When can you File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed due to another person’s negligence or carelessness, you have the Meet our Tampa personal injury lawyers & staff right to file a personal injury lawsuit and be compensated for your injuries, expenses and financial hardship due to the injury.
A personal injury lawyer should be contacted as soon as possible after the accident since there are time sensitive steps that must be taken and an attorney will know how to handle the process, as well as the insurance company, expenses, and even the police reports and witnesses.
Choosing a Tampa personal injury attorney to fight for your financial future after a personal injury is an important decision. It is critical that you choose an attorney who is experienced and has a record of success in personal injury and accident cases. The law firm you select to handle your injury case can make an enormous difference in the amount of compensation you receive for your injuries.
Dennis A Lopez & Associates has over 30 years’ experience in personal injury case and a track record of success. Please call us today for a free consultation. We do not get paid unless we get money for you.
Types of Personal Injury Cases
The term “personal injury” covers a broad spectrum of accidents and injuries. Here are several of the most common types of cases:
• Car Accidents
• Truck Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Slip and Fall Accidents
• Medical Malpractice
• Defective Products
• Dangerous Drugs
• Construction Accidents
• Injuries at Work
The type of accident and injury will be different in every case but the focus remains the same: making sure our clients get the support and compensation to move forward after their injury.
The Process
An experienced Tampa personal injury lawyer can walk you through the process of filing a lawsuit since all cases differ in their size, scope, and specifics. There are several steps that often Meet our attorneys & staff: remain the same, however.
Step 1: An inciting moment occurs, like a car accident, truck accident, bicycle accident, pedestrian accident, or hit-and-run accident. This is the moment when you, the plaintiff, are injured by another individual or entity.
Step 2: Immediate ramifications take place. The responsible party may be arrested and charged with a crime. Insurance companies may get involved. All the while, you continue to suffer from your injuries.
Step 3: After thinking it through, you decide to file a personal injury lawsuit against the party responsible for your injury. You get in touch with a Tampa personal injury lawyer for representation.
Step 4: Your attorney walks you through the specifics of your case, outlining the information that will need to be collected. This could include medical bills, eyewitness accounts, photographs, and police reports. Your lawyer will also help develop your case.
Step 5: Before a lawsuit is officially filed, the potential defendant may wish to settle outside the courtroom. A settlement involves financial compensation in exchange for a promise not to file a lawsuit over the injury in question. While you are under no obligation to accept a settlement, your lawyer may advise you to do so, depending on the details of your case.
Step 6: If you refuse to agree to a settlement, your Tampa personal injury lawyer will file an official lawsuit. Between this moment and your scheduled court date, a settlement can still be negotiated between yourself and the defendant.
Step 7: If no settlement is reached, a jury will determine the defendant’s liability. If the defendant is found liable, an amount will be awarded in damages based on the information provided from your medical bills, witness statements, and other documentation.
The vast majority of personal injury cases are settled before they reach the courtroom. In fact, in August of 2005, the U.S. Justice Department released a report showing the number of personal injury cases decided by a trial in federal courts declined by almost 80 percent in two decades.
Since your case will likely be settled directly, it’s essential to have an experienced Tampa personal injury lawyer to represent you.
Types of Compensation and Expense Covered in Personal Injury Case
There are several areas ways you can be compensated in a personal injury case. Here are a few of them:
• Medical Bills
• Lost Wages
• Property Damage
• Future Earning
• Long Term Care
• Rehabilitation
• Funeral Expenses
• Pain and Suffering
Contact an Experienced Tampa Personal Injury Lawyer for Representation
It’s important to understand that the door won’t stay open forever. In the state of Florida, you have four years to file a personal injury claim. If you miss this deadline, you’ll never receive compensation for your injuries.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a careless or intentional accident, contact our Tampa personal injury lawyer team for representation at (877)-333-3676. personal injury attorneys will help you file a lawsuit, determine fair compensation, and fight for justice.