Top Rated Fort Myers Personal Injury Lawyers

Personal injury law allows a person who is injured in an accident to file a civil lawsuit in court and to receive remedies from that accident or incident. This allows the injured person to be compensated financially (made whole) after being harmed due to negligence or intentional conduct. A personal injury lawsuit can be the result of a car accident, a manufacturer defect, at a place of work, or from medical malpractice. 

If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Myers, Florida personal injury law may enable you to make a full and fair recovery. Be sure to contact a personal injury attorney for a free consultation in Fort Myers, FL  today. 

What Steps Should I Take After An Accident?

If you are injured, you should seek medical attention immediately. This may mean calling an ambulance to rule out or confirm any injuries. It is important to take pictures and to not take blame or accept fault. If there are any witnesses, then take their contact information down. This way you can give their information to your Florida personal injury lawyer, and they can testify in your favor. If you believe someone else is at fault, you can contact a personal injury attorney and request a free consultation. Personal injury attorneys in Florida represent clients on a contingency basis, which means that you don’t have to pay out of pocket to speak to a lawyer. You should be able to get an idea of how your personal injury case will play out by talking to a Fort Myers personal injury lawyer. 

How Will I Know if I Have a Personal Injury Case?

There is no need to make this decision without a personal injury attorney. Whether you think you have a personal injury case or not, contact a personal injury lawyer in the Southwest Florida or Fort Myers, FL area for professional legal advice. Most personal injury lawyers serving Fort Myers will provide you with a free consultation where they will explain the law to you and answer all of your questions. If in the end your lawyer doesn’t believe that you have a strong case, you will not have to pay a fee.  

What If I Do Not Feel Any Injuries?

It is important to seek medical attention even if you do not feel hurt right after the incident. After a traumatic situation your body may protect itself by pumping adrenaline through your system, so you may not feel injured at the moment. As time goes on, you may begin to feel pain and sensations in the body that quantify as injuries due to the prior circumstance. Most personal injury lawyers would agree that a medical examination will not harm your case. In fact, have a proper diagnosis will help establish a baseline for your injuries should your lawyer need to take your case to court. 

What is the Time Frame for Filing A Personal Injury Case In Fort Myers, FL?

This depends on the state that the situation happened. In the Southwest Florida or Fort Myers, FL area, you and your personal injury lawyer have four years from the date that the incident occured to file a personal injury case. Although you may have anywhere from a year in some states to four years in other states, it is important that you file a claim as soon as possible. This will help you prove liability and the extent of the damages caused. If you are unsure where to begin, you should contact a Fort Myers personal injury law firm to discuss your case. Most personal injury law offices will provide a free consultation with no commitment. 

Should I Talk to an Insurance Adjuster or an Insurance Lawyer?

The short answer to this question is, no. If an insurance adjuster calls you, they are usually trying to coax a statement from you to benefit them and you do not want to risk saying something that can comprise your personal injury case. The same is true if the defendant's attorney calls, as well. If this happens, direct the insurance adjuster or defendant’s attorney to your personal injury lawyer in Fort Myers. 

What Damages Can I Collect In A Personal Injury Case?

There are two types of damages: economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages include tangible things like, medical bills, loss of income or earning potential, property damages, and the cost of any future treatment needed from the circumstances. Essentially, these include anything that your personal injury lawyer can readily value and itemize. Non-economic damages, on the other hand, are subjective. These include things like pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life. Depending on the severity of the personal injury case, you can collect multiple damages. Every case and circumstance is different, so it is important to discuss your unique situation with a professional personal injury lawyer. Punitive damages are much more rare in Fort Myers, FL injury cases, but they may be awarded in some situations. Contact a personal injury law firm serving Fort Myers to discuss your claim and the damages you may be eligible to collect. 

What Happens if I Already Had A Pre-Existing Condition?

If you have a pre-existing condition, you can still receive damages, but the prior incident that caused your pre-existing condition will most likely be taken into account and then reduced from the current situation’s damages. These types of cases can be complicated, so you should hire a personal injury lawyer to guide you through the process. Remember, most personal injury attorneys will provide you with a free consultation so there is no risk in making an appointment with a lawyer and discussing the details of your case.  

What Happens if You are Partly At Fault In Fort Myers, FL?

This ultimately depends on the state that you live in, but in Southwest Florida or the Fort Myers, FL area, the compensation will depend on the percentage amount that you are at fault for the incident. For example, if you get in a motor vehicle collision and the other driver ran a red light, but you were going over the speed limit at the time that the collision occurred, then the collision may be 90% the other driver's fault and 10% your fault. Therefore, if the compensation for this personal injury case is $10,000, you will only receive $9,000 due to your percentage of fault for the collision. This is known as the comparative fault principle. Be sure to contact a professional personal injury lawyer for a free consultation to help you determine the damages allotted to you. 

How Long Does a Personal Injury Case Take?

Although some cases wind up in court, most cases are settled between the defendant’s personal injury attorney and the plaintiff or their insurance without even having to set foot in a courtroom. Personal injury cases are all unique. If you have a case where there are heavy damages or the personal injury lawyers cannot determine liability, then it may take longer. The willingness for the insurance to pay-out for a personal injury claim can affect the longevity of the personal injury case, as well. It usually helps having a personal injury attorney present to show the insurance company that you have professional legal help and are serious about damages. 

What Is The Time Frame On Receiving My Check?

In most cases, insurance companies want to close out a personal injury case quickly. They will push to reach a settlement and issue a check for the damages within one to two weeks, if not sooner. They will, of course, require you to sign the settlement agreement with a waiver of liability, which prevents you from receiving further compensation. If you hire a personal injury attorney, the process slows down. Your lawyer will require more time to prepare your case and approach the defendant with a full and fair settlement offer. When you do receive a check, your personal injury lawyer will take their fee from the check and you are left with the rest of the money received for damages. 

Remember, it is extremely important to get professional legal help to aid you in receiving the most compensation allotted to you, and to determine liability of the others involved. Be sure to contact a Fort Myers, FL personal injury lawyer today.