician testimony
- Employment records
- Pay stubs
- Receipts and invoices
- Employer testimony
- Expert witness testimony
Your lawyer will gather the relevant evidence needed to support your claim for damages.
Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help if I’m Partly at Fault for an Accident
Yes, accident victims can recover even when they’re partly at fault for an accident. Florida follows a policy of comparative negligence. Under Florida law, victims can recover as long as they’re not more than 50% at fault for an accident.
In these situations, your recovery is reduced by the percentage of your fault. For example, if a jury awards a verdict of $100,000 and you were found to be 20% at fault, you would be entitled to recover $80,000.
What Types of Injuries and Cases Do Personal Injury Lawyers Handle?
Common types of cases handled by personal injury lawyers include:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Uber accidents
Personal injury lawyers help clients with any type of negligence case.
Contact an Orlando Personal Injury Lawyer
If you’ve been injured in an Orlando accident, contact a local personal injury lawyer. Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers has represented Florida accident victims since 2007. Our firm knows how to get results for clients.
Contact an Orlando personal injury lawyer at Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers to learn more or discuss your case. Our team will analyze your case, discuss your rights, and give you a personalized strategy. Call (407) 648-1510 to schedule a free consultation or visit our Orlando personal injury office.
