Filing a personal injury lawsuit involves a multi-step process. Your case may benefit from finding a lawyer who can negotiate a favorable financial settlement or represent you in a successful court case. The next steps in a personal injury lawsuit include:
- Compiling facts.
- Gathering evidence.
- Evaluating your losses.
- Assigning liability.
- Giving depositions.
- Meeting discovery laws.
- Negotiating a settlement.
The lawyer you work with will represent you in court if a favorable financial settlement cannot result from negotiations. Your lawyer may also guide you at each step of your personal injury lawsuit and answer any additional questions you might have.
Place the Right Value on Your Personal Injury Lawsuit
One of the most important steps in a personal injury lawsuit is the one that allows your lawyer to gather data and assign a monetary value to your case. To determine the worth of your personal injury case, your lawyer may take the following steps:
- Thoroughly examine your medical records to assign a dollar amount to your emergency and current medical bills.
- Assign a dollar amount to future medical care your healthcare professionals think necessary for a full recovery.
- Examine your employment records and assign a dollar amount to the time you have already missed from work.
- Use your existing income level to determine the amount of future income you will lose if your injuries prevent you from returning to work in the near future.
- Assign a dollar amount to your physical and emotional pain and suffering, and any disfiguring or debilitating physical injuries.
A personal injury you suffered because of someone else’s actions should not create a financial burden for you. Undervaluing your claim can also lead to a financial burden after your case has already been closed. Discuss your potential for a financial settlement with a lawyer who may ensure you receive a settlement that covers the different aspects of your claim.
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Filing on Time Is an Important Step in Your Personal Injury Lawsuit
One of the more important steps in a personal injury lawsuit revolves around filing your lawsuit on time. States in the US usually have statutes of limitations on filing a lawsuit. The statute of limitations determines how much time you have to file your lawsuit before you give up the right to file one at all.
The timeline differs in every state. In Florida, according to the statute of limitations, you generally have four years to file a compensation claim and hold the person who hurt you financially responsible for your injuries.
Filing your case in a timely manner also gives your lawyer the time required to build your case and fully evaluate your accident-related expenses. Their financial responsibility may extend to your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
You May Also Qualify for Punitive Damages or Wrongful Death Damages
A typical personal injury lawsuit allows you to collect damages for your medical bills, loss of income, and pain and suffering. An additional avenue of financial compensation may include collecting punitive damages or wrongful death damages from the person who caused your injuries or the death of a loved one.
Not every personal injury case will involve your receiving punitive damages. According to Florida Statute 768.72, punitive damages can only be applied to your compensation if you can prove that you have the basis to add them to your claim. Punitive damages punish someone for their intentional and avoidable acts that caused your injuries.
Wrongful death damages refer to compensation you receive when the other party’s negligence or recklessness resulted in the unexpected, untimely death of your family member. This type of compensation may extend to funeral expenses, loss of consortium, and projected loss of future income. Only certain members of a family may seek wrongful death compensation. Your personal injury lawyer may help you determine if you qualify for a wrongful death claim lawsuit.
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Seek the Advice and Guidance of a Personal Injury Lawyer
A personal injury lawsuit may help you recover the costs of medical care and treatments and lost wages from your job. A personal injury lawsuit may also ensure you receive compensation for your pain and suffering. Defining and understanding the steps in a personal injury lawsuit can prove difficult without the benefit of a lawyer on your side.
Consider hiring a personal injury lawyer to handle the time-consuming process involved in holding the at-fault party responsible for your injury-related expenses. This is the first step in a personal injury lawsuit. Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC at 800-730-1331.
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