Tips for Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney
Have you or a loved one been injured recently? Do you feel that you need to hire an attorney to help you get the compensation you deserve? If so, here are some valuable tips to consider when searching for the best personal injury lawyer to handle your case.
Do Your Research
Prior to selecting a personal injury attorney, do some initial investigating on your own. Ask your friends. Check out reviews. Look at any attorneys’ credentials. Call lawyers, judges, clerksb or anyone else you know who might be able to supply information regarding the top lawyers in your area.
Make the Right Choice: Bigger Is Not Better
Once you have done your initial research, make sure to choose a lawyer who specializes in helping clients in a similar situation as yourself. You can easily explore their website to see what types of injuries their clients have sustained and match their expertise with your needs. Much like you wouldn’t want a podiatrist to place a stent in your heart, you would not want a family law attorney to handle your personal injury claim.
In the majority of cases, it’s also good to take a look at an attorney’s trial history. Having someone on your side who has solid trial experience is invaluable if your case ends up going in that direction. If your accident involved serious injuries and you are dealing with a large case, take a look at the attorney’s verdict and settlement history. You will want to work with a lawyer who has a lot of experience in delivering large settlements to their clients.
Also remember, the more complicated the case, the more resources necessary to prepare for trial. Sadly, there are lawyers who may not have the ability to fund a complex case. That could mean they would be willing to settle for less than your case is worth. Insurance companies know the lawyers who are willing to settle for less and not do the work necessary to go to court.
Legally Pink Law is a “boutique” firm, which means more attention and time can be given to the client at an individual level. Boutique law firms offer a more personalized touch without sacrificing the professional experience you’d get from a bigger law firm. In fact, that’s why Carolyn Salzmann, our firm’s founder, created Legally Pink Law. She was tired of being unable to give her clients the level of attention she felt they deserved, so she created Legally Pink Law to provide boutique, personalized legal representation to each and every one of her clients.
Ask for an Evaluation of Your Case
Most personal injury attorneys will offer a free case evaluation. This gives you an opportunity to meet and evaluate the attorney prior to assigning them to your case. It will give you a clear understanding on how they will handle your case and a chance to ask pertinent questions regarding your accident.
Ask Questions
You have one chance to be compensated for your injury. General practice lawyers, lawyers practicing in other areas of law, or a newly graduated lawyer may not have the same knowledge of civil court systems or insurance company practices as somebody who has been doing it for years. Below are just a few questions to ask and things to notate during your initial consultation.
- Do they have experience in handling my type of case?
- Are they listening to me?
- Are they compassionate?
- Are they willing to give me references?
- Do they have the resources to try my case?
- Will they have a plan to handle my case?
- Will they answer my calls in a timely manner?
- How many trials have they handled in the last few years?
- Who in the firm will be handling my case?
Hiring a personal injury attorney can be a daunting task especially when you are dealing with the stress of being injured in an accident. However, remembering these few tips will help you navigate this process a little easier, and ensure you find the right lawyer for your case.
Carolyn Salzmann of Legally Pink Law is one of the top personal injury attorneys in Central Florida. To date, she has handled thousands of cases and recovered millions of dollars for her clients.
If you or a loved one have been the victim of a serious accident, please call our firm today at (888) 979-4941 to schedule a free case consultation.
Have Questions? GET ANSWERS
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What types of damages can I claim?
In all cases, there are two general categories of damages – economic damages and non-economic damages. You can be compensated for both past and future economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are things such as wage loss, mileage expense to go to doctor appointments, prescription costs, co-pays on insurance, over-the-counter medications, diminution in value to your car, etc. The other category is non-economic damages, which may include things such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, etc.
The non-economic damages are often greater than the economic damages if the injuries are significant enough. Consult with an attorney for a full explanation of these types of damages.
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Are there deadlines for filing claims?
Yes. Under Florida law, there are very specific, detailed deadlines to file claims. If you do not meet these deadlines, you may be forever barred from bringing your claim forward.
These time restrictions are known as statutes of limitations, and they vary depending on the type of claim you are bringing. It is critical that you consult with an attorney as soon as possible after your incident so you can receive good legal advice on the time limits for filing a personal injury claim.
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How can I recover lost wages?
Wage loss is paid out under your Personal Injury Protection benefit, which happens to be mandatory coverage for auto insurance in the State of Florida. There are exceptions, such as when you elected to have your wage loss reimbursement excluded on your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefit when you obtained your policy.
Normally, people who have their wage loss benefits excluded are those who are not employed for some reason or another. You can also elect to have a standard PIP (which covers wage loss at 60%) or extended PIP (which covers wage loss at 80%).
You will need to provide proof of income in the form of a paycheck stub, income tax return, or some other verifiable means. The remaining percentage of your wage loss not covered by your PIP insurance will become part of your claim against the defendant driver.
When cases do not involve PIP coverage, the wage loss becomes part of the demand to the at-fault party. In most cases, proof of lost income is rather simple if the injured person receives a paycheck. For our clients who are self-employed, we work very closely with them to help them assemble the necessary documentation to prove the wage loss claim. Tax returns can be helpful in instances where clients are self-employed.
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How can I recover my out-of-pocket expenses?
Out-of-pocket expenses are always made part of your claim and are part of your economic damages that we seek to recover from the at-fault party. When your claim is presented to the at-fault party, we include your out-of-pocket expenses as part of the demand package.
If your case does not settle in what we call the "pre-suit phase," then your case will proceed to court where we will ask a jury for your out-of-pocket expenses as part of your economic damages on the verdict form.
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Will my insurance premiums increase if I report an accident to my insurance company?
Your insurance premiums should not go up if you are not at fault for the accident. It will be part of your insurance record, but if you are not at fault, your premiums should not increase.
In most situations, your own insurance company will go after the insurance company that insures the at-fault party to recover the costs it may have paid to you for things such as car repairs or additional medical expenses.
