To every client.

Your claim is likely to be worth more than the figure on your medical bills. Pain and suffering, the skill set of your attorney and the choices you make could lead to compensation several times larger than your medical bills. Our Hollywood, FL personal injury lawyers explore seven factors that affect the size of your compensation.

How is Compensation Calculated for a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Florida?

How much money you receive from the at-fault party for your personal injury claim depends on a number of factors. Unlike the accident itself, where you certainly did not choose to be injured, the size of your compensation depends in large part on how you choose to pursue you claim. If you have a legitimate claim, you can make important choices that can yield a much bigger settlement or court awarded payout.

Whether You File a Claim

The first and most important factor is whether or not you choose to make a claim. No claim means no compensation. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of their rights to demand compensation when they have been left injured after an accident. Often, this is due to myths about claims’ deadlines, lack of knowledge about their rights and an understandable fear of legal costs. It’s important to know that if you are injured in an accident, you have a right to pursue an injury claim against those whose negligence caused the accident and your injuries. So don’t let this be what holds back your compensation. If you or a loved one are suffering from injuries, call the Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers of Newman Injury Law today for a free consultation.

Whether You Hire an Attorney

The second factor in determining the size of injury compensation is whether those who make a claim for damages are represented by a law firm. The independent legal research firm Martindale conducted market research into hundreds of personal injury cases and measured the results. When research participants were asked, “In filing your claim, did you use a lawyer?” those who answered “yes” to this question, statistically, received payouts that were 452% percent more than those who answered “no”.

Based on the figures in the study, this translates to payouts that were $60,000 larger in attorney-backed cases. Those with attorney’s fighting in their corner receiving an average of $77,600 versus only $17,500 for injured people who attempted to “go it alone”. While correlation is not causation (those with severe injuries are more likely to seek legal help than those with cuts and scratches), the evidence points to a vast advantage to those who choose to hire a lawyer who specialized in personal injury law. In the same study, there were other benefits to retaining a competent Hallandale Beach personal injury attorney. Claimants with lawyers were also 91% likely to receive a payment with a lawyer fighting your case. Compare this to only a 9% likelihood of receiving any payout at all among the group that represented themselves in their personal injury case. With these statistics in mind, perhaps President Lincoln had personal injury and accident law in mind when he said, “A man who represents himself, has a fool for a client.”

Of course, many people may find it difficult to imagine themselves retaining a personal injury or car accident lawyer in Hollywood, FL. The chief concern for many people is cost. To make this choice easier, Newman Injury Law does not discriminate against personal injury clients who cannot afford to pay for a lawyer. You only pay us only if we recover compensation for you.

Extent of Injuries

The third factor that affects compensation are the injuries that a victim sustains in the accident. Whether the accident involved an automobile, a slip-and-fall or an assault, the damages sued for are directly related to the extent of the injuries, cost of past and future medical care and the impact on the victim’s life. Medical costs along with the other factors (dubbed “pain and suffering” in legal parlance) can add up to far more than just reimbursing the claimant for their hospital bill.

Occupation Value

What might not be so obvious is the fourth factor in determining compensation: the value of the victim’s work or study program. Injuries that stop people from working jobs or from attending a university for an advanced degree may warrant compensation for the lost opportunity.

Insurance Limits

A fifth and very important factor is the amount of insurance limits a third party has. Insurance companies fuel the personal injury claims industry in the sense that most cases involve negligent businesses or drivers who are covered by some form of third party insurance. While there are definitely exceptions, many at-fault parties are not wealthy enough to cover the liability caused by their negligence. In this case, insurance limits will cover only a portion of an otherwise more costly set of injuries. In other words, insurance companies cannot pay claims for more than the agreed maximum limit of the policy.

Accepting the First Offer

The sixth factor is whether a claimant and their personal injury or car accident lawyer in Hallandale Beach accept the first offer presented by the at-fault party. In many personal injury cases, the first offer should be rejected. This almost always occurs outside of a court setting when the insurance company attempts to settle the case with an amount far less than the claimant justly deserves. When this happens to our clients, Newman Injury Law says “no”. By rejecting an unfair offer, we force the other party to negotiate for a fair and just compensation. Statistically, when claimants insist on higher settlements, they get them. According to the Martindale study, not accepting a first settlement brings an eventual agreement of $44,000, on average. In contrast, those who accept their first offer are likely to receive settlements of around $11,000.

Going to Trial

Insurance companies are notorious for acting in bad faith by stalling for time, refusing to pay at all and then finally offering to pay only a portion of the damage caused by their negligent client. Should a case go to court, the bad faith actions of the insurance companies could result in a harsh decision against them. Thus the seventh factor in the size of a payout: whether the claimant or their lawyer is willing to involve a court of law.

Contact Our South Florida Personal Injury Lawyers for Dedicated Legal Representation Today

Our experienced Miami personal injury lawyer knows when an insurance company is failing to offer just compensation and when to involve a court of law to ensure their client receives the compensation they deserve.

Personal injury law is complex. Cases involve experienced insurance companies and their well-funded legal teams. While their strategies are predictable, knowing how to counter Big Insurance requires the tactical advantage of having an expert Davie, FL personal injury lawyer fighting in your corner. Do not “go at it alone”. The benefits of choosing a lawyer are proven: you are more likely to receive a payout, your payout will most likely be larger and you can avoid the traps often set by bad faith insurance companies. Were you or a loved one in an accident? Call Newman Injury Law today 954-495-8500.