Tampa Personal Injury Lawyer

When the Unimaginable Happens, We Are Here

Although rarely practical, the time to think about an attorney is not after you have been injured, but before helping you stay prepared for the unexpected. Choosing an attorney can be deeply personal as they represent your interests and understand how the processes and industries involved in your care and health work against each other and together. During these times of significant stress, your comfort level and trust are paramount.

Whether your case is an auto accident, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, or other injury resulting from the act of another, Paul is well equipped to successfully handle your injury case and get the best resolution for you and your family.

Above all else, your health and your ability to afford medical care are essential parts of your recovery. You need someone who understands the complex issues related to your injury from start to finish to ensure you maximize the medical and monetary compensation you deserve.

What Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Do?

A personal injury lawyer can help you identify who or what is to blame for your injuries. They can also help you get justly compensated for your injuries if you are hurt due to someone else’s carelessness, negligence, recklessness, or intentional act. You can meet with personal injury attorneys to go over the details of your case. They can gather the documentation and additional evidence related to the incident. This includes any correspondence you may have had with the concerned parties in your case, as well as:

• Images
• Recordings
• Witness contact details
• Insurance company policy and claim details
• Medical and police records

What Kinds of Cases Do Personal Injury Attorneys Handle?

Your injuries can change your life on many levels, including socially, financially, physically, and emotionally. In addition to leaving victims with large medical debts, they frequently leave victims with lasting injuries that will impact their daily activities, among other forms of financial damage:

• Wrongful Death
• A permanent disability
• Deformity
• Excessive pain
• Lost wages
• Loss of Consortium

In these cases, a personal injury lawyer can help you recover damages to help financially support you during this time. The most common kinds of accidents that personal injury lawyers handle include:

• Product Liability: Similar to property owners, producers and sellers of goods have a responsibility to certain groups of people, often their clients and buyers. The U.S. Congress approved the Product Liability Fairness Act in 1996 to stop dangerous items from being sold. Regrettably, these goods continue to make it to the market and eventually reach customers. Companies selling these products are to blame for any adverse effects of using their products. A personal injury attorney can assist clients who have been hurt as a direct or indirect consequence of dangerous or defective products. By filing a liability claim, they can obtain the money they require for treatment, recovery, or moving on with their lives.
• Car Accidents: Automobile accidents are the primary cause of personal injury claims across the country. Most of these collisions are brought on by careless and negligent driving. The causes of carelessness might range from speeding and driving while intoxicated to driving when tired, or inattentive driving such as texting while driving. In car crashes, it can be difficult to determine who is responsible. Florida is a no-fault state, meaning that all drivers involved in accidents must have insurance to deal with them. To properly investigate your injury case, a personal injury attorney can evaluate the evidence, including witness testimonies, scene photos, CCTV footage, driving conditions, utilize experts to assist in accident reconstruction, biomechanics, and the past and long-term effects of your injuries and the damage to the vehicles.
• Pedestrian Accidents: When driving on the street, drivers are responsible for watching out for pedestrians or other vehicles that may be in the way of the flow of traffic. Sometimes, drivers who are driving recklessly, or who are not paying attention to their surroundings, can end up striking someone in the crosswalk, causing a pedestrian accident. Much like car accidents, pedestrian accidents can sometimes be difficult to prove fault in. However, the situation that created the incident, as well as the state of the road or crosswalk where the pedestrian was hit, can determine who is ultimately liable for the accident.
• Motorcycle Accidents: Riding motorcycles can be a fun way to navigate Florida’s roadways. Nevertheless, negligence from other drivers on the road can cause dangerous motorcycle accidents. Because of their size and lack of a protective body when compared to other vehicles, motorcycle accidents can be increasingly deadly. Just like auto accidents, determining fault can be tricky and involves a thorough investigation. Still, other evidence, like dash cam footage or eyewitness testimony, can help create a valid claim. If you have questions about your motorcycle crash, you should contact a personal injury attorney. Make sure to include any information that can give your attorney the insight needed to evaluate your case and prepare a statement properly.
• Wrongful Death: Losing a family member or loved one is excruciating and infuriating all at once. If you later learn that their death was brought on by someone else’s carelessness or neglect, and that the death of a loved one could have or should have been prevented, trauma that you are experiencing may only get worse. Even though you cannot undo what has already occurred, in Florida certain survivors can receive compensation from the responsible party under Florida Statute § 786.21. This compensation, can assist you in paying for costs such as funerals and lost income. If you have lost a loved one through the negligence of another and have questions about your legal rights you should contact a personal injury attorney that handles wrongful death claims.
• Premises Liability: Property owners must assist those facing injuries on their property due to their negligence. They must keep their properties reasonably maintained and free from hazardous circumstances that might harm guests or patrons. Property owners frequently breach that obligation. When they do, they may be held accountable in these cases for a victim’s injuries due to their carelessness. Among the most frequent causes of premises liability claims in Florida are slip and fall incidents. Wet flooring, broken guardrails, garbage, broken tiles, inadequate illumination, negligent security, and other factors can contribute to such incidents. A personal injury lawyer in this situation will be available evaluate the facts and circumstances to see if the property owner willfully disregarded a known problem and breached their duty to the injured party.

