Filing a Personal Injury Claim: What You Need to Know

Getting into an accident can be a shocking incident, especially at first. Dealing with the ramifications of an accident and addressing your injuries can be overwhelming. Nonetheless, know that help is available. In Florida, when an accident occurs causing personal injuries, Florida law allows the injured party to hold the negligent party legally and financially responsible for the injuries sustained in the accident. In fact, depending on the specific circumstances of a personal injury case, there are various types of damages an injured party may be able to pursue for injuries sustained. Sometimes the parties to a personal injury case cannot agree on damages or fault. When the parties cannot reach an agreement on damages, the case may go to trial.

If you suffered serious injuries from an accident and have questions about the process for filing a claim, including but limited to the need to file a lawsuit, the experienced Florida injury lawyers at Searcy Denney can help. Our personal injury lawyers have decades of experience and are trained to help clients recover the compensation they are entitled to for the injuries they sustained in an accident caused by a third party. At our firm, we fight for our clients and will go to trial if necessary. If you have questions about the legal remedies available for the injuries you sustained from your personal injury case, call us today for a free case evaluation with one of our Florida injury lawyers today.

What is the Process for Filing an Insurance Claim Against a Negligent Party?

When you or a loved one is injured in an accident caused by another party, you will want to take action immediately. Some negligent parties, such as a negligent driver in an auto accident case, may file a claim with their insurance company immediately after the accident. However, in some cases, the injured party or their attorney may need to initiate the claim with the negligent party’s insurance company. Unfortunately, in some cases, the negligent party may not have insurance. 

If you have questions about the process for initiating a claim against the negligent party in your case, an experienced Florida injury lawyer at Searcy Denney can advise you as to the steps you should take following the accident. Our attorneys can help explain the legal process that follows a personal injury case – including how to file a claim. 

Once a claim is reported to the insurance carrier, typically the carrier will then assign a representative, often known as an insurance adjuster, to begin working on the case. In most cases, the adjuster will contact the insured party and the injured party to learn about the details of the accident and to collect important documentation relevant to the case such as medical records and other records documenting the damages sustained.  

When you are contacted by an insurance company,  it is important to keep your Florida injury lawyer involved in the process to make sure your rights are protected. Eventually, the adjuster from the insurance company may offer to settle the claim. Your attorney can review the offer to determine if it is fair and negotiate on your behalf with the insurance company to help you obtain compensation that is appropriate for the injuries you sustained in your case.  

What Happens if Your Case Goes to Trial?

Although the majority of personal injury claims settle outside of the courtroom, some cases go to a trial. In the event the insurance company will not offer a reasonable settlement, you want to work with an experienced Florida injury attorney who can file a lawsuit on your behalf if necessary, like the experienced Florida injury lawyers at Searcy Denney.

Personal injury cases sometimes go to court because the negligent party’s insurance company will not pay out a reasonable amount of money for injuries sustained by the injured party. If your case needs to go to trial to get you the damages you deserve for the injuries you sustained, don’t worry. The attorneys at Searcy Denney have experienced trial lawyers and are prepared to fight on your behalf. 

If your case goes to trial, our experienced trial lawyers will help prepare you and your case for trial so you have a fighting chance. In personal injury cases, the parties often present their cases before a jury of their peers. The jury listens to the evidence presented by both sides to determine who is at fault and what the damages are.  

At the trial, both the plaintiff and defendant will present their cases which typically begin with opening and closing statements summarizing their cases. The parties will then each present evidence in favor of their case for the jury to consider. After the closing arguments, the jury will then deliberate and render a verdict. 

Taking a personal injury case to trial can be very time-consuming and expensive. Some injured parties worry that they may not be able to afford to pay for an attorney to take their case all the way to trial. If this is your concern, do not worry because the personal injury attorneys at Searcy Denney may be willing to take your case on a contingency fee basis. A contingency fee means that you are only charged a fee if you win your case and receive a financial award, so you don’t have to pay fees out of your own pocket. If you have questions about costs associated with taking your personal injury case to trial, contact Searcy Denney today for a free case evaluation.

What Compensation Is Available for Personal Injury Cases?

If you were injured in an accident, there are actually a variety of different types of damages that you may obtain including both economic and non-economic damages such as:

• Medical expenses related to injuries sustained
• Loss of income
• Pain and suffering
• More 

If you are unsure about the damages you may be able to obtain for the injuries you sustained in your personal injury case and don’t know what next step to take, speak with an experienced Florida injury lawyer. The Florida injury lawyers at Searcy Denney can help explain the process for filing a personal injury claim and can negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf to ensure you obtain fair compensation for the injuries you sustained. If necessary, our attorneys will go to trial on your behalf. 

Have Questions About Your Personal Injury Claim? Call the Florida Injury Lawyers at Searcy Denney Today

Were you injured in an accident and sustained injuries? If so and you have questions about your case and how to file a claim, contact Searcy Denney today. The Florida injury lawyers at Searcy Denney are experienced with personal injury cases and can help you determine whether you are entitled to damages. The attorneys at Searcy Denney have experience working with clients on personal injury cases as well as dealing with insurance companies. Our attorneys can help explain the legal process that follows a personal injury case – including how to file a claim. Call us toll-free at 800-780-8607 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our Florida injury lawyers. We have offices conveniently located in Tampa,  West Palm Beach and Tallahassee.