Clearwater Personal Injury Lawyer

Most personal injury cases in Florida are subject to a four-year statute of limitations. This means that you’ll probably have four years to file a lawsuit after an accident in Tampa. There are exceptions to this rule. Wrongful death lawsuits and medical malpractice claims are subject to a two-year time limit. 

Do not wait too long to take action and file a claim after you get hurt. You’ll lose the ability to recover compensation if you miss the deadline that applies to your case. Our accident attorneys in Clearwater are here to help you after your accident from start to finish. We’ll handle all of the procedural aspects of your case – including preparing and submitting all necessary paperwork to move your claim forward.

It costs nothing to hire an injury attorney upfront. Instead, the lawyer recovers anywhere between 33% and 40% of your financial award. But, your lawyer only gets paid if they win your case. This is called a contingency fee arrangement. 

That’s a huge incentive for them to work incredibly hard on your behalf and fight to maximize your recovery.

Always ask how the fee is calculated: using your gross award (total amount won/awarded) or your net award (total reduced by case-related costs). It’s important to know when things like filing fees, court costs, and expert witness fees are deducted from your settlement or verdict. It will affect how much money you ultimately walk away with when your case is over. 

Statistically speaking, no. Only about 4-5% of personal injury lawsuits end up going to trial. The vast majority of cases settle before ever getting that far. 

But, just because most cases don’t go to trial doesn’t necessarily mean that yours won’t. It’ll depend on a lot of different factors specific to your case. How clear is liability? Is the insurance company willing to negotiate? Is there a big dispute over what your case is worth? 

Ultimately, whether or not your case goes before a judge and jury is up to you. You can decide to settle, or you can push forward and go to trial. The best thing you can do is hire an attorney with extensive trial experience. This will show insurance companies that you’re serious about your case and won’t be pressured into taking a lowball offer. It’ll also mean that your attorney will be ready if and when your case gets to court.

There’s no one right answer. The value of every case is different – because accidents, injuries, and victims are all unique. 

Ultimately, what your case is worth will depend on things like:

• The type and extent of injuries
• Whether your ability to work and earn a living has been affected
• Your out of pocket expenses
• Liability and available insurance coverage
• How your quality of life has been affected

The more serious your injuries, the more your case is likely worth. 

Keep in mind that while your case might be worth a lot, you run the risk of leaving money on the table if you don’t have the right legal team by your side. Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers benefits from the experience of a Board Certified trial attorney. We will not rest until all damages have been identified and you’re compensated to the fullest extent of the law.

It’s simple: you shouldn’t have to struggle with the costs and stress of an accident. This is certainly true if someone else is responsible for your injuries. 

Filing a personal injury claim gives you the opportunity to secure compensation to make you financially whole and give you some room to breathe as you get back on your feet. It also ensures that negligent parties are held accountable for their actions. 

It depends on what type of accident you’re in and how you’re injured. 

If you’re in a car accident in Clearwater, Florida’s no-fault auto insurance rules will apply. This means that you’ll be required to seek PIP benefits from your own insurance provider. Personal Injury Protection coverage (PIP) covers 80% of your medical expenses. If your injuries are severe or catastrophic, or if your claim is denied in bad faith, then you can seek additional compensation through a personal injury lawsuit or third-party insurance claim.

If you’re injured at work, there’s a good chance that you’ll be covered by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance policy. Benefits include compensation for medical bills – but there are often strict rules and harsh limitations.

Typically, if you’re injured in an accident, you’ll be on the hook for medical bills until you can establish that someone else is legally responsible. That’s why it is important to seek legal advice from a qualified Clearwater personal injury attorney after you get hurt. 

Filing a timely insurance claim or a lawsuit is the best way to ensure that the negligent party – and not you – is ultimately responsible for covering your medical bills.

It depends – and it depends largely on you.

Your case can be resolved in a matter of days if you want to accept an early settlement offer. But, know that early offers tend to be for way less than a case is really worth. 

Settlement negotiations – especially when led by an experienced attorney – can get you much better results. Depending on how clearcut liability is, the extent and seriousness of your injuries, and the willingness of an insurer to cooperate, you could reach a settlement in just a few weeks. Alternatively, negotiations could take months if any aspects of the case are contested. 

Your case could take a year or longer – from start to finish – if it goes to trial. 

At Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, our personal injury lawyers in Clearwater will fight to get you the best possible result in the shortest amount of time possible. But, we’ll never sacrifice the quality of our representation and settle if it means leaving money on the table. Our goal is to maximize your financial recovery and set you up for success moving forward.