Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Lawyer

Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Attorney

It can be overwhelming to deal with a personal injury. When someone else is the direct or indirect cause of your injury, you may be feeling bitter, confused, and even somewhat vengeful. You have the right to hold the responsible party accountable for what they did to you. Hiring an accomplished Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer may be the most important decision you can make for your claim.

At Demmery Law, PLLC, we have a strong track record of success in personal injury cases. Whether you’ve suffered an injury due to a bike accident, a car crash, or a dog bite, we can provide the help you need. Reach out to our experienced lawyer at Demmery Law, PLLC, to learn more.

A personal injury claim allows you to claim compensation from the person or entity that caused your injuries. If you were injured due to the actions of another party, you shouldn’t have to pay for the consequences. A successful personal injury claim should provide you with compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

Important Qualities in a Personal Injury Lawyer

Most people tend to hire a personal injury lawyer when they are at a particularly difficult chapter in their lives. You may be in dire need of legal assistance after being the victim of a bad accident or a malicious assault. Having someone in your corner who understands the complexities of personal injury law and is prepared to offer you invaluable legal help can only be beneficial to you.

With that in mind, here are some additional qualities you can look for in a personal injury lawyer to ensure you have the right person representing you:

• Empathy: Lawyers, particularly personal injury lawyers, tend to encounter their clients while they are dealing with a difficult situation. Having to handle a legal claim while also trying to focus on your recovery from what may be a serious injury can be overwhelming for many. It can be comforting to have someone on your side who can provide you with compassion and empathy.
• Communication: Every lawyer should have exemplary communication skills. Most of what a lawyer does is communication. Speaking with judges, explaining legal situations to their clients, and advising their clients about their next steps all require excellent communication skills. Your lawyer should never withhold important information from you out of fear that you will take it badly. You need to know everything.
• Listening Skills: It is important to remember that communication requires listening as well. While your lawyer needs to communicate with you effectively, they also need to be open to listening to you whenever you have something important to say. Your lawyer will primarily learn about the details of your case through you. To truly understand your case, they have to sit down with you and discuss all the details.
• Knowledge: Becoming a lawyer takes a great deal of focused education over several years. Learning how to defend and apply the law to various cases can be a difficult but rewarding experience. Lawyers may then choose a field of law, such as personal injury, on which to focus their practice. Your lawyer should bring a wealth of knowledge to your case, preparing for any eventuality that could arise.
• Experience: One of the most important qualities that a personal injury lawyer can bring to your case is experience. You should try to hire a lawyer with experience handling cases similar to yours and a track record of success with those cases. If your lawyer has handled cases like yours before, they may be able to apply past strategies to your case and anticipate any setbacks that could occur.
• Problem-Solving Skills: It can be difficult to develop certain strategies, as there may be unique issues affecting your case. A good lawyer can identify a way through the setbacks and never loses sight of the ultimate goal: winning your case. You will want to hire a lawyer who has honed their problem-solving skills and is able to think on their feet to adjust their strategy accordingly and accommodate any new information.
• Judgment Calls: Your lawyer is overseeing your case, so they often need to make judgment calls. Your lawyer may begin your case by deciding for themselves if your case is worth pursuing. At some point during your settlement negotiations, you may be entertaining a valid offer from the other party. If you ask your lawyer if you should take it, you will want them to provide you with their honest opinion.
• Perseverance: Your lawyer should fight tirelessly for you, even if it looks like things may not be going your way. There are no guarantees that your case will end in the way you expect, and you may be forced to adapt in the moment. A good lawyer will keep going regardless of how things may look, as they strive to provide you with the strongest possible chance of success.
• Strong Ethics: Your lawyer is representing you on a public stage. You will want to hire someone who represents the same ethics and moral high ground that you possess. Hiring someone who has a questionable ethical background is the last thing you want to do for your case. Choosing a lawyer with this type of reputation could jeopardize your case and reflect poorly on your character. Your lawyer shouldn’t compromise their integrity.
• People Skills: Being a lawyer involves constant contact with people from many different walks of life. A good lawyer should be able to comfortably interact with judges, juries, other lawyers, prospective clients, police officers, private detectives, expert witnesses, and anybody else relevant to the case. Effectively reading people and projecting an approachable persona are vital to a lawyer’s success.

