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PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER IN FLORIDA

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Advocates USA – Your Injury attorneys

Personal Injury lawyers handling cases in Florida

Advocates USA is a leading personal Injury law firm dedicated to protecting the people in West Palm Beach, Florida

When you or a loved one has been injured in an accident and you want to file a personal injury lawsuit a few questions may arise: (1.) What is the fee for personal injury lawyer cost and (2.) will there be a monetary value associated with my case?

There is no quick answer to these questions because it depends on many factors:

  1. The type of Personal Injury that occurred
  2. The type of lawyer you hire, a non-contingency lawyer or contingency-fee lawyer.

We, at Advocates USA are a contingency-fee lawyer which means we do not get paid unless we win for you. Once a settlement has been reached or your case has been won in court is when you pay your attorney a reasonable fee. These are the most frequently asked questions to lawyers in South Florida for personal injury claims.

Why should I file a personal injury lawsuit?

How to pursue a personal injury lawsuit?

What are your responsibilities in a personal injury lawsuit?

What does a lawyer do in a personal injury lawsuit?

What is a settlement in a personal injury accident?

What are the types of Personal Injury cases?

How much is my Personal Injury case worth?

What are compensatory damages?

How much can I expect to pay a Personal Injury Lawyer?

Personal injury attorney in West Palm Beach Florida

Why Should I file a Personal Injury Lawsuit

After you have experienced a personal injury of any sort, your life could be left in shambles with large medical bills and lost wages all due to someone else’s negligence. Advocates USA will hold the other party accountable so you can recoup all of your out of pocket expenses. Your lawyers will also go after physical damages that was caused by your accident; pain and suffering, physical impairment, mental anguish, lost wages and medical expenses. If you have a strong case with great evidence we want your personal injury claim to go to trial because it will increase your chances of receiving a higher dollar value through a jury award. Insurance companies and the defendant will try to settle out of court for the fear of having to pay out more which is why they want you to give up your right to sue. Advocates USA will hold the other party accountable for their negligent actions and get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free evaluation and get Advocates USA attorneys to fight for you.

How to pursue a personal injury law suit

If you have been personally injured in an accident from motor vehicles, slip and fall, dog bite or any other personal accident in South Florida, seek medical assistance first because your safety and healthy is of upmost importance then pursue the steps it takes to begin your personal injury lawsuit. There are a number of steps to follow, which can be complex, but don’t let that detract you from what Advocates USA – Personal injury attoneys in Florida can do for you.

Research and Contact a Lawyer:

Find a Personal Injury Lawyer in Florida who has many years of experience with a proven track record to win cases. When you initially present your Personal Injury case, our lawyers at Advocates USA will access your case through our strategic methods to determine whether or not you should continue with a claim and, if so, how much you could be allotted.

Strengthen your case:

After you sign the condition fee Agreement, the legal team at Advocates USA will dive in to conduct every detail of the accident such as evidence, the cause of your injuries and the circumstances leading up to the accident. In addition to any other factor they feel is pertinent to your Personal Injury case in an effort to fortify your claim.

Settlement Negotiations:

Your Personal Injury lawyer’s main priority is to acquire as much money for your injuries and this is first done through a settlement. Our Advocates USA lawyers will send a demand letter to either the insurance company or the other party who caused the accident outlining your case for damages.

Taking your Lawsuit to court:

Advocates USA legal team in South Florida will file your lawsuit for you in an effort to get the most compensation if the other party offers a lower payout during the settlement negotiations.

Discovery:

This is when documents of evidence is shared with both parties, per request. Advocates USA lawyers will capitalize on this opportunity to obtain all documentation the other party has that could make your case stronger.

Trial:

When either party can’t agree on a settlement, your case will be tried before a judge and a jury. This is where your Personal Injury Lawyers at Advocates USA will argue your case, present the evidence and interview any expert witnesses. Given our proven track record and experience of winning millions of dollars for our clients injured from accidentes in South Florida, our lawyers at Advocates USA are not afraid to go to court.

What you need to do in a lawsuit in Florida

As a victim in a personal injury lawsuit, there are only a few things you need to do:

  • Never admit the injury was your fault
  • Seek medical care and continue your appointments
  • Note any changes in your body you are experiencing with your doctor
  • Provide any all documentation that you have that will help strength your case such as photos, notes, the police report, eye witnesses or any other evidence you have of the accident scene.

