Hobe Sound Personal Injury Lawyers
If you were hurt in a preventable accident and are now worried about making ends meet because of an extended recovery period, you are not alone. A few weeks of missed work are all it takes to threaten the financial security of most people, and when you add medical bills to the mix, falling into overwhelming debt is a very real possibility.
Beyond the immediate costs of healthcare and lost wages, there are also future costs to consider such as ongoing care and loss of earning capacity. Fortunately, accident victims can pursue compensation for such expenses by filing a personal injury claim.
The Hobe Sound personal injury attorneys at Donaldson & Weston will help you navigate the proceedings and protect your best interests every step of the way. Our accident lawyers are tenacious, knowledgeable, and strategic professionals who are respected by insurance companies throughout Florida. Call 772-266-5555 to schedule a free case evaluation.
Beyond the immediate costs of healthcare and lost wages, there are also future costs to consider such as ongoing care and loss of earning capacity. Fortunately, accident victims can pursue compensation for such expenses by filing a personal injury claim.
The Hobe Sound personal injury attorneys at Donaldson & Weston will help you navigate the proceedings and protect your best interests every step of the way. Our accident lawyers are tenacious, knowledgeable, and strategic professionals who are respected by insurance companies throughout Florida. Call 772-266-5555 to schedule a free case evaluation.
How Much Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?
There is no set formula for calculating the value of a personal injury claim. Since every case is different, the value of economic and non-economic damages can vary immensely from case to case.
During your first meeting with a Hobe Sound personal injury lawyer, you might discuss a potentially fair settlement based on the facts of the case up to that point; however, no reputable law firm will promise to achieve a particular outcome for you at any stage of the proceedings, and it is likely that a thorough investigation will be needed before estimating the potential value of your case.
Our legal team will determine how much compensation you should pursue by calculating the economic damages you have accrued—and will continue to accrue—as a result of your injuries. We will then account for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and disfigurement. If the liable party was especially reckless or malicious, you may be able to recover punitive damages, as well.
Unlike compensatory damages (economic and non-economic damages), there is a cap on the total amount of punitive damages a plaintiff can recover. Typically, Florida law limits punitive damages to whichever is greater: $500,000 or three times the total compensatory damages; however, in certain circumstances, plaintiffs may be able to recover even larger awards for a defendant’s gross negligence or intentional misconduct.
A variety of factors will ultimately affect the total value of your claim if it is successful. Those factors include:
During your first meeting with a Hobe Sound personal injury lawyer, you might discuss a potentially fair settlement based on the facts of the case up to that point; however, no reputable law firm will promise to achieve a particular outcome for you at any stage of the proceedings, and it is likely that a thorough investigation will be needed before estimating the potential value of your case.
Our legal team will determine how much compensation you should pursue by calculating the economic damages you have accrued—and will continue to accrue—as a result of your injuries. We will then account for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and disfigurement. If the liable party was especially reckless or malicious, you may be able to recover punitive damages, as well.
Unlike compensatory damages (economic and non-economic damages), there is a cap on the total amount of punitive damages a plaintiff can recover. Typically, Florida law limits punitive damages to whichever is greater: $500,000 or three times the total compensatory damages; however, in certain circumstances, plaintiffs may be able to recover even larger awards for a defendant’s gross negligence or intentional misconduct.
A variety of factors will ultimately affect the total value of your claim if it is successful. Those factors include:
- The severity of your injuries;
- The circumstances of the incident;
- Your own percentage of fault;
- The strength of any evidence of liability and damages; and
- The existence of any witnesses.
Questions Your Florida Personal Injury Attorney may ask During the Initial Consultation
When you turn to Donaldson & Weston for representation, we will get to work right away to give your claim the best possible chance of success. To ensure your case gets off to a strong start, it’s wise to prepare for the initial consultation.
You can do this by writing down everything you remember about the incident that led to your injuries and compiling any evidence you have gathered. You should also consider the answers to the various questions we may ask to gain a better understanding of your case.
The specific questions will depend on the circumstances, but they may include:
You can do this by writing down everything you remember about the incident that led to your injuries and compiling any evidence you have gathered. You should also consider the answers to the various questions we may ask to gain a better understanding of your case.
The specific questions will depend on the circumstances, but they may include:
- Did law enforcement personnel respond to the scene? If so, did they conduct any chemical tests or make any arrests?
- Did anyone witness the incident? Did you or the responding officers obtain their names and phone numbers?
- Have you had any contact with the liable party in any capacity?
- Has an insurance adjuster reached out to you yet? If so, have you provided any recorded statements?
- What were you doing in the moments leading up to the accident? Can the opposing party argue you are at least partially liable for the incident?
- Did you receive medical care at the scene? Did you follow up with a doctor shortly after?
- What is your prognosis?
- Were you employed at the time of your accident? If so, how much work have you missed due to your injuries?
- Have your loved ones had to miss any work to take care of you? Is your recovery affecting them in other ways?
- How have the injuries affected your everyday life?
- Do you have any social media profiles? If so, have you posted about the accident or your injuries online?
- Outside of medical bills and lost income, have you incurred any other expenses such as alternative transportation, child care, or domestic help?
We Handle Cases Involving all Kinds of Accident Scenarios
At Donaldson & Weston, we limit our scope of practice to personal injury law. This has allowed us to gain extensive experience resolving cases involving all kinds of scenarios including:
How can I Avoid Going to Trial?
The thought of facing a lengthy trial while recovering from serious injuries is enough to overwhelm anyone. Although most personal injury claims are resolved without litigation, it’s important that you take steps from day one to increase your chances of reaching a fair settlement. One key to doing this is to gather strong evidence of both liability and damages, which typically starts in the immediate aftermath.
For example, if you were hurt in a car accident, you might photograph the wreckage from all angles and obtain statements from eyewitnesses. If you slipped and fell at a business, you would ask for an incident report, photograph the hazard that caused your fall, and get a copy of the CCTV footage, if available.
For example, if you were hurt in a car accident, you might photograph the wreckage from all angles and obtain statements from eyewitnesses. If you slipped and fell at a business, you would ask for an incident report, photograph the hazard that caused your fall, and get a copy of the CCTV footage, if available.
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