Statute of Limitations

When you decide to pursue legal action and hire a personal injury lawyer to represent you in your pursuit of compensatory damages, it is vital that you start developing your case as soon as you possibly can. The statute of limitations for a personal injury claim in Florida is two years from the date of your initial injury. That means you will have two years to build up your case, gather the necessary evidence, speak with a lawyer, and file a claim to seek compensation.

If you are unable to file your claim before two years have passed, it is likely that your case will be dismissed, and your opportunity to file for damages will pass by. Building a strong personal injury case can take a lot more time than you might think, so it is vital that you start developing your case as soon as possible. In a case involving comparative negligence, you may only be able to recover damages if you are found to be less than 50% at fault for the accident.

There are multiple exceptions to the two-year rule that could persuade the court to allow you additional time to build up your case. An extension is never guaranteed, and it may be wise not to rely on extra time from the court. You will need to prove to the court why you deserve additional time. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help provide you with options for pursuing a time extension if it applies to your case. Here are some valid situations:

• Mental or Physical Incapacitation: In some cases, you may have been so severely injured in your accident that you are left unable to pursue legal action due to being either mentally or physically incapacitated. In these cases, you may be able to persuade the court to provide you with ample time to heal before pursuing legal action in a personal injury case.
• Out of State: In some cases, when the defendant learns that you may be pursuing legal action against them, they may flee the state to avoid said action and dodge any legal consequences. They may be under the impression that if they stay away long enough, everything will go away. You may be able to pause the statute of limitations to give you enough time to find and serve them.
• Concealed Defendant: Instead of leaving the state, the defendant may attempt to change or disguise their identity to avoid legal action. If the defendant tries to do this, you may be able to pause the statute of limitations so you can locate the defendant and serve them a legal notice that you are pursuing a case against them.
• Minor Victims: If you received a personal injury when you were a minor under 18 years old, the statute of limitations for your injury may be extended up to seven years. If the injury occurs around your 18th birthday, then the regular statute of limitations would begin on your birthday.
• Child Sexual Abuse: In certain cases involving child sexual abuse, the child victim may not reveal their trauma until they are much older. It may be out of fear of further abuse or because they are not aware of what happened to them until later in life. Applying a strict statute of limitations in these cases would likely deprive victims of a way to seek justice. Florida has largely done away with the statute of limitations in these cases.

FAQs

Q: When Should I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Florida?

A: You should hire a personal injury lawyer in Florida as soon as you suffer an injury. You should contact a lawyer as soon as you are able. That way, your lawyer can start working on your case and begin the process of investigating your claim, collecting evidence, and building a strategy on your behalf. Building a strong case can take some time, so getting started as soon as possible may be wise.

Q: How Does a Personal Injury Claim Work in Florida?

A: In Florida, a personal injury claim has to be filed within two years of your accident, with some exceptions. Once you or your lawyer files your claim, the defendant will be notified with a copy of the claim by a process server, who will tell them legal action is being taken against them. The defendant has a limited time period to respond. The response will either be an acceptance or rejection, at which point the negotiation process will begin.

Q: How Much Do Personal Injury Lawyers Charge in Florida?

A: There is no telling how much a personal injury lawyer may charge in Florida. When setting their prices, an attorney may take into account their education, experience, caseload, popularity, and resources. They need to consider how difficult your case will be and how many resources they will have to devote to your case. The severity of your injuries and the strength of the evidence you have will also come into play.

Q: How Do I Know If I Have a Strong Case?

A: If you are unsure of whether you have a strong case, you should consult with a personal injury lawyer. Tell them your story and leave nothing out. With all the facts at their disposal and some insights into your case, the lawyer will be able to tell you whether you have a strong personal injury case that is worth pursuing.

If you were in an accident and can prove that it was caused by someone else’s negligent behavior, you likely have a strong personal injury case.

Reach Out to a Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Pursuing legal action against someone who caused you a serious injury can be a frustrating and emotional experience. Depending on the severity of your injury, you may also be trying to focus on your recovery process, which could be a difficult road ahead. Hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer can be a tremendous help to your case and to your emotional health throughout this whole process.

Reach out to the legal team at Demmery Law, PLLC, to learn how we can help you with your claim. Our experienced and knowledgeable team can help you develop your case, gather the evidence you need, and ensure that your rights are protected at all times. Contact us to schedule a consultation with a valued team member as soon as you can.