When it comes to personal injury, there are two main things that will determine whether you win or lose. The first thing is your personal injury attorney in Navarre, Florida. If you have a good lawyer, they should be able to prove your case and get you the money you deserve. The second thing is you – as the client, you have a certain amount of responsibility as well. There are certain things you need to do (and not do) in order to increase your chances of winning your case. It’s very easy to blame your lawyer when you lose your case of the judge dismisses your claim. Pointing the finger at someone else is the easy thing to do. However, when you point a finger at someone else, you’re pointing 4 right back at yourself.
It can’t be disputed that your personal injury attorney has the biggest chance of getting you the compensation you deserve. You need a lawyer who is trained and experienced – otherwise, no matter how hard they work, you could still lose. You also want an attorney who knows how to negotiate with the insurance companies. They can talk to the insurance adjuster and find a happy medium. They have a good rapport with the defendant’s lawyer and is able to communicate without hurting your chances of a settlement.
And, as important as it is to hire a good personal injury attorney, you also have to take some responsibility for your case. Your attorney is relying on you to do certain things in order to maximize your chances at recovery. If you don’t do your part, there’s a good chance you’ll lose your case. There’s only so much your attorney can do for you. You need to do a few things for yourself if you want to get compensation for your injuries.
What Are Your Navarre Personal Injury Lawyer’s Main Responsibilities?
When you first meet with your personal injury lawyer, they’re going to review your case and ask you some questions. They’ll look at any medical bills you’ve paid or received. They’ll also get an idea of what actually happened, You can tell them your story. Let them know what happened. They’ll check to see who the defendant’s insurance carrier is. Once they have this information they can start working on your case.
They’re going to talk to the insurance adjuster and find out if your claim has been approved. If it was denied, they’ll ask why. Depending on the reason, they’ll file an appeal on your behalf. This may work, it may not. Once the insurance company learns you have an attorney, they’ll take your case more seriously. For example, all of a sudden, they’ll start returning phone calls. If they’ve made a lowball settlement offer, they may increase it. And, they’ll turn over any paperwork related to your claim.
If your attorney can’t get your claim approved, then they’ll suggest you file a personal injury lawsuit. If you agree, they’ll move forward with legal action. Once they file your suit, they’ll follow up with any necessary court appearances. They'll handle the discovery process and try to find out what the defendant’s position is. Finally, they’ll negotiate with the defendant’s lawyer and try to work out a settlement with them.
There are Things Your Attorney is Counting on From You
In order to have any chance at settling your case, your attorney will need certain information from you. This starts with your free initial consultation. When you first meet with your lawyer, make sure to bring the following:
- Copies of any bills and receipts related to your accident
- Copies of letters and emails from the insurance company or the defendant’s attorney
- A copy of the police report if you were involved in a motor vehicle accident
- Anything you’ve posted or seen the defendant post on social media about the accident
- A copy of the incident report if you suffered a slip and fall at a department store
Once they have this information, they can do a thorough review of your case. This won’t tell them the entire story, but it paints a good picture. As long as you bring this information to your lawyer early on, they should be able to get on top of your case. Make sure you keep this information organized. You don’t want to walk into your lawyer’s office with a shoebox full of scraps of paper. The longer it takes your attorney to make sense of your case, the longer it will take to get it resolved.
You also need to make sure you follow up with any medical treatment required. If you suffered physical injuries in your accident, you’ll probably need medical care. You might need surgery or physical therapy. It’s really important that you keep up with this and attend all of your appointments. If the defendant can show that you didn’t comply with medical treatment, they can have your case dismissed. This is proof that you aren’t trying to mitigate your damages. And, to be honest, without medical bills or pain and suffering, you won’t really have a case. These typically make up a lion’s share of the damages in any personal injury suit.
What Kinds of Things Can You Do to Hurt Your Personal Injury Case in Florida?
There are certain things your personal injury attorney in Navarre, Florida needs you to do. There are also a lot of things they’re counting on you not to do. For example, you don’t want to post about your accident on social media. This will just hurt your case. All you need to do is post a picture of your leg in a cast and make a joke about how you’re gonna be out of work for a while. The defendant’s lawyer will use this to show that you’re happy to be out of work and that you shouldn’t receive lost wages. Or, if someone comments on your Facebook page that they aren’t surprised you got into a crash because you’re such a terrible driver, this can be used against you.
The other thing you don’t want to do is talk to the insurance company without your attorney present. Legally, they aren’t allowed to contact you once they know you have an attorney. However, they can contact you one more time to confirm your attorney’s information. When they do this, they may offer you a lowball settlement, hoping you’ll accept it. They’ll ask you to sign a release in order to receive your money. If you agree and sign this document, there’s nothing your attorney can do. You won’t be able to pursue the defendant for any more money. And, you’ll still have to pay your attorney their percentage.
Can You Handle Your Case on Your Own Then?
Legally, you are absolutely allowed to handle your own personal injury case. There is no law saying you need to hire an attorney. However, it’s not something we recommend you.jpg)
do. You don’t know how to navigate the courts the way our lawyers do. You also have no idea how to negotiate with the insurance adjusters. They can talk over you and make you think that, if you don’t accept their low settlement, you won’t get a dime. And, if you’re afraid that hiring a lawyer will cost you a lot of money, you may agree to it. This is why it’s important that you understand it costs nothing to hire a personal injury attorney in Navarre.
You can sit down and meet with one of our expert lawyers who know how to deal with the insurance adjusters. They have decades of experience handling cases just like yours.
Call Our Office Today and Schedule a Free Consultation
If you’ve been in any sort of personal injury accident, you have a dozen things going through your mind. You don’t know how you’re going to pay to get your car fixed. You’re wondering who will pay your medical care. Your family and friends are telling you to call a local personal injury attorney in Navarre, Florida. At first, you don’t do it because you’re afraid it will be expensive. But when you learn that you can sit down with an experienced accident lawyer in Florida for free, you change your tune.
Call our office and let our team of experienced personal injury lawyers help. They’ll work with you to make sure you get as much compensation as possible. They’ll stay in constant communication with you to make sure your case is handled properly. They will fight with the insurance company to get you every dollar you deserve. They can give you the peace of mind you desperately need at a time like this.
Don’t try to handle this on your own. The defendant will have a team of lawyers looking after them and you should too. The consultation is free and you don’t pay a dime until you settle your case.