Orlando Personal Injury Lawyers

Make Sure You Get Checked By a Doctor

Sometimes, when people are injured in a traumatic event, the adrenaline and cortisol that flood their bodies make it tough to feel pain. While this is temporary, it can last several hours, even into the next day. A person who can’t tell they are seriously injured may not realize how important getting medical attention is.

Don’t make this mistake. You need to protect your physical wellbeing by getting examined. In addition, this will create an official record of the time, date, and nature of your injuries that will become a valuable piece of evidence for a personal injury claim.

Without a medical record of your injuries and when they occurred, your personal injury case will be much weaker than it could be. Don’t help the insurance company devalue your case. Get medical attention as soon as possible after a personal injury.

Make Sure you Follow Your Doctor’s Orders

Just as it’s important to see a doctor after a personal injury, it’s crucial to follow the treatment plan you receive from that doctor. There are many forms this can take, such as physical therapy, medications, or trauma counseling. Every prescriptions and medical appointments create more evidence that supports your claim.

Just as it’s important to do what the doctor tells you, it’s important not to do activities the doctor advises you to stop until you are stronger. If it’s discovered that you’ve gone surfing, for example, when you are recovering from a head injury, this can derail your claim.

Overdoing your activities when the doctor advises rest will open the door for the insurance company to say you must be lying about the extent of your injuries. Or, they can try to blame any complications during your recovery on your own “recklessness.”

Remember, anything the insurance company can blame on you relieves them of some of the responsibility for your claim, lowering its value.

Don’t Give the Insurance Provider a Recorded Statement

This is a biggie. Contrary to how the insurance company may make it sound, giving them a recorded statement will not help move your case along. In truth, the insurance adjuster is hoping to find something in what you’ve said to weaken your claim and save them money.

Don’t give them the chance. It’s common for people not to know they are allowed to refuse to provide a recorded statement. Your best course of action is to decline to talk and hang up.

Dealing with the insurance company is a chore ideally left to your Orlando personal injury lawyer.

Not Calling an Attorney Quickly Enough

When you’ve been seriously injured by another’s negligence, finding a lawyer may be the furthest thing from your mind. Besides, the statute of limitations for filing may seem like plenty of time.

It’s important to remember that the quality of the evidence for your case, including witness testimony, will be weaker the longer you wait. Witnesses may also become difficult to locate.

Give your lawyer the best chance to build you a strong case by calling as soon as you are able.

Make Sure Your Lawyer is a Good Fit

It’s a mistake to believe that any lawyer can get you equal results, no matter what type of case you have. Like doctors, lawyers focus on practice areas, each with its specific knowledge base of statutes, case histories, rules, and regulations.

You will get the most successful results for your personal injury claim with a lawyer who focuses on personal injury cases. It’s also to your advantage to make sure your lawyer is a trial lawyer.

Should the insurance company refuse to offer a fair and reasonable settlement, you’re going to need someone skilled and comfortable in front of a jury. Insurance companies are often aware of who the successful trial lawyers are. Just knowing who you’ve hired can bring the insurance company to the negotiation table to avoid a trial.

Either way, your best case will be made with a personal injury trial lawyer who has a track record of winning in court.

Personal Injury Client Story

The story that follows will give you additional insight into your personal injury claim. Names and details have been changed to protect the identity of our clients, but the helpfulness of the content remains.

Make sure you read it to the end to get the most from it. When you’re done, please take advantage of our offer for free legal advice for your case by calling to schedule your consultation.

On a rainy August afternoon in Orlando a few years ago, Stephanie Weldon dropped her sixteen-year-old daughter, Julie, off for soccer practice.

Good thing this place has indoor fields, she thought, watching her daughter jump out of her old Jeep and run into the building.

She couldn’t believe she’d been coming to this training facility for ten years now. This place was an amazing find, with a serious soccer program that was looking like it just might take Julie all the way to a college scholarship.

Wow, Stephanie thought, I really am a ‘Soccer Mom.’

Stephanie pulled out into traffic, heading to the grocery store. She had 90 minutes before picking Julie up. Just enough time to restock the fridge.

As she pulled into the parking lot, she noticed an enormous tractor trailer disappearing behind the building to make a delivery. She always noticed them, because her husband was an over-the-road trucker. It always amazed Stephanie how the drivers were able to maneuver such large vehicles.

Stephanie spent the next 50 minutes in the store before packing the back of the Jeep to the brim and heading to the parking lot’s exit. About 30 yards from the exit, Stephanie was cut off by the big rig as it attempted to leave via the same route. Stopping short, she caught her breath and held it again as the rear of the trailer just missed her front bumper as it swung around to pull up to the exit.

That’s weird, Julie thought, I’ve never seen a big rig on this road, are they even allowed to exit this way?

The truck’s driver must have realized his mistake at the same moment. Stephanie shrieked as the monstrous truck suddenly jolted and began backing toward her as he tried to turn around.