What We Do For You During Your Free Evaluation

Lawyers at Advocates USA wear many hats and perform important duties that will ease you, the victim, from many headaches especially during one of the most agonistic times of your life. Advocates USA will fight for you and get the compensation you deserve for your personal injuries.

First things first we will assess your personal injury case to determine what we can do for you.

  1. We will explain your rights as a victim and plaintiff
  2. Provide advice by determining the depth of your injuries and the damages that could be awarded due to negligent behavior
  3. Conducts an ongoing complete investigation-questions witnesses, reviews video, takes photos, reviews police reports, requests documentation
  4. connects with medical experts
  5. Works through legal processes such as reconstructing the scene of the accident to work through the logistics

Often times insurance companies and the opposing council will try to settle outside of court, however if they will not budge, our legal team at Advocates USA will fight to get the compensation you deserve. With our expertise we will battle for you in court.

What is a Settlement in a Personal Injury Accident in Florida

When you or your loved one has been injured in an accident and negligence can be proven, there are two ways you, the victim, can be paid.

  1.  By wining a lawsuit or
  2. Settling outside of the courtroom.

A settlement happens when your attorney and the opposing counsel comes to an agreement with a sum of money to be paid for your injuries, medical bills, lost wages and other expenses. However, we at Advocates USA will not accept the first offer that is given. We will fight for a reasonable dollar amount that is acceptable for your circumstances based on the type of accident, your employment, level of injury and the extent of medical bills associated with your injury.

In addition a settlement may even be made after the case has gone to trial as long as a financial verdict hasn’t been given to the plaintiff. It is also common for the opposing council to become nervous while the jury is deliberating so a settlement may be offered at that time because it is a concrete amount the opposing counsel can control.

Once a settlement is reached, all claims and future claims of injuries must be relinquished from the defendant and this will be done through signing a full liability release. You can expect to receive your financial compensation within 6 weeks.

Slip and Fall Accidents & Premises Liability:

Thousands of people are hurt each year, some very serious, due to slip & falls. These types of accidents occur because a property was not safe or had a defective condition resulting in an accident. The owners have a legal duty to keep their property free from hazards and when they fall short, a person becomes injured. Injuries that occur on someone else’s property are accidents that could have been prevented if the owners had fixed, cleaned up, placed information or enhanced their facilities. You didn’t just fall, you fell or slipped for a reason causing an injury that will result in missed work and immense amount of medical bills. Our firm will collect evidence from the property to prove the owner was negligent with respect to ownership and maintenance of the property.

Motor Vehicle Accidents:

Each year millions of people are injured and thousands of people die in motor vehicle accidents and you may find yourself in this position either as the driver, passenger, uber pasenger or pedestrian. Whether you were crossing the road, riding your bike, in your car, on your motorcycle or even in your boat, if you have been injured it could leave you impaired for a lifetime. It is important you seek medical attention because you may not feel injured at the moment but down the road you will feel the lasting impairment the accident caused. Advocates USA would want you to pursue filing a lawsuit because you could be entitled to monetary compensation for your personal injuries, future damages, and financial loss due to someone else’s negligence while operating a motor vehicle.

Wrongful Death :

Wrongful or negligent death is when someone is killed due to the negligence or misconduct of another person. A wrongful death claim is a civil lawsuit and the estate of the deceased person may bring charges against the negligent party for monetary compensation. Although the last thing on your mind after you have endured the loss of a loved one is filing a law suit, time is of the essence because in the State of Florida the family has 2 years from the date of the death to file a wrongful death suit. With wrongful death lawsuits the family can collect compensation for cost of the funeral, the loss of family income, pain and suffering and a loss of a loved one. Although money can never bring back your loved one, at least there can be some sort of peace of mind that your family will be financially taken care of.

Work Accidents:

This is an occurrence during work that has lead to a personal injury. In fact the most cited work injuries that involve accidents and/or illness are manual handling, sitting for long periods of time and handling harmful substances. Millions of people who have been injured believe their type of work caused them to suffer or become injured. People go to work with the expectation that their work environment is safe and free from hazards, however when the employer falls short and negligence in the work place is a direct result of your personal injury, you, the employee can file a work accident claim. You don’t have to be afraid to go up against your Employer, we at Advocates USA will go to battle for you and when we prove that negligence in your place of work caused you to suffer, State-approved laws require that your Employer or the Employer’s Insurance company compensate you or your family for the injuries.