Because of how devastating these accidents can be, securing legal representation to help file a personal injury claim can be extremely important for your case. If you are injured in an accident where the other party shares more fault than you, you can be awarded compensation for their fault.

Any injury, accident, or incident can range in severity and unpredictability. In some instances, a simple slip and fall that would leave a younger, healthier person with a twisted ankle or sprain could land someone older in the hospital. Alternatively, depending on the angle of the fall, the same seemingly small-scale slip and fall injury could lead to a massive traumatic brain injury that could cause life-long complications. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer for any injury caused by another person’s negligence is imperative. They can help you recover while preventing more injuries from happening to other people.

Are Personal Injury Cases Complex?

At first glance, one may think that a personal injury case should be a simple, clear-cut case, and the folks on the other side, whether it be an insurance company or other entity not focused on your well-being, will make it seem that it is. However, the “simplest” of personal injury cases can be incredibly complex with innumerable intricacies that only the experience of a qualified attorney can evaluate, navigate, and consult on how to proceed in protecting your best interests.

Even the injuries themselves may appear simple and easily treatable at first. The injuries themselves may be able to heal with little to no medical attention or cost, but many times an injury may be more severe than initially thought. For example, you slip and fall at the grocery store and twist an ankle. This may seem like a simple trip to your family doctor to receive a recovery plan for your injury. Although it was only a minor injury, the reason for the slip and fall was not your fault, especially if it was the result of a business’s negligence. Therefore, you are essentially paying both physically and monetarily for their lack of oversight.

Many cases are often more difficult than what might appear to someone without experience of someone, like a personal injury lawyer, in these matters. Seeking out a Tampa personal injury attorney for these cases can help evaluate if the other party was at fault for your injury, especially if they try to claim that your injury was your fault.

Why Do I Need an Attorney?

“How are you doing?” may seem like a simple question, but how you answer this seemingly benign question could dramatically impact a personal injury case and outcome. Regardless of whether your answer is good or bad, you have the right to sue for damages if you are recovering from an injury due to another person’s negligence. Paying for medical bills can cost you thousands of dollars. When your injuries are the result of another party, like a business or another driver, you should consult a personal injury lawyer for assistance in filing a claim.

How Much Do Personal Injury Lawyers Charge in Florida?

Most personal injury lawyers in Florida work on a contingency basis. This means that a portion of the settlement money or damages awarded by a judge or jury you receive will be given to your attorney as payment. This payment arrangement’s lack of an up-front fee allows an injured party to seek legal counsel and representation despite their inability to pay out of pocket for a lawyer or other expenses related to the litigation of a personal injury case. This not only lessens a client’s financial load, it also allows many individuals the ability to seek in their personal injury case by providing access to the judicial system.

