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Frequently Asked Questions
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What is Personal Injury?Personal injury law helps people who get hurt in accidents ask for money to make up for their injuries. To get this money, the person who got hurt (the plaintiff) has to show that someone else (the defendant) did something wrong, like being negligent, reckless, or on purpose. The person or group responsible can be anyone—another person, a business, or even the government. People can ask for money because of different kinds of accidents, like car crashes, slip and falls, or being attacked. It doesn’t matter what kind of accident it is, but you do need to prove that it was the other person’s fault.
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Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?Yes, in most cases. The person who hurt you usually has insurance that will pay for what they did. But here's the thing: you're not just dealing with that person—you’re up against a big, powerful insurance company. Even if it seems like you should easily get money for your injury, insurance companies often try to fight back. They might say it’s partly your fault, so they don’t have to pay as much. That’s why you need a personal injury lawyer who knows how to fight these tricks and get you the money you deserve.
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How Long Does a Personal Injury Lawsuit Take?The time it takes to finish a case depends on how complicated it is and how much money is involved. It also depends on if both sides want to settle peacefully or fight in court. Most cases settle in one to two years, but if it goes to trial, it can take two or more years, and even longer if someone appeals. Appeals happen when one side doesn't agree with the decision, or the amount of money awarded. Insurance companies usually try to appeal whenever they can. Sometimes, cases are settled during the appeal process too.
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How Long Does a Personal Injury Claim Take?The first step after a car accident is to tell both your insurance company and the other driver's insurance company what happened. They will each give you a claim number and pick a person to handle your case. This part usually takes less than 30 days. If only the cars are damaged, the insurance companies will likely work things out by themselves. But if someone gets hurt, it's harder to settle without help from a personal injury lawyer. That’s why it’s important to talk to a lawyer as soon as you can after an accident. You can choose to either agree with what the other driver's insurance says or take the case to court. If a lot of money is at stake, going to court is often the best way to get what you deserve.
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How Are Personal Injury Settlements Paid Out?Insurance companies usually pay most personal injury settlements. Car and home insurance companies are the ones who usually cover the costs. If someone causes a car accident, their insurance must pay the injured person for things like medical bills and pain. But insurance companies often try to pay less by saying the injured person did something wrong, like speeding. Homeowners insurance works similarly. If someone gets hurt on a person’s property because of something the homeowner did wrong, the insurance will cover the costs. But just like car insurance, they might try to say the injured person was partly at fault.
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How Much Can Someone Sue for a Car Accident?The money you ask for in a car accident case depends on how bad your injuries are, how much damage was done to your car, and how the accident changed your life and work. You can get money for two types of things: Money for Things You Can Count (Economic Compensation): • Fixing your car. • Doctor and hospital bills. • Time spent in the hospital or getting therapy. • Money you lost from not working. • Money your business lost. • Benefits you missed out on (like health insurance). Money for Things You Can't Count (Non-Economic Compensation): • Your pain and suffering. • Stress and worry. • Not being able to enjoy life like you used to. • Problems with your relationships.
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How Much Can I Expect From a Car Accident Settlement?When people get money for car accidents, how much they get can be different each time. It depends on things like how bad the accident was and what caused it. First, you need to add up all the costs, like doctor bills, fixing the car, and any lost wages from missing work. Then, you need to think about how much pain and sadness the person felt and if they’re missing out on fun things in life. The worse the accident was for them, the more money they might get for this. Finally, there’s a rule called ‘comparative negligence.’ If the person who got hurt was partly to blame for the accident, their money could be reduced. For every percent they are found at fault, their money might go down by that same percent. This can be a big argument in court.
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How Long Does a Car Accident Settlement Take?Getting money for a car accident where someone got hurt usually takes one or two years. People often want it to be faster, but to get the best outcome, we need to gather all the evidence first. Once we have everything, the case is more likely to be settled.
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How Long Does a Car Accident Lawsuit Take?How long a lawsuit takes can depend on if it goes to trial or not. Most cases are settled during the discovery phase, which usually takes one to two years. Discovery is when both sides gather evidence, ask questions, and take testimonies. If the case doesn’t settle during discovery, there might be a meeting to try to settle it called mediation before going to trial. If it does go to trial and even if it’s appealed, the lawsuit can take several more years. But most cases are settled before they ever reach trial.
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How Much Do Car Accident Lawyers Charge?Car accident lawyers work on what’s called a “contingency fee” basis. This means you don’t have to pay them anything unless they win money for you. They also wait to get paid for court costs and other extra expenses until you get your settlement or award. Usually, the lawyer gets about one-third of the money you win, and there might be extra costs too. Contingency fees help people fight for their rights without having to worry about paying a lot of money upfront. Without these fees, many people couldn’t afford to have a lawyer help them with their case.
