Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney

In Florida, if you get injured due to another party’s negligent actions, you have the right to seek compensation for your damages through a personal injury lawsuit. Based on this, this is not as simple as it sounds. The burden of proof in personal injury cases lies on the victim, and not on the at-fault party.

Hiring the right attorney to represent your interests in a personal injury lawsuit is half the battle. Your Florida personal injury attorney should have the skills, resources, and network to obtain strong evidence, build a compelling case, and be prepared to negotiate with powerful defendants or prove their liability successfully through trial before a jury. If you or your loved one are serious injured, you naturally want to have the best personal injury attorney on your side. The leading Florida personal injury attorneys at Carlson Meissner & Hayslett have helped numerous clients obtain successful outcomes in all types of injury cases, and have a proven record of large settlements and verdicts. Here are a few factors we think you should consider when hiring a personal injury attorney in Florida.

Extensive Legal Knowledge

After a personal injury, you need an attorney that is exceptionally familiar with Florida’s tort law and has in-depth experience in handling cases similar to yours. Legal knowledge and experience are essential tools necessary for developing a skillful strategy and fighting effectively on your behalf.

In addition, seasoned personal injury attorneys have long-standing relationships and respect among their peers and judges that allows them to ensure the court proceedings are carried out fairly. This helps in maximizing the chances of a successful outcome in court or through an out-of-court settlement once the defendants recognize your attorney’s trial readiness.

Trial Experience and Resources

Unfortunately, many attorneys that advertise their skills as a personal injury attorney haven’t really seen the inside of a courtroom. They may take on your case on a contingency fee basis and try to pressure you into settling out of court, even if it is for a pittance. Insurance companies are notoriously aggressive and never want to pay fair damages – especially once they realize that your attorney doesn’t have trial capabilities to prove fault.

If they know that your attorney doesn’t have trial experience or the resources to hire expert witnesses and build powerful evidence, they will take advantage of this and make ridiculously low offers. As a result, many insurance companies don’t take these claims seriously and make no efforts to settle the case fairly. They know that you lawyer is shooting blanks and will likely fold under the pressure.

Things to Discuss During the Initial Consultation

Most personal injury attorneys offer a free initial consultation.

You should seize on this opportunity to learn more about:

Practice experience
Whether they have handled claims similar to yours
Financial capabilities, network and resources to take on insurance giants and powerful defendants
Past track record of settlements and court verdicts

Act Now if You Want to File a Personal Injury Claim

The success of your lawsuit is closely linked with your ability to find a competent attorney and their capability to act quickly. In tort law, the burden of proof falls on the plaintiff. Leading personal injury attorneys take swift action for securing critical evidence, such as obtaining witness testimonials and securing camera footage and physical and forensic evidence. Skilled personal injury attorneys will also adhere to the statute of limitations make sure that all legal deadlines are met.

Get a Proven and Capable Personal Injury Attorney on Your Side

At Carlson Meissner & Hayslett, our team of top-rated personal injury attorneys has over 125 years of collective experience in successfully advocating for the rights of the injured and getting them their rightful compensation. Our resourceful attorneys have the tenacity and determination to diligently pursue justice on your behalf and go above and beyond for ensuring your rights are fully protected. To request your free, no-obligations consultation, call us at (727) 306-0273 or complete our online form.