How to Choose the Best Personal Injury Lawyer

Accident Attorneys Advocating for the Rights of Victims in the Stuart Area

If you were recently injured by a careless driver in a car accident or in another situation, you are probably wondering whether you are entitled to compensation. A personal injury lawsuit is a complex process, and it helps to have a seasoned attorney on your side to ensure that you make the right decisions to maximize your recovery. When it comes to choosing the best personal injury lawyer, you should look for a team of legal professionals who is experienced in the area of law related to your accident and who is dedicated exclusively to victim advocacy. There are many potential crossroads in this process, and you may not know how to protect your rights without professional legal counsel. At Donaldson & Weston, our Stuart personal injury attorneys proudly provide reliable and compassionate legal counsel to victims of accidents throughout Martin, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie Counties.

Being the best means that your attorney will obtain the best result for you, whether that is the most compensation possible or a quick and efficient resolution of your issue. Getting results does not mean the same thing for every plaintiff, which is why it is crucial for your attorney to listen carefully to your needs and to craft a legal strategy tailored to the outcome that you desire.

Understanding Your Legal Options in a Personal Injury Claim

Personal injury law covers a wide variety of accidents, such as car accidents, premises liabilitycases, and boating accidents. Regardless of the type of accident that you suffered, having the best personal injury attorney by your side to guide you through the process can make all of the difference. One of the hallmarks of an effective personal injury lawyer is being well-versed in the many different causes of action that are available under Florida law. In many cases, you will have a negligence claim against the individual who hurt you. But there are many other types of legal theories that may also provide you with compensation, such as a negligent hiring claim. If an employer hires a driver with a poor driving record, and that employee causes you to suffer injuries in a car accident, for example, your attorney can potentially bring a negligent hiring claim against the employer. There are also certain causes of action that may apply when it comes to how a city or another government entity maintained the section of roadway upon which the accident occurred.

In most cases, these personal injury claims require the plaintiff to show that the defendant failed to use appropriate care and skill, similar to how a reasonable and prudent person would act when facing a similar situation. Your attorney must be able to articulate this standard of reasonableness and use the facts of your case to illustrate how the defendant’s conduct showed a lack of adequate care.

In addition to determining which causes of action to assert and developing a strategy for arguing that the defendant is liable under each theory, a skilled personal injury lawyer must also anticipate the maneuvers that a defendant may make in response. Florida recognizes the pure comparative negligence doctrine, which holds that a plaintiff who contributed to his or her injuries by acting negligently may be precluded from recovering some of the damages caused by their accident. The defendant can present evidence indicating that the plaintiff was negligent, and the jury can decide whether the plaintiff’s award should be reduced by the percentage of fault attributable to the plaintiff. We can help victims fight back against allegations of comparative negligence that are not properly grounded so that their award is not unfairly reduced.

Once your attorney has established causation, the final task in the case involves substantiating the amount of damages that you are entitled to receive, such as medical bills and future financial costs associated with your injuries. Your attorney will be sure to include every item of damages that you have incurred or that you might face in the future.

Seek Guidance from a Personal Injury Attorney in Stuart or Beyond

At Donaldson & Weston, we pride ourselves on providing knowledgeable and responsive legal counsel to victims and their families in Stuart, Port St. Lucie, and Jupiter, as well as elsewhere in Palm Beach, Martin, and St. Lucie Counties. We have seen how devastating and disruptive an accident can be for a victim. Let us guide you through this traumatic time and help you get back on your feet. To schedule your free consultation, call 772-266-5555 or contact us online.