Personal Injury Attorney in Clearwater, FL

Going to an MD is not a requirement for filing a valid Personal Injury claim; however, when opting not to visit an MD, you do run the risk of receiving an adjuster who does not view alternative medicine specialists as qualified. You can see your physician, an orthopedic doctor, a chiropractor, an acupuncture specialist, or other alternative medicine providers. Always attain valid medical documentation as evidence of medical treatment and costs, including doctor visits, ambulance rides, physical therapy, and follow-up appointments.

Mediation involves each side of a case agreeing to use a neutral third party to try to resolve the claim without going to trial. The mediator assists the parties as they discuss their dispute to help them find mutually acceptable resolutions. If you reach an agreement at mediation, you can avoid a trial or arbitration.

For most personal injury claims involving bodily injuries, the Florida statute of limitations is four years from the accident date. You have four years from the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. The Statute of Limitations for an Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist (UM) claim is five years.

In most cases, in Florida, a personal injury attorney will charge between 10% and 45% of what you are awarded, with the average being 33.33%.

Most personal injury cases are settled out-of-court, which is faster than a trial. A claim that involves more severe injuries or complex liability issues will take longer to settle. Having a personal injury attorney will speed up the process, but it could still take months or years, especially if it goes to trial.

Yes. For example, your spouse can recover for various damages, including any lost support and services they have suffered due to your injuries. They would also be entitled to pursue a claim for loss of consortium, a legal term for the expected benefits a married couple would enjoy that you and your spouse may no longer be able to engage in due to your injuries. Your children would also be entitled to recover for any lost support and services they may have suffered due to your injuries.

No. While we will always advise you whether we believe a settlement offer is in your best interests, you always decide on any settlement offer for your personal injury claim.

It's crucial to contact your insurance company immediately after an accident, even if you think you didn't cause it. Reporting the accident promptly helps your insurance provider start the claims process, collect important details, and begin looking into your coverage and potential responsibilities. Also, many insurance policies need to be informed about accidents immediately to ensure you can still get coverage. If you wait to contact your insurance company, it could cause problems or hold up your claim.

Sharing some fault for an accident can affect how much compensation you can get and might impact your insurance coverage. In states like Florida that have comparative negligence laws, your level of fault could lower the amount of money you can receive. For instance, if you're determined to be 20% at fault, your compensation might be reduced by 20%.