Okeechobee Personal Injury Lawyer

Most of us do not think about the possibility of getting injured as we go about our everyday routines. Unfortunately, accidents can and often do happen, and many of them are caused by the negligent or reckless actions of another person or entity. This is when understanding the basic notions of personal injury law becomes necessary, as those injured by someone else’s negligence have the right to seek compensation for their damages.

The experienced personal injury lawyers at the Grall Law Group, PA, go over the key facts about filing a personal injury claim in South Florida and address the financial challenges that often come with a serious injury. For legal guidance regarding your particular case, contact the Grall Law Group, PA, at 772-569-0000 for a free case evaluation.

What Are the Most Common Types of Personal Injury Claims in Florida?

There are several different types of accidents and injuries that can be classified as personal injury claims. For example, if you are walking around a grocery store and end up falling after tripping on a power cord that was unsecured on the floor, you may have a slip-and-fall claim against the grocery store owner.

Slip-and-falls are the most common type of personal injury claim in general, but other situations such as dog bites, motor vehicle accidents, criminal activity caused by insufficient security, swimming pool accidents, escalator and elevator accidents, and injuries caused by defective products or dangerous pharmaceutical drugs can all be counted as personal injury claims.

What all of these accidents have in common is the fact that they would most likely never have occurred if the other party had acted with reasonable care. Consider our grocery store slip-and-fall example – if the owner had taken reasonable steps to secure the cord or warn customers about the tripping hazard in that spot, the customer would likely not have been injured in the first place.

That is why personal injury cases are based on negligence. If the injured person can prove the at-fault party was negligent and caused their damages, they may be able to recover compensation for their injuries.

How Long Does It Take for a Personal Injury Claim to Be Settled?

In many cases, an injury can leave you unable to work and earn your regular wages, making you anxious to find out how long it will take for you to receive a check for your compensation claim and how much money you may be able to recover for your damages.

In general, the length of time it may take to recover compensation for a personal injury claim depends on whether your case is going to litigation or if you are able to enter settlement negotiations with the at-fault party or their insurance company.

Most personal injury cases do not end up in the courtroom. Still, for those cases that do require a trial, the amount of time it may take to reach a resolution is considerably longer than the waiting period for a settlement agreement. Litigated personal injury cases can take several months or even a couple of years to be finalized.

On a positive note, however, a plaintiff who is able to successfully bring their case to trial and win it may expect to receive larger sums than those resulting from an out-of-court settlement arrangement.

Settlement negotiations, on the other hand, may take a lot less time and be resolved within months of filing a claim. In fact, some insurance companies may be quick to offer claimants a settlement. If that is your case, it is best to be cautious and speak to Okeechobee injury attorneys to review this initial settlement offer, as it is often too low to cover all of your damages.

What Should I Do if the Insurance Company Is Offering Me Money to Close Out My Claim?

If your personal injury case requires you to file an insurance claim, you should be aware of some of the common tactics insurance companies often use to protect their profits. Unfortunately, most insurance companies are not interested in paying out generous settlements to injured claimants.

Even if you have a legitimate claim, you will often find that the insurance company will do anything they can to say that you are partially or totally at fault for your own injuries in order to pay you as little as possible or deny your claim altogether.

If they cannot transfer liability to the claimant, another common tactic insurance companies may use is to quickly offer claimants a settlement shortly after the claim has been filed. The insurance companies know that most injured claimants are in a difficult financial situation and may pressure them into accepting their initial settlement offer.

While receiving an offer so quickly may seem like a good thing, in most cases, this initial offer is much lower than it should be and cannot adequately compensate you for all your damages. If you accept the offer, you will likely be leaving money on the table, and the only party benefiting from this situation is the insurance company. For that reason, your personal injury attorney may almost always advise you to decline the insurance company’s initial offer.

In short, if you are being offered money to close out your insurance claim, be sure to consult an attorney before making any decisions. In fact, by having a personal injury attorney involved in the negotiation process with the insurance company, you have better chances of being treated fairly and recovering maximum compensation for your injuries and financial losses.

Why Should I Hire Okeechobee Personal Injury Lawyers, and How Can I Afford Paying for One?

Hiring a personal injury lawyer for your case can truly make all the difference in terms of making the entire legal process less stressful and maximizing your chances of securing top compensation for your accident.

A skilled Okeechobee personal injury lawyer can easily navigate the process of negotiating your claim with the insurance company without allowing them to employ their usual money-saving tactics, as they know they are working with someone who can take them to trial if necessary.

In addition to protecting your rights as a victim and standing up for your best interests, your Okeechobee personal injury attorney can also handle all aspects of your case for you so you can place your attention back on healing and spending time with your loved ones.

You should also know that most personal injury law firms work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they will begin working on your case without requiring any upfront fees, and you will only pay them after your case is won and a settlement is reached. If you do not win your case, you owe nothing.

There is no reason to fight the insurance company all on your own. Contact the personal injury attorney Okeechobee at the Grall Law Group, PA, to request a free consultation to talk about your case.