Thursday, February 26, 2015
Millions of Americans are injured in accidents that are caused by the negligence of other people every year across the United States. These accidents can range from simple car accidents to those caused by defectively designed, manufactured, or marketed consumer products that cause injury to the innocent consumers that have the misfortune of buying them. While the injuries may vary, the law is clear; people who are injured because of an accident caused by someone else’s negligence have the legal right to obtain compensation for the various losses that they incur as a result of their accident.
In many cases, the people who are injured in these accidents are not lawyers and may not understand their legal rights. Unscrupulous insurance companies and other parties may try and take advantage of these victims by offering them an unreasonably low settlement offer in exchange for their right to sue, or in some cases may try and get them to unwittingly admit partial or full fault for an accident in the guise of trying to help them settle their case. Fortunately for victims, personal injury attorneys like those of the Dolman Law Group have devoted their careers to helping victims of accidents obtain full and fair compensation for their injuries and ensuring that their legal rights are protected.
Below is some information about some of the specific ways that a personal injury attorney may be able to help you.
Below is some information about some of the specific ways that a personal injury attorney may be able to help you.
Represent you in any settlement negotiations that may occur
Statistics indicate1 that the overwhelming majority of personal injury cases are settled prior to a lawsuit ever being filed. This fact should not be taken that victims should not hire an attorney, however. As mentioned above, potential defendants in a personal injury matter may try and take advantage of unrepresented parties in a variety of ways. In addition, the mere involvement of an attorney makes the threat of litigation a much more real possibility, immediately strengthening an injured party’s bargaining position. Consequently, having an attorney during settlement negotiations can often result in a much higher settlement offer than an unrepresented party would be able to secure on his or her own.
Investigate the cause of your accident
While some in personal injury cases fault is relatively clear, this is not always the case. When fault is contested, both parties often engage in significant investigation in order to obtain evidence either supporting or denying fault. Proving legal negligence can be a complicated matter, and an experienced lawyer will be able to know what kinds of evidence to gather as well as how to procure such evidence. During the pretrial phase known as discovery, you are entitled to obtain certain evidence from other parties that may support your case. This evidence can include documents, oral statements, depositions, and physical evidence. The rules of discovery can be fairly complicated, and it is highly advisable for anyone who has been injured in an accident to retain an attorney to represent them in the process.
File and litigate a case on your behalf
The Florida civil court system2 can be confusing even for out-of-state attorneys who have not worked in our jurisdiction before. In addition, the process of filing a lawsuit and trying a case in subject to many substantive and procedural rules, including the rules of evidence, constitutional law, case law, the rules of procedure, as well as many others. Consequently, retaining an attorney will almost always significantly improve your chances of bringing your case to a favorable conclusion.
Contact a Clearwater personal injury law firm today to schedule a free consultation
Individuals who have been injured in a preventable accident can often recover for the economic and noneconomic losses that they sustain as a result of their injuries through a Florida personal injury claim. Among the various types of losses that are often compensable are those that involve medical expenses, damage to personal property, lost income, and physical and emotional pain and suffering, among others. The Dolman Law Group is a team of highly skilled personal injury attorneys that are committed to helping their clients obtain the best possible outcome available under Florida law. To schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys, call our office today at (727) 451-6900.
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