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What Do Car Accident Lawyers Do?Car accident lawyers help people who got hurt in car crashes. They work against insurance companies, which are businesses that try to keep as much money as possible. Insurance companies don't like paying out a lot of money, so they try to give less to people who are hurt. Because there are many insurance companies, they try to keep their prices lower. They do this by paying less when people make claims. Car accident lawyers build strong cases to show the insurance companies that they will lose if they go to court. When the insurance companies know they will lose, they often agree to pay a fair amount to avoid the big costs of a trial.
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What Is the Average Payout for a Motorcycle Accident?When people get hurt in motorcycle accidents, how much money they get can really change a lot. For small injuries or damage, they might get around $10,000 to $25,000. But for big injuries or if someone dies, the amount could be in the millions of dollars. The biggest thing that affects how much money someone gets is how bad their injury is. For example, if someone just hurts their ankle, they might get a little money. But if someone is hurt so badly that they need help all the time, they might get millions of dollars to help pay for their care. If someone dies in the accident, their family can also get a lot of money. The amount of money depends on how much the person has suffered, the value of the insurance policy involved, and if they were in any way responsible for the accident. If they were even a little bit at fault, it could change how much they get.
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How Much Can You Sue For Because of a Motorcycle Accident?In Florida, there’s no limit to how much money you can ask for if you’re hurt in a motorcycle accident. If you’re only a little hurt and your stuff isn’t damaged much, you might get $10,000 to $25,000. But if you have a serious injury or someone has died, you could get much more—like hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on the insurance involved. When you ask for money in a personal injury case, you can get two types of damages. • Compensatory and Economical Damages: This covers things like medical bills, therapy, long-term care, and money you lost from not being able to work. • General or Non-Economic Damages: This covers things that are hard to measure, like pain, sadness, and losing out on fun things in life. Sometimes, there are also punitive damages. These are rare and are used to punish someone who did something really bad on purpose. Most accidents happen because of mistakes, not because someone was trying to be harmful. But if the person was acting dangerously on purpose, they might have to pay these extra damages.
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How Can a Truck Accident Lawyer Help?When a truck crash happens, many people might be responsible. It could be the truck driver, the company that owns the truck, the people who fix it, or even the company that made the truck. Truck accident lawyers figure out who is at fault and take legal action against everyone who is responsible. They collect evidence and work hard to get a fair settlement or win the case in court.
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How Much Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Cost?Truck accident lawyers don’t get paid until you get paid. They work on something called a “contingency fee,” which means you don’t have to give them money upfront. Instead, once you get your settlement or award, they take a portion of it—usually about one-third—as their payment.
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What is the Average Settlement for a Slip and Fall Accident?When someone falls and gets hurt, the money they might get for their injury can be anywhere from a few thousand dollars to a lot more, like hundreds of thousands or even millions. How much they get depends on how badly they were hurt. There are two main types of money they can receive: • Compensatory and Economical Damages: This is money to cover things like medical bills, fixing damaged stuff, and any money they lost from not being able to work. • General or Non-Economic Damages: This is money for things you can't touch or measure, like the pain they felt, the sadness or stress they went through, and how their life was affected.
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What is Wrongful Death?When someone loses a loved one because of someone else’s negligence or bad actions, the family can make a wrongful death claim. This means they ask for money to help with their loss. To win, the family needs to show that the person who caused the death was supposed to be careful, didn’t do it, and that their negligence directly led to the death of their loved one. They also need to show how much this loss has hurt them. The person who caused the death could be anyone: another driver, a company, or even the government. For example, all drivers are supposed to drive safely. If a driver is reckless and causes a death, they are responsible for that wrongful death.
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Can Illegal Immigrants Sue for Personal Injury in Florida?The answer is yes, U.S. courts allow individuals, regardless of their immigration status, to seek justice for issues like personal injuries. The courts focus on the legal matter itself, not the immigration status of the person involved. For example, if you are undocumented and were involved in a car accident that resulted in injuries, you may file an injury claim against the at fault party, regardless of your immigration status. Fear of Deportation: Filing a lawsuit doesn’t guarantee deportation proceedings, it’s a valid concern. An immigration attorney can advise you on minimizing the risk of deportation while pursuing your personal injury claim.
