South Florida Injury Attorneys Blog
Although no one plans for or expects them, accidents frequently happen in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and sometimes through no fault of the victim. Depending on its severity, one could find that their lives experience a drastic change. Such accidents have led to permanent injuries, lost incomes, and broken romantic relationships for some people. In the face of all this, it is easy to see why a personal injury should be taken seriously.
A major consequence of accidents is that people often have to spend a lot of money on medical treatments. Some lose their jobs and, in extreme cases, go through serious psychological challenges. Fortunately, the law has a provision that ensures that victims are not left to suffer these consequences without help.
Instead, it provides an avenue for them to receive compensation for their injuries. However, some people may be reluctant to hire a personal injury attorney to help them. This article explains why hiring a Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney is a great choice.
Who Is a Personal Injury Attorney?
Before we look at why accident victims should hire a personal injury attorney, we’ll take a look at who a personal injury attorney is and what they do.
A personal injury attorney is an attorney that represents plaintiffs who have been hurt as a result of another person’s negligence. There are several personal injuries, including slip and falls, auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, boating injuries, and animal bite injuries. Because personal injuries are so broad, some attorneys specialize in more than one area, while some specialize in just one narrow area.
A personal injury attorney is vital for the success of a personal injury lawsuit. They help plaintiffs through the lifetime of their lawsuits. Attorneys investigate plaintiffs’ claims to evaluate their merits before agreeing to represent them. If they decide to do so, they also gather evidence to strengthen their case, prepare their clients for trial, and ultimately represent them at trial.
How To Pay a Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Attorney
Some people decide not to file lawsuits because of the costs involved. They may think that they are better off covering the costs they incurred from the accident rather than having an attorney involved. However, most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis.
This means that they are only paid if there is a favorable outcome for the client. When this happens, they take a percentage of the settlement the client receives. However, the client may be charged for expenses such as filing fees incurred during the case.
Usually, the attorney receives 33% of the amount awarded to the plaintiff as payment for his services. However, it could go up to between 35% and 40% depending on the case’s complexity. Consequently, this ensures that accident victims who cannot afford an attorney can still receive compensation for their injuries.
On the other hand, it also means that the fact the attorney might not be paid for their work if a client loses could make them unwilling to take on really complex cases. Additionally, it could be costlier than paying by the hour if the case is straightforward.
There are also variations of this agreement, with the most popular being the contingency hourly arrangement and the mixed hourly contingent arrangement where the lawyer is only paid on a contingency hourly arrangement if the client wins a settlement. However, the lawyer tracks the hours spent on the case. For example, if the lawyer charges $300 an hour and works for 15 hours, the client will only pay $4,500 if they win their case.
In a mixed hourly contingent arrangement, clients only pay a part of the lawyer’s hourly fee, with the rest paid if they win the case. Consequently, the lawyer also is paid a percentage of the fee recovered in addition to their hourly rate.
Why It Pays To Hire a Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Attorney
Except in cases where the injury sustained is minimal, hiring a personal injury attorney is well-advised. However, the following reasons could help anyone on the fence about hiring a personal injury lawyer:
You Have the Time to Focus on Healing
A personal injury attorney allows victims to focus on healing. Acting fast is vital in seeking a fair settlement. However, accident victims may not be physically or mentally ready to go through the processes required to start a lawsuit. In such a situation, they may have to wait a while before filing a lawsuit, which could harm their case. Therefore, having a lawyer to take care of the legal requirements while the victim focuses on healing is very important.
Help in Gathering Evidence
The success of a personal injury lawsuit lies in the plaintiff’s ability to prove that the defendant was at fault. This requires evidence that some plaintiffs may not be aware of, including CCTV footage, police reports, medical reports, and eyewitness testimonies. An experienced personal injury lawyer knows what evidence is needed and how to obtain it.
Help During Negotiations
Not all personal injury cases make it to court; in fact, it is highly common to settle out of court. A lot of the negotiating occurs during the settlement phase, and an inexperienced person may not know what a good offer looks like. The presence of a personal injury lawyer in these meetings greatly help with the negotiations.
Representation in Court
Going to court is a possibility for several personal injury cases. Although accident victims can choose to represent themselves in court, using a personal injury lawyer carries many benefits. An attorney’s understanding of the legal system is a huge advantage, while their knowledge of how certain individuals act could help clients. In addition, they also ensure that procedures in filing documents with the court are followed, as a failure to follow the right process could harm a person’s case.
Knowledge and Experience
In addition to providing evidence, a plaintiff should have the right knowledge and experience. However, only a few accident victims will be lawyers. As a result, they may not be familiar with the law or skills needed to win the case. However, a personal injury lawyer has both the knowledge and experience gained from litigating and studying similar cases.
Accident victims often overlook that some injuries are not apparent immediately but rather, take gradual time to show up. An experienced personal injury lawyer knows this and prepares for it. They are also familiar with the legal system and its nuances.
Objective Opinions
It’s difficult to be objective after being injured, and accident victims are not immune to this. Lawsuits are not won by emotions but with evidence instead. A personal injury attorney is not directly affected by the situation and can give the right advice to the client. This could mean advising the client against filing a lawsuit in some cases.
Hire a Personal Injury Attorney in Fort Lauderdale
For those who have been hurt from accidents caused by someone else’s negligence, speaking with an experienced personal injury attorney right away is well-advised.
You may find yourself up against insurance adjusters whose jobs are to ensure that the insurance company pays out as little as possible in compensation. However, having a personal injury attorney on your side levels the playing field. We understand how important this is and offer free initial consultations to potential clients.
You can call us 24/7 at (561) 800-8000