The amount of effort necessary and the intricacy of your case determine the proportion your attorney will retain from your award. Also, there can be case-related expenses not included in this proportion. These include copy charges, filing fees, witness costs, and more.

How Do You File a Personal Injury Claim in Florida?

After getting injured, the last thing on your mind is legal filings. Starting a claim for your personal injury case begins with understanding the process. The process for filing a personal injury claim in Florida can be very complicated and there are certain time limitations that can bar you from pursuing a claim or can cause your claim to be dismissed by the court either with prejudice or without prejudice. Here are some topics related to filing a personal injury claim in Florida:

• Who are the Defendants in the claim? Knowing who to file a personal injury claim against is the first step in the process. To identify the entity or parties who are in charge, you must examine your case. It may be particularly crucial to designate an employer, property owner, or insurance provider as a defendant in personal injury claims. Who you choose to file the claim against might influence the appropriate court and filing location.
• Where will my case be filed? Claims that are not typically subjected to a mandatory clause will be handled at the trial court level in either County Court (up to $50,000.00), Circuit Court (more than $50,000.00) or Federal Court in certain circumstances. Additionally, the jurisdiction or the place where you file is dependent on several factors but typically would be the same as the county where the crash occurred, but could be the defendant’s place of business, or another location where the court has authority for some other reason.
• What is a complaint and summons? The defendants and the nature of the claim are described in the complaint. An official summons informs a party that legal action has been taken against them. The accident’s circumstances, legal theories, such as negligence or deliberate tort, and the victim’s requested damages are all stated in the complaint. Per the Rules of Civil Process, the summons and the complaint must appropriately notify the defendant about the claim against them.

• What is a Civil Cover Sheet? In most jurisdictions, if you file a personal injury case, you must also file a civil cover sheet. The document provides straightforward jurisdictional responses. It aids the court in correctly allocating the matter throughout the legal system. The approximate value of the claim, the kind of relief demanded, and whether you want a jury trial are all provided in this document.
• Is there a filing fee? In Florida there are filing fees charged unless the party filing meets an exception. In order to have the court clerk formally accept e the filing, payment must be provided at the time of filing.

• How long does the plaintiff have to serve the opposing party? In Florida the plaintiff has 120 days to serve the opposing party.
• What happens after the opposing party is served? Once a lawsuit has been served, the parties will typically engage in a process called discovery. This can include serving interrogatories, requests for admissions, request for production, and depositions.

While you have the option to represent yourself in a personal injury case, you also have the option to hire an attorney. A personal injury attorney is qualified and experienced to manage the procedures involved in submitting your claim. It is wise to work with a qualified advocate who can help you handle your case professionally. This can prevent procedural issues from becoming a source of aggravation. These issues may even keep you from getting the money you deserve.

What If You Can’t Afford a Lawyer for a Personal Injury Case?

Choose a law firm that operates on a contingency fee basis if you cannot afford a personal injury attorney in Florida. Due to this fee arrangement, a personal injury attorney will only be paid if they successfully resolve your claim and get financial recompense on your behalf. You will not be responsible for paying an attorney’s fees if you do not win your case. For legal compensation, you will owe a percentage-based fee out of any payout or settlement you earn/are awarded after your case. This is a major advantage of hiring a legal firm that operates on a contingency fee basis.

This charge often ranges from 33

13

% to 40% of the total amount awarded or recovered. You may also be required to pay for any costs associated with the investigation or litigation of the cases. These cost are typically, but not limited to, expenses paid for experts, court reporters, charges related to ordering records or documents, or other litigation expenses.

When you retain an attorney, the attorney will go the fees prior to signing the contract. If you lose your case, you may not be required to pay any costs or fees depending on the terms of your contract.

When Should I Call an Attorney?

Once you are out of immediate danger and have sought emergency medical treatment, your next call should be to an attorney if necessary. In Hillsborough County, Paul Figueroa Law can help those facing injuries due to the negligence of another person or business get the compensation they deserve. For information on our practice, including a complete list of our practice areas, visit our website and contact us today.