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Can You Get Deported for Suing While Undocumented?If you get hurt and want to file a lawsuit in Florida, it usually won't make you face deportation. But immigration laws are tricky, so it's a good idea to talk to an immigration lawyer along with your personal injury lawyer. They can help you understand if there are any immigration issues for your case. To stay safe, don't use fake documents. Using fake IDs can make things worse in immigration court and with your personal injury case. Also, always be honest with your lawyer. Being truthful helps your lawyer do the best job for you and handle any immigration worries.
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What is the New Personal Injury Law in Florida?In 2023, Florida made a rule change. Now, if you get hurt and want to ask for help, you only have 2 years to do it instead of 4 years. Laws about injuries can change a lot because of court decisions. A good lawyer in Florida knows about these changes and can help you with your case. If you’ve had an accident or got hurt recently, talking to a lawyer is the best way to find out how the new rules might affect you.
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How Much Does Car Insurance Go Up After an Accident?When you get into a car accident, sometimes the insurance company will make you pay more for your insurance, even if someone else caused the accident. How much more you have to pay can depend on things like how many claims you've made before, your driving record and which insurance company you have. A good lawyer in Fort Lauderdale can help stop the insurance company from raising your rates. They can also help you get the money you deserve for any injuries or problems you had because of the accident.
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What is a Good Settlement Offer?A good offer depends on things like how badly you were hurt, how much your medical bills are, and what insurance is involved. An experienced lawyer in Fort Lauderdale can talk to the insurance company for you and help you decide if the offer is good. “A good offer” should cover all your accident costs, like medical bills, lost money from missing work, and any pain or trouble you went through. If the insurance company doesn’t offer you a fair amount or denies your claim, your lawyer can take your case to court to get it resolved.
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Who Pays For My Injuries if the Other Driver is Uninsured?If you get hurt in a car accident and the other driver doesn't have insurance, you might still be able to get help from your own car insurance. Some car insurance policies have a special part called uninsured motorist coverage that can pay for your medical bills and other costs if the other driver has no insurance. Another type of coverage, called personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments coverage, can help with your injuries no matter who caused the accident. Sometimes, you can also try to sue the driver who doesn’t have insurance, but getting money from them can be hard if they don’t own anything valuable. A good lawyer in Fort Lauderdale who knows about car accidents can help you figure out the best way to get the help you need and handle all the paperwork for you. It can be tough to get all the money you deserve by yourself in these situations.
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How To Request a Police Report After an Accident?If you have a car accident in Broward County, it's important to get a copy of the police report. This report has all the details about the crash, like who was involved, what happened, and what the police think about it. Here’s how you can get the report: • Online: You can often get the report easily by asking for it on the Florida Crash Portal website. • In Person: You can also go to the office of the Police Department that responded to the accident scene. Just visit the Records Division during business hours, tell them about your accident, and pay for the report. They’ll give you a copy right there. Regardless of the option you pick to get the report, you should have: • The date and time of the accident. • Where the accident happened (like street names or landmarks). • The names of everyone involved. • The types of cars involved. • Your case number, if you have one.
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If You Are Injured On Vacation, Where Do You Sue?If you get hurt while you're on vacation, you might need to decide where to file lawsuit. Usually, you can file where the injury happened or where the person who hurt you lives. If it’s a person it would be where their house is but if it’s a company it could be a couple of different places, where their headquarters is located, or where they have an office or where their registered agent is located.
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What Kind of Cases Are Filed In Federal Court?There are generally two types of cases that can be heard in the federal court system and here they are: Federal Question Cases: These are cases where someone believes that a federal law (a law that applies to the whole country) has been broken. In the legal world this is called a ''federal question'' case. For example, if someone thinks their rights have been violated, that’s a "federal question" case. It doesn’t matter how much money is involved; you can sue in federal court. Diversity of Citizen Cases: These are cases where people from different states are having a disagreement. For example, if two people from different states are in a car accident and the amount of money involved is more than $75,000, the case can go to federal court. So, it’s only a federal case if the people are from different states and money involved is over $75,000.
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Can I Only Sue For Physical Injuries?No, you can sue for more than just physical injuries. Lawsuits can be filed for various reasons, including emotional distress, financial losses, breach of contract, defamation, property damage, and more. The key is whether you can prove that the other party caused you harm or loss, whether it's physical, emotional, or financial you can sue.
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Can I Ignore a Lawsuit if I Think it’s Frivolous?Don't ignore a lawsuit, even if it seems silly and unimportant, If you ignore it, the court might, enter a default judgment against you, which is the legal way of saying the court will rule against you just because you didn’t show up. Ignoring the lawsuit can also lead to other legal problems, your wages could be taken, your bank accounts could be frozen, and you could be forced to pay money you might not even owe. Don't ignore a lawsuit.
