personal injury faqs | douglas r. beam lawyer | melbourne fl (321) 723-6591

Personal Injury FAQ’sBy: Douglas R. Beam Attorney and Counselors at Law

If you’ve been injured, it’s important that you know your rights!

Personal Injury FAQ’s

When many people come to our firm for help, it is often their first experience with the legal system. Many have no idea how to even to start the process or what rights they have.

Because of this we have listed some of the questions we are asked most frequently.

Please remember that these questions should be considered as general information only.

This is not legal advice.


Q. What should I do at the scene of a car accident?


A. Call the police, and the paramedics if needed. If you need medical treatment, get it as soon as possible.

If it is safe for you to do so, photograph the vehicles involved in the accident and the general accident scene.

Try to make an accurate record of the road, weather, and traffic conditions as soon as possible.

Your lawyer might find this helpful if he or she needs to do an accident reconstruction. You should also write down what you remember about the accident as soon as possible.


Q. A friend of mine was in an accident, sued, and recovered a large amount of money. I was in a similar accident. Does that mean that I will also be able to get a large amount of money?


A. That depends on what “damages” you suffer. Damages can include things like medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

The person you want to sue may have done something extremely wrong, but if you did not suffer any damages, then you will not receive any compensation.


Q. I was injured a while ago, and am thinking of suing. I’m just not sure. Should I talk to a lawyer now, or wait?


A. Talk to a lawyer now. In civil cases (like personal injury), you only have a limited amount of time in which to file your claim. If you wait too long, you may be prevented from suing on that issue forever.

Also remember that as time goes on, it often gets harder for your lawyer to gather the evidence that you may need to win. Witnesses forget things, computer data are lost, businesses destroy records under their records management policies. Involve a lawyer early to ensure that critical evidence is not lost.


Q. I do not have a lot of extra money. Will I be able to afford an attorney?


A. Sometimes, like in personal injury cases, a lawyer will be able to take your case on a contingent fee basis. This means that the lawyer will not be paid unless you receive compensation for your injuries. If you do, then the lawyer will receive a certain percentage.


Q. How long will it be before I am able to recover money to compensate me for my injuries?


A. This is highly dependent on the facts unique to your case. In some cases, we can settle for the amount you want early. In other cases, the case may have to go to trial to seek appropriate compensation.


Q. Who makes the decision whether to settle or go to trial, me or my lawyer?


A. You do. Your lawyer is ethically required to tell you of any settlement offers that he or she receives—and you decide whether you want to accept.

Choose a lawyer who will offer good advice during this process to help you understand what course of action is in your best interest.


Q. How do I choose the right attorney to represent me?


A. You should look for an attorney who has a track record of taking cases to trial. That is important even if your case ultimately settles (as most cases do). Big companies, especially insurance companies, know which lawyers are willing to take cases all the way to trial for their clients.

People who are represented by an experienced trial lawyer are more likely to be offered better settlements. Always ask a prospective attorney how many cases he or she has tried and how many cases he or she has tried recently.


Q. I have been injured in some sort of accident, and it is partly my fault, will I be able to recover anything?


A. Yes. In most cases, you can still get compensation even if you were partly at fault in an accident. That is because Florida is a “pure comparative negligence” state. What this means is that the amount of money you will be awarded if you win at trial is reduced by any percentage that may deemed to be your fault, if any.

Here’s an example: You were involved in a car accident and suffered $100,000 worth of damages. If the jury found that that the accident was 75% your fault, and 25% the fault of the other driver, then you would still be able to recover $25,000 from that other driver.

Personal Injury Attorney

If you have any other question about your personal injury case, don’t hesitate to call or send us a email through our website by clicking here.

http://www.dougbeam.com/contact/

Personal Injury Attorney

Douglas R. Beam Attorneys & Counselors at Law

25 West New Haven Ave.

Suite C

Melbourne, FL. 32901

Phone: (321) 723-6591

http://dougbeam.com

http://dougbeam.com/

personal injury faqs | douglas r. beam lawyer | melbourne fl (321) 723-6591

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