Construction Accidents:

Every year thousands of construction workers are injured or killed in accidents at the construction site. As a responsible construction worker you know there can be dangers of your job and you do what is necessary to prevent accidents by taking special precautions wearing the correct equipment and following proper safety protocols. And unfortunately you still end up with a personal injury due to the negligence of a third party. Advocates USA will make sure that you get the compensation you deserve either through your Employer’s insurance company and/or proceeding to file a legal claim.

Other Serious Injuries:

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1.4 million Americans suffer serious head injuries annually due to motor vehicle or other serious accidents. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is responsible for a considerable number of cases of permanent disability in the form of mental and physical impairment. Regardless if you or a member of your family is injured, everyone becomes the victim due to the person or company who was negligent and careless. Advocates USA will fight for you to get the compensation you deserve using all outlets of evidence through documentation, medical experts, medical bills and records, photographs and any other evidence that will build your case. We will fight for your pain and suffering, loss of work and future household income and loss of impairment and the ability to enjoy life.

Dog/Animal Bites:

An animal bite can cause serious damage to you temporarily and even cause lasting effects. In Florida state, the law is very victim-centered and strict when it comes to dog injuries. If someone’s dog or pet attacks you or your loved one, you may be entitled for monetary compensation. However, even if the homeowner’s Insurance company doesn’t want to pay out the compensation you deserve, our Legal team at Advocates USA is experienced with the laws governing dog bites and are not afraid to fight your case in court. Like other personal injury cases, dog bite victims have a window to file their claim in court. The Florida statute of limitations requires an injured person to file their lawsuit in the civil court system within four years of the day the bite occurred, if you miss this window the court will most likely throw out the case.

How Much Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?

You may be wondering “What is my case really worth?” And it all comes down to damages. Your personal injury lawyers at Advocates USA will figure out what your injuries have cost you physically, mentally, monetarily and if the defendant’s negligence should be punished as well. However with every case being different there are a few common factors that increase your chance of being compensated in a court based lawsuit or through an insurance company.

Insurance companies and lawyers will use a formula to determine your level of injuries and the pain you may suffer due to your accident. Some of the factors that dictate a higher payout are below:

  • Medical treatment
  • loss of Income
  • Pain and Suffering
  • Property loss
  • Past medical bills
  • Loss of consortium
  • Day to day disruptions
  • Emotional distress

After your lawyer asses the evidence presented, medical records, statements and police records, and statements from medical experts to determine your progress or degression from your injuries, Advocates USA will be able to provide you with an estimated dollar value that you could be awarded.

Compensatory Damages in Personal Injury Lawsuits

Compensatory damages are meant to compensate the injured in an effort to make the plaintiff “whole” again in a monetary standpoint. Lawyers and insurance companies will place a dollar value on the injured and future consequences from the accident. Some costs are easy to quantify, such as property damage and past medical bills, however when it comes to placing a monetary value from lingering accident related injuries such as pain and suffering or inability to enjoy daily life due to physical limitations, it becomes more subjective.

Below Is An Explanation Of The Different Kinds Of Damages You Could Be Awarded In Personal Injury Cases:

Medical Expenses.

Most personal injury cases are awarded medical damages which covers the costs associated with medical bills caused by the accident. These include reimbursement for treatment you have already received and an estimated cost for ongoing treatment especially if your injuries are serious. Damages that were assessed against the defendant in court or a settlement should cover all these expenses.

Lost wages and earning capacity.

Due to the impact of your accident you may have lost wages because you weren’t able to work whether it be for doctor appointments, recovery time or spending time in the hospital, whatever the reason may be, if you had to miss work and have lost income you could be compensated for lost wages. Or maybe your injuries are so severe and you can’t return to work at all. In any case you could also be compensated for loss of earning capacity.

Pain and Suffering.

This is a pretty complex category of awarded damages because it can be subjective. There are two types of pain and suffering:

Physical pain and suffering

Physical injuries that you endured as well as the detrimental effects you will experience in the future and

Mental pain and suffering

This is any negative emotion or psychological impact that is experienced by the victim as a result of the pain and trauma from the accident. This can be described as any mental and emotional distress, depression, anxiety, loss of enjoyment in life such as daily hobbies or recreation, fear, sleep loss and aggression.

You can be compensated for the pain and suffering endured in the accident and its aftermath effects that can be attributed from the accident. It’s calculated by the type of injury and medical treatment required and descriptive concrete evidence will need to be presented in order to solidify this type of damage compensation and prove the defendant acted with negligence. To prove such actions we will use medical records to show past history, prognosis, prescriptions and treatments which will identify the extent of your injuries and your recovery time. You want to be sure to take ongoing notes and photos of your injuries as well as follow ups with your doctor to prove you have been proactive in your recovery.

