Common Questions Regarding the Selection of an Auto Accident Lawyer
After suffering severe injuries in an auto accident, it’s understandable to have many questions about your financial recovery options. In this brief question-and-answer blog, you can get the answers you need to move forward. If you have specific questions about your situation, we encourage you to call the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato for a free consultation.
Here, you can discuss your circumstances with our legal team and get peace of mind about your next steps. You can also learn about the benefits of hiring our auto accident lawyers.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Auto Accident Lawyer?
Every law firm has its way of handling payment and charging for its services. Our personal injury attorneys, however, operate on a contingency fee basis. In this arrangement, clients never pay upfront or out of pocket for our help. Payment for our attorney’s fees comes from the compensation we recover on their behalf.
From the very beginning, you get the terms of this agreement in writing, so you know what to expect. Getting legal representation on a no-win, no-fee basis is one of many things you can learn about during your free claim review.
What Goes Into Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney?
The claims process is fraught with many challenges that the average person may find difficult to navigate. Yet, hiring a lawyer is something you can accomplish in minutes––at least with the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato. Getting legal help all begins with a free claim review. Here, you discuss your situation with our team, and if we’re a good fit, we start building your case immediately.
You don’t have to understand Florida’s claims process to recover compensation. That’s our job. Our personal injury attorneys can answer your case-related questions and keep you updated.
What Does a Lawyer Even Do?
You’re likely familiar with the TV courtroom dramas and other portrayals of lawyers in popular media. Yet, a lawyer does more than argue a court case; there’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work that goes into advocating for your rights.
This includes:
- Cutting through bureaucratic red tape to advance your legal goals
- Combating bad-faith insurance practices
- Rejecting lowball settlement offers
- Fighting unfair allegations of fault or negligence
- Shielding you from unnecessary stress
- Advocating for your best interest
- Putting your needs first
- Overcoming case-related obstacles, like uncooperative insurance companies
An experienced lawyer knows that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula for recovering compensation. When you hire an attorney, they’ll implement a tailor-made legal strategy that’s specific to your case’s needs. So, they may employ additional measures than the ones listed above.
Will I Have to File an Auto Accident Lawsuit?
Chances are, you won’t have to file a lawsuit to recover compensation for your injury-related losses. That’s because most cases are resolved through insurance negotiations rather than litigation.
Still, it’s important to prepare for trial, even if you think a settlement is on the horizon. That’s because the state limits how long you have to file a lawsuit under Florida Statutes § 95.11. You have just two years from the date of your accident to sue the negligent party. Letting this two-year period pass you by could make you ineligible to seek financial recovery.
What Damages Can I Recover With a Lawyer’s Help?
With the help of a Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer, you could recover a wide array of losses as they relate to your situation. For instance, you could recover economic damages that account for your financial losses, such as medical bills, lost income, and property damage costs. You can also recover non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering. This accounts for the intangible hardships the accident created.
What’s the Average Car Accident Settlement Value?
As noted, most cases settle outside of court, with the outcomes only known to the injured parties and the involved insurance companies. Because of this confidentiality, there isn’t an average settlement value for car accident claims. What’s more, even if there was one, there’s no telling that it would reflect your case’s outcome. How much you can recover is unique to your situation and no one else’s.
What Factors Can Affect How Much I Can Recover?
Some factors that could affect how much you can recover include:
- The severity of your condition. A person who suffered paralysis will likely recover more compensation than someone who suffered a broken wrist.
- Your financial losses. You may incur many out-of-pocket costs following your auto accident, such as temporary transportation arrangements. Your financial losses play a large role in the overall value of your settlement. Your lawyer may also consider these details when calculating what you’re owed for pain and suffering.
- Any allegations of fault. Even if you contributed to the accident, you may still recover compensation. Yet, your percentage of fault can reduce how much you can recover. For instance, if you caused 10 percent of the accident, and your damages cost $1 million, you could only recover $900,000.
Ask Our Auto Accident Team Questions During Your Free Case Review
The Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato stands ready to answer your questions following your auto accident. We’re rated one of Florida’s best law firms, having recovered more than $200 million since we first opened our doors. Call (954) 633-8270 now to start your free case review.
