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What Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Do?

personal injury lawyer and client at doctors office

 

A personal injury lawyer helps injured people recover financial compensation from the parties responsible for their injuries. The most important jobs of a personal injury lawyer are to speak to the insurance company on your behalf, advocate for your best interests, and file your personal injury claim on time. 

A Jacksonville personal injury lawyer plays a crucial role in recovering the compensation you deserve after an accident. Insurance companies often take advantage of unrepresented accident victims because they are in a weakened state due to their injuries, and they don’t have the years of experience handling accident claims that insurance companies have. 

Our personal injury lawyers at Farah & Farah have been protecting you and your family since 1979 and have recovered over $2 billion in compensation for accident victims. We have the resources to stand up to large insurance companies and win. If you’ve been injured because of someone else’s conduct, contact us today for a free consultation, and let us go to work for you. 

What Our Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys Can Do for You

Accident victims can count on our award-winning personal injury lawyers to protect their rights and fight for the compensation they deserve. We are dedicated to helping those who need it most. When you need to hire a personal injury lawyer, our caring and skilled attorneys will handle all the legal details for you, help you get the resources you need, and provide emotional support.  

Investigate Your Accident

Accident investigation is the most important job a personal injury lawyer does. We perform a thorough investigation in every case, allowing us to determine how the accident occurred, identify those responsible, and gather the evidence needed to prove your claim

We work with some of the most respected forensic experts in the country to perform forensic analyses, private investigations, and medical evaluations. If you were in a motor vehicle accident, we will do the following and more:  

  • Perform an accident reconstruction 
  • Recover the black box data from all vehicles involved 
  • Perform a forensic analysis of the vehicles’ mechanical components 
  • Inspect trucking companies’ inspection and driver logs 
  • Analyze toxicology reports 
  • Look for video surveillance of the accident 
  • Interview eyewitnesses 

In rare cases, we have even purchased the vehicle wreckage to ensure we had unfettered access to it during our investigation. 

Identify the Liable Parties

You can expect the insurance company to deny liability for the accident. Some will go as far as blaming the victim. Our dedicated personal injury lawyers leave no stone unturned in proving what really happened, and our investigations are so thorough that insurance companies typically have difficulty overcoming our findings. This increases the likelihood that the insurance company will agree to pay you fair compensation. If the company still refuses to settle, we’ll take our evidence to court and present the strongest case possible. 

The liable parties aren’t always obvious in personal injury cases. Our experienced personal injury lawyers don’t take the easy way out. We look beyond the surface to identify everything that contributed to the accident. Our detailed approach helps us identify multiple responsible parties and increase the pool of available compensation. 

Refute Blame Unfairly Assigned to You

If the police or the insurance company finds you at fault for an accident, such a determination isn’t final. An experienced personal injury lawyer can overcome such findings with hard evidence, such as eyewitness reports, video surveillance, and black box data, to clear you of the blame. Insurance companies often rely on police reports as conclusive. However, police reports are inadmissible in court as evidence of fault. The report’s findings are not evidence of fault and can be refuted with other evidence.  

Florida’s modified comparative negligence laws prohibit plaintiffs from recovering compensation if they are more than 50 percent at fault for the accident. If you share 50 percent or less of the fault for an accident, your compensation is reduced proportionately. We will work to prove that you share less than half the blame for the accident and seek to maximize your compensation.  

Deal With Insurance Companies

Insurance companies rely on a large bag of tricks to cheat accident victims out of their well-deserved compensation. A personal injury lawyer takes over all communications with the insurance company. In fact, it is unethical for an insurance company to contact you directly once its representatives know you have an attorney. 

The insurance company will likely put all your words and actions under a microscope to find a way out of paying what it owes. It isn’t unusual for an insurance company to demand a recorded statement from you that its attorneys can dissect and use against you. They may misconstrue even the most innocent statements and use them against you. Insurance companies will even take the trouble to monitor your social media, surveil you when you leave home, and make lowball offers.  

Our personal injury lawyers are accomplished trial lawyers ready to fight for you. We know the insurance companies’ playbooks and strategies. Most insurance companies know better than to try their tactics against us. However, we are ready to thwart them and protect your claim if they do. 

Invest Our Own Money With No Upfront Costs to You

We understand the financial devastation accident victims face and we’re dedicated to removing financial barriers to justice. Therefore, we charge no upfront fees. If we win your case, we charge a percentage of your compensation as our fee. 

Pursuing a personal injury claim requires significant upfront investment, such as court fees, investigation costs, expert witness fees, and other expenses. We pay these costs for you. In doing so, we take on all the risks associated with your case. If we don’t win, you owe us nothing, and we bear the losses. You only pay us if we win. 

Collaborate With Experts

We have built an extensive network of leading experts who work for us in every phase of our clients’ personal injury claims, including the following: 

  • Accident reconstructionists 
  • Forensic analysts 
  • Private investigators 
  • Automobile mechanics 
  • Financial analysts 
  • Economists 
  • Life care planners 
  • Medical experts 
  • Vocational experts 

Expert witnesses play an important role in proving how your accident happened, how badly you are hurt, how long your injuries will last, how much your injuries will cost, and what your future earning capacity will be. This information helps us prove your claim and calculate your case value. 

Help You Find the Best Doctors

Over our 45+ years of practice, we have determined the best doctors for various types of injuries. We have developed a positive working relationship with numerous doctors who excel in their fields. We can refer you to these doctors and even schedule your appointments for you. This is just one example of how our personal injury attorneys go above and beyond to provide exemplary service. 

Pursue Maximum Compensation

We are committed to helping you recover the maximum compensation for your injury. Thus, we work hard to gather strong evidence and identify all the liable parties.  