She hit the horn and tried to back up, but the truck quickly made impact on the front driver’s side, pinning the hood of the Jeep. As the truck continued to swerve backward, Stephanie’s door frame buckled and glass splintered the air as the window shattered. Pain lanced through her left eye and she screamed, leaning on the horn as hard as she could.

The driver didn’t seem to hear her as the front end of Stephanie’s Jeep crumpled toward the windshield. Stephanie couldn’t open her door. Thoughts of her children and husband raced through her head as she frantically hit the horn.

A college kid in the car behind Stephanie also laid on his horn, adding to the noise to alert the truck, as his friend jumped out the passenger side and climbed onto the truck’s step, pounding on the driver’s door. Startled, the driver instinctively braked the vehicle.

Stephanie spent four days in the hospital with broken leg and foot. She also needed surgery to remove glass from her left eye and had multiple lacerations on her face.

She was glad to be alive. Her husband, Ty, was furious.

We received Ty’s call the day he brought his wife home from the hospital. He said they needed information about a personal injury claim, starting with how much it would cost to hire us, how much Stephanie’s claim was worth, and how long it might take.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Lawyer for My Personal Injury Claim?

They arrived at our office the next day. After settling Stephanie’s wheelchair at the conference table, Ty began pacing, clearly upset.

“How much would it cost to hire your firm to represent us?” he asked, as he turned back for another pass across the rug.

We told the Weldons that our contingency fee model meant there would be no upfront cost.

“We cover all of the expenses of your case from start to finish, and we only get paid when we bring your claim to a successful conclusion.”

Ty made another pass, nodding his head.

How Much Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?

“So, how much do you think — Honey, please sit down,” Stephanie pleaded over her shoulder to her husband. “You’re going to make everybody seasick pacing like that.” He huffed and pulled out a chair.

“It’s just not right,” he said, throwing his hands up. Stephanie caught one of them in her own”

“And that’s why we’re here, Hon,” she soothed.

“So, you think my case could be worth… how much?” she asked as Ty put his arm around her shoulders protectively.

“That is not something we can accurately tell you at this stage of your claim, unfortunately.

“First we’re going to need to do an accident investigation. Then we’ll need a clear understanding of your damages.

“The investigation can get underway immediately. It’s good that you called us so quickly. We’ll visit the scene of the accident and speak to witnesses listed on the police report. We’ll work up your case thoroughly as though it’s going to trial.

“The damages are going to take longer to figure out. We’re going to need your help with those, Stephanie. From now on, your main focus must be on your recovery. We’ll need you to reach what is called ‘maximum medical improvement.’

“That is when your doctors can declare you ‘back to normal.’ If that level of recovery is not possible because of your injuries, we’ll need you to reach the highest level of recovery you can.

“This will also be the point at which we know for sure that your surgeries are done with, and what any future medical treatment will look like for your injuries.

“You’ll need to be conscientious about following your doctor’s treatment plan until you reach maximum medical improvement. That includes not overdoing activities. It’s going to be critical to your health and to the strength of your claim.

“When you reach maximum medical improvement, we’ll have a clear understanding of your damages. Then we’ll know what your case is worth.”

Ty started to push his chair back to resume pacing, but Stephanie held his wrist, keeping him beside her.

“I understand. I assure you, I’m commitment to doing everything I can to assist in my recovery.”

How Long Will My Personal Injury Claim Take?

Stephanie’s phone buzzed with a call from Julie. She silenced it and sent a quick text that they’d be home soon.

Two teenagers and a twelve-year old…how long before she could get back to her life, she wondered with a sigh. The kids would just have to pitch in and help. A lot.

“Do you have any idea how long my claim will take?” she asked.

“That too, will depend on a couple of things. First, how long it will take you to reach maximum medical improvement. Once you’re there and we know your damages, we’ll send a demand letter to the trucking company’s insurance provider.

“The second factor in the timeline equation is how the insurance company reacts to the letter. If they are fair and reasonable, we’re good. Things can proceed smoothly and quickly.

“If they refuse to be reasonable, we take them to court.

“Don’t let this worry you, though. We have a long, successful history of winning cases like yours in the courtroom.

“Besides, the insurance company knows who we are. It’s not unheard of for insurance companies to become much more willing to settle once they find out who they would be up against in court. Either way, we’ll be ready.

“That’s why no matter whom you hire, we strongly recommend you choose a personal injury trial lawyer with a solid track record of success.”

Stephanie and Ty were satisfied with the answers we provided about their personal injury claim. They retained our firm, and we are pleased to say we got Stephanie eight times more than the amount the insurance company initially offered.

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Call Our Orlando Personal Injury Lawyers Today

We hope the information on this page has given you a good idea of many of the elements involved in your personal injury claim. Of course, each case is unique. We encourage you to take advantage of our offer of free legal advice and call us to discuss your specific case. You are not alone in this. Give us a call and let us help with your personal injury claim.