Property loss.

If any personal property, vehicle or clothes have been damaged as a result of your accident, you could be compensated for the fair market value of the items damaged.

Loss of consortium.

You could be eligible for compensation for loss of consortium if you or a loved one have been injured in an accident and the impact of those injuries have made it impossible to carry on a complete companionship, or the relationship between a parent and their child is impaired.

Emotional Distress.

This type of damage is very subjective and can vary from person to person. This is meant to compensate you for the psychological impact your injuries have caused you on your day to day life.

There is a long list of emotional manifestations, from anxiety, depression, humiliation and fear to post traumatic stress disorder. If you have filed a claim, you are likely seeking medical treatment and experiencing some level of emotional distress. It is very important to document all symptoms with your doctor since your accident. These medical records will be vital in proving the accident caused your emotional distress.

Wrongful Death.

When a loved one is killed in an accident due to the misconduct or negligence of a person or entity, the survivors or estate can file a civil lawsuit and the court can award compensation. A death of a loved one can cause a significant amount of emotional distress and can be a financial burden especially when family members are left without income and with medical bills. There are laws that protect the surviving by providing means to help ease the financial burden and to prevent hardship.

When fighting for wrongful death damages, it is important to note there are two categories of distinct time periods that are available if you are able to provide enough evidence.

  1. The moment the deceased was injured that caused the death to the time of the decedents death, the family or estate can recover money from damages during this time period. For an example if the deceased spent time in the hospital, experienced surgeries, missed work and family experiences, damages could be granted for loss wages, medical bills, mental and physical pain and suffering and funeral costs
  2. This is meant to compensate the next of kin after a death of a loved one. Laws indicate this is intended to lift the financial burden from the family and compensate them based on the amount the deceased could have earned, up to retirement, if it weren’t for the horrific sudden death.

Punitive Damages:

This is a type of award focuses on punishing the defendant or entity who’s actions were egregious and to deter such actions from happening in the future, whereas other damages awarded focuses on compensating the plaintiff in an effort make him/her whole again. Florida State places a cap on the amount the plaintiff can be awarded in punitive damages to 3x the amount of compensatory damages or $500,000 which ever is greater. To be awarded this type of damage the plaintiff must be able to prove:

  1. Gross negligence by the defendant or entity occurred meaning careless and reckless behavior was practiced which caused hazards, life alterations and safety issues.
  2. Intentional misconduct occurred meaning the defendant knew their actions were dangerous or wrong and as a result someone would likely get hurt.

However in personal injury cases where the defendant acted with intentional misconduct for financial gains the court can award up to 2 million dollars or 4 times the amount of compensatory damages, which ever is higher. Where as in malpractice lawsuits punitive damages are increased from $500,000 to $750,000 for non practioners.

As you can see there are different amounts awarded in Florida State depending on the situation and negligent behavior of the defendant. Consult with Advocates USA to better advise you.

How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?

Like most personal injury lawyers, Advocates USA works on a contingent fee system which means we do not charge you an hourly fee or require any payment upfront and your lawyers will only be paid if we win your case. Personal injury lawyers are then paid through a reasonable percentage of the compensation you are awarded, or often times the defendant pays the lawyer fees. This is a perfect situation for the injured because you are able to hire an aggressive top quality attorney without worrying where the money will come from and you can focus on recovering. If you or a loved one has been injured contact Advocates USA, your personal injury attorneys in Florida, for a free consultation, we will go to battle for you.

We are a Results Driven Firm

Our experienced legal team has had many years of experience and success and we have won millions for our clients, below we highlight a few:

$4 million in a work accident which a man was partially paralyzed
$3 million in a car accident case which a man was injured and underwent back surgery

$2.5 million in a motor accident case in which a man was injured by a hit & run driver
$2 million in a work accident case where a police officer suffered injuries while on duty
$2 million in a motor accident case which a man was killed in a car accident and the family was compensated
$1.5 million in a work accident case where a man suffered a back injury while working

Although our past results can not constitute a guarantee and we can not predict future outcomes, we can guarantee Advocates USA will fight for you to ensure you get the compensation you deserve so you can begin your life as the new normal.

If you have been injured in an accident it is important to contact a lawyer because more often times than not, you have missed work, have recurring medical debt and you are trying to get your life back in order. In Florida, the Statue of Limitations states that the injured has two years, depending on the type of claim, from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Don’t wait, let Advocates USA help you today.