Accidents involving cars, trucks, bicycles, defective products, dangerous premises, and medical mistakes can cause devastating harm. Not only are victims left with serious health concerns, but they also have stressful questions to answer about how they’re going to afford medical costs, make up for lost wages, and pay for other expenses related to the injury.
This is why you need an experienced personal injury attorney to help you recover. Personal injury claims are complex, and you can rest easy knowing that an experienced law firm is handling all the complicated legal matters for you. Contact Cardoso Law, PLLC, today to learn how we can help.
Understanding Personal Injury Law
Personal injury law is the field in which injured victims can seek compensation if the negligence of others caused the injury. The law allows victims of negligence to sue the responsible parties to obtain the compensation they need to become whole.
Personal injury law covers a variety of injuries and accidents, including:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Boating accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Slip and fall
- Premises liability claims
- Dog bite injuries
Maximizing Your Compensation
Why do you need a personal injury lawyer?
One reason to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer is that they know how to maximize the compensation you can receive versus if you handled the claim yourself. With the help of an attorney, you could seek damages to cover:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Past and future lost wages if you missed work or had to change to a lower-paying job
- Property damage costs
- Non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, loss of limb, and loss of enjoyment of life
Personal injury lawyers know how to properly value these damages to seek the maximum compensation in your personal injury claim.
Proving Liability and Building a Strong Case
To succeed with your personal injury case, you must demonstrate four elements:
- Duty. The person who injured you had a duty to protect or avoid causing harm. For example, drivers have a duty to obey the rules of the road.
- Breach. The party with the duty to avoid harm breached this duty. This includes a driver who ran a stop sign, sped, or did not check blind spots before changing lanes.
- Causation. The party who breached their duty of care was the direct cause of your injuries or losses. For example, the other driver hit you because they ran a stop sign.
- Damages. If you’re filing a personal injury lawsuit, you must prove that you suffered damages in the accident. Examples of damages include high medical bills, repair costs to your vehicle, and money lost because you could not work.
If you have a solid case, your Pensacola personal injury lawyer will be able to demonstrate that all four elements of negligence apply to you.
Dealing with Insurance Companies
Do I need a personal injury lawyer to deal with the insurance company?
Even when it seems like a cut-and-dry case, insurance companies often delay or deny claims if they think they can get away with it. Insurance bad faith is a serious problem, and you need a personal injury lawyer with experience dealing with insurance companies and their deceptive tactics. A denied claim is not the end of the road, and an experienced attorney can be your guide when the insurance companies refuse to play fair.
Navigating Legal Procedures and Paperwork
The legal system is complicated, filled with red tape, strict deadlines, and confusing paperwork. When you choose an attorney who knows the local system, has experience dealing with the various judges and courtrooms in your city, and understands how to navigate injury claims, you improve your chances of a successful case. If you try to navigate this path alone, many pitfalls can instantly derail your case.
Access to Resources and Expert Witnesses
A lawyer doesn’t build a case alone. Behind every accomplished personal injury attorney is a dedicated team that works tirelessly to research your case, establish the facts, and prepare iron-clad arguments. For example, a car accident reconstructionist will investigate and analyze the accident, including vehicle damage, skid marks and debris at the crash scene, and eyewitness testimony. They can explain what happened in clear terms that a jury will understand.
Reducing Stress During Recovery
The physical and emotional trauma of a serious injury can be overwhelming, making the prospect of handling legal matters seem impossible.
This is where your lawyer comes in. While you rest, your attorney can take the reins to seek compensation for what you lost. You focus on your medical treatment and rehabilitation while your attorney handles all the hard work.
Avoiding Costly Mistakes
It’s easy to make mistakes after a serious accident or injury that can unintentionally make things worse for you and your claim. Here are some ways you can avoid costly mistakes that could jeopardize your personal injury case:
- Act fast. The sooner you contact an attorney, the sooner they can begin gathering evidence to build and strengthen your claim.
- Preserve evidence. Keep all your medical bills together. Do not repair damage to your vehicle. Keep a journal about the types and severity of your injuries.
- Don’t post on social media. Anything you say can be used against you to prove that you aren’t as injured as you claim to be.
- Don’t try this alone. Navigating the complexities of personal injury cases by yourself is very risky. Consult an experienced attorney near you to maximize your chances of a successful claim.
No Upfront Fees
How much does it cost to hire a personal injury attorney?
The good news is that there are no upfront fees for hiring us. In fact, you won’t owe us any fees until we recover compensation for you. We only get paid if we secure a verdict or settlement in your favor. That means you don’t need to worry about paying anything out of pocket for us to handle your case.
Timely Action and Statute of Limitations
Florida has a two-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims. That means you have two years from the date of the injury or accident to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Two years might seem like a long time, but remember that putting a lawsuit together takes a lot of time and work. The sooner your attorney starts building your claim, the greater your chances of success.
Contact a Pensacola Personal Injury Lawyer Today
As a Pensacola personal injury attorney, Ryan M. Cardoso has the experience and record of success you can trust to handle your case.
If you’re wondering, “Do I need to hire a personal injury lawyer?” you can find out for no cost during a free initial consultation with us. We’ll let you know if you need a personal injury lawyer or if your case does not require one. We’re happy to answer your questions and help you put the pieces back together after a devastating accident. Contact our personal injury law firm today to learn more.