Between college and law school I trained horses. One day I decided to finish what I had started and go to law school. I had been headed there sixteen years before. While in law school, my buddy and I were t-boned by a little old lady. My car was totaled and I was badly injured. This car accident messed me up pretty good. I can now say that I personally know pain; I have a full knee replacement to show from this accident. I had to take time off from work and school. I was spending an incredible amount of time studying for the Florida Bar when the accident happened and just like that everything came to a halt. But wait, I had to eat, I had to take the bar exam this was not right. I thought, “There has to be a way to help people like me.” Even though I was single with no kids, it was very hard to juggle all the doctor appointments, buy a new car, go to school, get to work and a bunch of little things that needed tended to everyday to deal with an accident that I did not cause. Did I mention the pain racking my body every day? I can’t fathom trying to do this with a family. I bring this memory of struggle to every case every client. We try to make it as least stressful as possible. This is where our slogan “We work for you” originates.
After my accident, I learned the ins and outs of the personal injury practice. I spoke with so many attorneys picking their brains. Remember at the time I was in law school and had access to some pretty smart and experienced attorneys. Trust me when I say, there are a lot of ins and outs. I believe this sets me apart in this industry. I have first-hand knowledge of the frustration and pain one goes through. Back then, I did not have little kids, and now I have two. It is tough for me to attend sporting events or to run around with my children. My oldest son hobbles when he runs, just like I do. I did not notice it right away, but can see now that he mimics me. I had to tell him I do the hobble because I have to, since I have a fake knee. I tell him, “Buddy, you do not have to run like that.” It’s a tough pill to swallow. I know the repercussions and potential outcomes of being in an accident through no fault of your own, and I strive to help people who are enduring the same thing that I went through, and still endure.
What Types Of Personal Injury Cases Do You Handle?
We handle both car accidents, slip and falls and dog bite case among others. Surprisingly, there are more slip and fall accidents in the state of Florida than there are car accidents for personal injuries. As such, we handle a lot of slip and falls, which can be a completely different animal from personal injury car accidents. In the past year, there has been an influx of dog-attack cases. We have had more dog cases in the last twelve months than we have had in the last three years or so. I do not know where they are all coming from, or if clients in dog cases are just making sure other people know about their rights, or hopefully because of word of mouth about how good our law firm is.
What Are The Top Misconceptions About The Personal Injury Recovery Process?
One of the biggest misconceptions is that some people think it’s a phone call to insurance company to get lots of money. We have bailed out more than a few people who have tried to go this alone.
Another misconception about the recovery process is that the medical bills will just disappear. This unfortunately does not magically happen. Another misconception people often have is about the length of time these cases take from start to finish. Some people hear that it takes forever and that scares them. Some cases resolve a lot quicker than others, but a lot of times, those cases either deal with very small policies or minimal injuries to the person. If someone needs significant treatment and possibly surgery, those cases can take much longer.
Is Filing A Personal Injury Claim A Relatively Easy Process?
Filing a personal injury claim is easy enough. We do a thorough intake and with email and todays smart phones/cameras things can go pretty smoothly. We want to make it as simple and hassle-free for our client as possible, and let them concentrate on getting healthy and back to their normal life. Keep in mind I have personal experience having been in a bad accident. I know remember the hassles and headaches involved and try to eliminate those the best we can.
Do Most Personal Injury Cases Settle Prior To Trial?
Most personal injury claims do settle prior to going to trial. But our experience is they do not resolve themselves. We build a strong trial case from day one with witnesses, evidence, pictures and videos if we are lucky enough to have them available. We evaluate each case. When possible and beneficial to our clients we try and obtain a settlement before going to trial. If in the event we do have to go to trial, we are very much prepared, but negotiating skills are what get cases resolved.
How Should Someone Deal With the Other Party’s Insurance?
You shouldn’t. It’s best to turn over to attorney as early as possible. We jump in and get started as soon as we are retained on the case. All parties, insurance companies, and everyone involved will receive notifications from our office. It will typically be via a letter of facts, or a phone call saying, “Please direct all correspondence and communications through us from now on, because this client has retained us to handle their case.” We strongly suggest that the injured individual does not talk to the insurance companies. This is because when an injured individual talks to the insurance companies, that person on the other side of the phone is paid to extract information from them; that is their job. The insurance company does not want to pay. Our experience is the more someone has spoken to the other insurance company prior to us getting in, the less settlement we can get for them.
For more information on Personal Injury Claims In Florida, a free initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (561) 588-9992 today.