If you or a loved one has suffered serious injury due to the negligence of another, you may need to file a Florida personal injury claim. This process can be difficult and time consuming, not to mention frustrating as you deal with doctor visits, hospital bills, and time out from work. A Palm Beach personal injury attorney can help you minimize these hassles and guide you through the injury claim process.
First Step: Establish Your Florida Personal Injury Claim
The first stage of a Florida personal injury claim is to establish the facts and evidence to prove you have a claim to file. Start by contacting a Palm Beach personal injury attorney to learn about the potential for filing a claim. Only claims of serious or permanent injury are usually taken to insurance companies or trial, so it’s best to have your case reviewed by a professional before you get too invested in it.
Once it is established that you have a valid Florida personal injury claim to file, your Palm Beach personal injury attorney will help you gather and analyze the necessary evidence to prove your case.
Common types of evidence for a Florida personal injury claim include:
- photographs of the accident scene and your injuries;
- medical records identifying the injuries you suffered, treatment completed, and future prognosis;
- records of time lost from work;
- police reports;
- witness contact information or statements; and
- repair estimates.
Second Step: File Your Florida Personal Injury Claim
You will need to contact the appropriate insurance company to file your Florida personal injury claim. If you were in a car accident, it would be your car insurance company, and if it were an accident at another person’s home, you would contact their homeowner’s insurance company. Your Palm Beach personal injury attorney can help you sort out which company to contact and where to file your claim.
When speaking to the insurance companies you need to be limited in the details you provide. The way you word your explanation to the insurance companies can be harmful to your claim so it’s important to stick to the basic facts when discussing the circumstances around your accident. Many insurance adjusters try to get you to damage your claim when you give a recorded statement by asking misleading questions or twisting your words to make the accident seem like your fault.
Make sure you have consulted with your Palm Beach personal injury attorney before speaking to the insurance companies. Your attorney will help you file your claim with the appropriate companies and work with them to come to a fair settlement. In most Florida personal injury claim settlements, the amount offered is not adequate and will require an experienced attorney to negotiate.
The initial settlement offered by insurance companies for a Florida personal injury claim is often far less than what most people need to treat their injuries long-term and deal with the related expenses usually accompanying a serious injury. A Palm Beach personal injury attorney can review any settlement offer you receive and help you determine if it is fair or not. In the event you need to pursue a higher settlement, negotiations may continue or filing a personal injury lawsuit may be necessary.
Third Step: Negotiating a Settlement for your Florida Personal Injury Claim
It’s rare that an insurance company will initially offer a fair settlement in a Florida personal injury claim. Your Palm Beach personal injury attorney will help you review any offer presented by the insurance company and help you determine if it is adequate for your losses and suffering. You may need to negotiate with the claims adjuster before you can obtain a substantial settlement.
In the event the insurance company does not answer to negotiations, you may need to take your Florida personal injury claim to trial as a lawsuit. In this event, a Palm Beach personal injury attorney is invaluable, as he or she will be your main representation in court. Trial experience is a must when it comes to defending your case, and you should ask attorneys about their trial history before you consider hiring them.
Fourth Step: Accepting Settlement or Filing an Appeal
Once trial has concluded for your Florida personal injury claim, you will either be offered a court award or your case will be found in favor of the other party. In the event your trial does not have a favorable outcome, you do have the right to appeal the decision with the help of your Palm Beach personal injury attorney.
If you choose to appeal the court’s decision, your Palm Beach personal injury attorney will assist you through the appeals process. You will need to gather new evidence and resubmit your claim to have it reviewed by the appeals court as you continue to seek a fair resolution for your case.
Finding a Palm Beach Personal Injury Attorney
When it comes to choosing an attorney, you can’t afford to play a game of chance. Picking a Palm Beach personal injury attorney based on a colorful bus ad or a touching TV commercial won’t necessarily put you in touch with the attorney best suited for your case.
Palm Beach injury attorney Theodore Babbitt has spent years building his practice and growing his network of trusted colleagues and well-respected lawyers. Simply fill out our online form, and Mr. Babbitt will personally review your story to see if you have a valid Florida personal injury claim. He will then put you in touch with the attorney best-suited to handle your case. There is no cost to get started – 1-877-751-8087.