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What is Loss of Consortium Claim?Imagine you and your spouse are happily married, but suddenly, they get injured and can no longer help out at home or spend quality time with you and your kids like they used to. Now, instead of enjoying your days together, you're busy taking them to appointments and treatments. Your relationship suffers, and you might have a claim against the person who caused the injury, because you're doing more work at home, working longer hours, missing out on activities you used to enjoy together, and your intimacy with your partner has decreased. This kind of claim is only for married couples, not for boyfriends or girlfriends. These claims work best when the impact of the injury is significant. For example, if you haven't been intimate with your spouse for months, can't do things together anymore, and are losing income because you're taking care of them or doing their chores, you may have a valid claim.
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Beware of Quick Offers from Insurance Companies?Imagine you get into an accident on Friday night. On Saturday, you feel a bit sore but okay. The same thing happens on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Then, on Thursday, the insurance company calls and offers you $5,000 to cover your medical bills and any pain from the accident. You agree to this offer. A few weeks later, you start feeling more pain, so you go to the doctor. They recommend an MRI, which shows you have multiple herniated discs. The doctor recommends physical therapy, pain management, or even surgery that could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. At this point you remember maybe I should talk to a lawyer, well unfortunately for you my answer is sorry you have already settled your case for $5000. This scenario is why its important to talk to lawyer before accepting any offer from the insurance company.
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If I am Innocent, Do I Need a Lawyer?Absolutely yes, being innocent doesn’t guarantee that everything will go smoothly. Misunderstandings, mistakes, corruption and the complexity of the legal system can all work against you. Hiring a lawyer when your innocent is like playing a game of chess. Even if you start with the best pieces (your innocence), if you don't know the rules or the strategies, you could easily lose to someone who does. A lawyer is like a chess master who knows the game inside out and can help you make the right moves to protect your innocence.
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What are the Three Possible Outcomes of a Criminal Case?Facing criminal charges can be overwhelming and there are three main ways criminal cases play out: Charges Dropped: the charges might be dropped or dismissed for many reasons including weak evidence etc. Plea Deal: over 95 percent end in plea deals You might be offered a plea deal, where you agree to a lesser punishment to avoid going to trial. Going to Trial: Your case might go to trial, where a judge or jury decides if you’re guilty or not. Regardless of your choice it is important to not go it alone and get the help of a lawyer.
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If I Plan to Plead Guilty, Do I Need a Lawyer?Absolutely, yes, even if you’re planning to plead guilty, for whatever reason, having a lawyer is necessary because the process requires negotiation. Without a lawyer, you’re at a disadvantage because the prosecutor is skilled at getting the best outcome for the state. Your lawyer’s job is to help make sure you get the best outcome possible, even if you’re admitting you did something wrong.
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What are the Different Types of Criminal Pleas?A plea is your official response when you're charged with a crime. It's how you tell the court whether you admit or deny the charges against you. There are three main types of pleas: Not Guilty Plea: A plea of Not Guilty means that you are informing the court that you deny guilt or that you have a defense in your case and that the State must prove what it has charged against you. Guilty Plea: You admit you did it and agree to face the consequences. No Contest Plea (Nolo Contendere): A no contest plead means you neither agree or disagree with the charges against you, and you are just pleading to close the case.
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Must Police Always Read Your Miranda Rights?No, the police don’t have to read you your Miranda rights every time they talk to you. The Miranda warning is only required if two things happen: 1) you are in custody (meaning you’re not free to leave), and 2) you’re being questioned. For example, if you’re arrested and handcuffed but you confess something without being asked, that confession can still be used in court. This is because even though you were in custody, you weren’t being questioned at the time. So just remember, they don’t have to do it just because they’re arresting you.
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Can I Represent Myself in Court?Yes, you can go to court and speak for yourself—this is called "pro se" representation. (means “for oneself” in Latin) But just because you can do it doesn't mean you should. Representing yourself is hard because you have to know and follow all the legal rules and steps, just like a lawyer. Free advice for the day-Having a lawyer represent you is the smart choice.
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Are Pre-Nuptial Agreements Only for the Wealthy?No, with 40-50% of first-time marriages ending in divorce, a prenuptial agreement can be helpful for any couple regardless of social economic status. A prenup is a contract that couples sign before getting married. It lays out what will happen with their money, property, debts, and other important matters if they ever get divorced. This agreement helps protect both people and makes sure things are clear, no matter how much or little they own.
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