Discover personal injury attorneys in Florida
Personal injury lawsuit in Florida, USA? Two drivers caused a car accident when they were both behaving negligently. After litigating the case in a Florida court, the jury decides that the damages from the car accident are $100,000. The jury also decides that one car driver was 70% at fault for the accident, while the other driver was 30% at fault for the accident. That means that the first driver will be responsible for $70,000 in damages, while the other driver will be responsible for $30,000 in damages caused by the car accident.
It is standard practice for insurance adjusters to begin negotiations by first offering a very low settlement amount — or, sometimes, denying liability altogether. With this tactic, the adjuster is trying to find out whether you understand what your claim is worth and to see if you are so impatient to get some money that you will take any amount. When a first offer is made, your response should depend on whether it is a reasonable offer but too low or whether it is so low that it is just a tactic to see if you know what you are doing. If the offer is reasonable, you can immediately make a counteroffer that is a little bit lower than your demand letter amount. That shows the adjuster that you, too, are being reasonable and are willing to compromise. A little more bargaining should quickly get you to a final settlement amount you both think is fair. In these negotiations, don’t bother to go over all the facts again. Just emphasize the strongest points in your favor — for example, that the insured was completely at fault.
Be certain to provide your attorney with the names and addresses of all doctors who have treated you in the past. Insurance companies will try to obtain all of your past medical records in an attempt to prove that your injuries existed before the accident, thereby reducing the potential value of your pain and suffering damage claim. Insurance companies keep records of all claims ever made and share that information with each other through their Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange Database. Once the insurance company has your identifying information, i.e. your name, date of birth and SSN number, the insurance company is certain to find virtually any claims you have ever made in any state.
Have you been injured by someone else’s negligence or wrongful actions? If so, you may be able to recover compensation for your damages. Through the at-fault party’s insurance company, you may be able to negotiate a personal injury settlement for your physical, psychological, and financial damages. You also have the option of filing a civil lawsuit and pursuing your claim in court. However, negotiating a settlement means getting compensation sooner, without the time, hassle, and cost of a trial.
Florida has a relatively short statute of limitations, the legal term for the amount of time a person has to file a lawsuit. Under state law, a victim of a car accident caused by a negligent driver must file a lawsuit within four years of the accident. Because time is of the essence in these types of cases, it is important for you to contact a car accident attorney in Orlando to discuss any possible legal options that may be available to you. To reach out to a knowledgeable attorney, contact Bengal Law at 407-315-8000. See more info at Bengal Law PLLC.
After an injury occurs, you have time limits to bring your case. It’s important to bring your case as soon as possible because you don’t want to risk time running out. After the statute of limitations expires, you may not be able to recover at all. Also, filing your case lets you begin to gather evidence formally. This can be a critical aspect of being able to preserve the evidence necessary to build your case. It also lets the other side know that you’re serious about getting a fair recovery and moving the case through the courts as quickly as possible.