We will use our evidence as leverage to negotiate a settlement. We won’t accept less than you deserve. If the insurance companies refuse to pay fair and reasonable compensation, we will present your case to a jury. Our successful trial lawyers have a strong track record in court, and most insurance companies will settle to avoid facing us in a trial. 

Advise You of Your Rights and Answer Your Questions

When you choose Farah & Farah, our compassionate and supportive personal injury lawyers will support you and answer your questions when you need us. We will always guard your best interests and explain your legal options. Our open-door policy ensures you always have access to your legal team.  

How To Choose the Right Personal Injury Lawyer for You

When you need a personal injury lawyer, choose a reputable attorney with a reputation and track record you can trust. 

  • Experience – Choose an attorney with experience handling your type of case. Our nationally recognized personal injury lawyers have over 45 years of experience handling all types of personal injury claims. 
  • Compassion – The best personal injury lawyers care about their clients, and that compassion drives them to fight for maximum compensation. We treat every client with honesty, dignity, and respect and win through caring, understanding, and hard work. 
  • A winning record – One of the most important indications of a quality attorney is their impressive record of success. We have won more than $2 billion in settlements and verdicts
  • Satisfied clients – A trustworthy personal injury attorney should have numerous client testimonials. We have received thousands of unsolicited five-star reviews from our satisfied clients. 

What Happens if My Case Goes to Trial?

Once your personal injury lawyer files your lawsuit, your case proceeds through several steps toward trial. 

The Discovery Process

Discovery is the process of sharing evidence. The defendants have a right to request your evidence to prepare a defense. The judge usually requires you to exchange documents such as forensic reports, medical records, and bills. The parties can also review physical evidence, such as photographs and video surveillance. 

The defendants also have a right to question you and other witnesses during a proceeding known as a deposition. During the deposition, you’ll be under oath. In some cases, the defense may question your friends and family. 

If a deposition becomes necessary in your case, our attorneys will be with you during the deposition, and we will prepare you ahead of time. We will ensure that you are ready to answer any questions the defense comes up with, and you won’t have to fear that you might say the wrong thing.  

Ongoing Settlement Negotiations

Settlement negotiations can continue until the case concludes, even after the trial has started. In many cases, settlement negotiations kick into high gear after the completion of discovery. By gathering strong evidence and properly preparing you for depositions, our seasoned personal injury lawyers can ensure your case remains strong throughout the proceedings and that the discovery process only strengthens your negotiating position. 

Defense Motions

The defendants will likely file a motion to dismiss your claim or discredit your  expert witnesses testifying in your favor. If this happens in your case, there is no reason to be alarmed. These motions are common tactics. Such motions must meet a very high bar to succeed. 

The Trial and Verdict

If the insurance company refuses to settle for a fair and reasonable amount, your case will proceed to trial. During the trial, our award-winning personal injury lawyers will present witnesses in your favor, cross-examine the defendant’s witnesses, and present opening and closing arguments to the jury. We approach every case as if it will go to trial from the beginning, so we are always prepared to present a compelling case. 

If the jury issues a verdict in your favor, we will seek to collect your award. However, the defense may appeal. If this occurs, we will stand with you until these efforts are exhausted and you receive compensation. 

Types of Injury Cases We Handle

What Types of Compensation Can I Receive in My Personal Injury Case?

Compensation in a personal injury lawsuit may include economic, non-economic, and punitive damages. You can also recover wrongful death damages when someone else’s carelessness causes the death of a close family member. 

Economic Damages

Economic damages compensate for monetary losses, such as property damage, lost wages, domestic services, and medical expenses. When calculating these damages, we include anticipated future losses, such as lost earning capacity and ongoing medical expenses. 

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages compensate for losses to your quality of life. They include such losses as the following: 

  • Pain 
  • Suffering 
  • Emotional distress 
  • Humiliation 
  • Inconvenience 
  • Loss of society 
  • Loss of bodily functions 
  • Loss of enjoyment of life 
  • Loss of consortium 
  • Scarring and disfigurement

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are available in limited cases when you have clear and convincing evidence of deliberate misconduct or gross negligence. For example, you may be eligible for punitive damages if a drunk or aggressive driver caused your injuries. 

Wrongful Death Damages

If a loved one has died because of someone else’s negligence, our compassionate personal injury attorneys can help you pursue damages through a wrongful death lawsuit. You may be able to recover economic, non-economic, and punitive damages for your loved one’s suffering and your family’s losses, including the following: 

  • Loss of companionship 
  • Loss of your loved one’s lifetime income 
  • Funeral and burial expenses 
  • Loss of love and affection 
  • Loss of parental guidance and support 
  • And more 

When Should I Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer?

You should contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after your accident. Although the personal injury statute of limitations in Florida is two years after the accident in most personal injury cases, you shouldn’t put off contacting us. Often, the most important evidence in motor vehicle crashes, slips and falls, and workplace accidents disappears quickly. For instance, the following can happen: 

  • Video surveillance can be erased. 
  • Property owners can remove evidence. 
  • Skid marks disappear. 
  • Eyewitnesses can forget important details. 
  • Motor vehicles can be repaired or destroyed. 

Your attorney will need this evidence to build the strongest case possible. In addition, the sooner you contact an attorney, the sooner your attorney can start protecting your interests.  

Contact Our Injury Law Firm for a Free Consultation

If you or your loved one has been injured because of someone else’s negligence, carelessness, or recklessness, our experienced personal injury lawyers can stand up for you and fight for the compensation you deserve.  

Call us today at (877) 245-6707 to schedule a free consultation. 

 

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