FAQs Answered by Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys
For every 100,000 Floridians, roughly 127 personal injury claims are filed each year in the Sunshine State – well above the national average. From car, truck, and motorcycle accidents to slips and falls and traumatic brain injuries, unexpected accidents happen every day that affect the lives of victims and their loved ones. If you’re injured in an accident, it’s important to find a personal injury attorney who understands the legal system, how insurance companies operate, and who will go the extra mile to make sure you’re taken care of every step of the way.
At Gallagher & Hagopian, we’ve practiced law locally in Sarasota and Manatee counties for over 25 years and won more than $300 million in settlements and jury verdicts. For us, as personal injury attorneys, it’s about giving you closure, and we’ll do everything in our power to give your family the peace of mind to move on.
Typically, personal injury lawyers take a percentage ranging from 33% to 40% of the settlement or judgement awarded for a case. At Gallagher & Hagopian, as a local law firm, we represent each case on a contingency fee basis, meaning that if there’s no recovery, there’s no fee.
A personal injury is defined as harm caused to an individual’s body, mind or emotions because of another party’s negligent or intentional actions. If you’ve been injured in an accident, call 911, seek medical attention, document everything and contact an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you seek compensation for damages such as medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages.
Personal injury settlements vary widely, ranging from several thousand dollars to $75,000 and above depending on factors like the severity of the injuries suffered, medical costs, lost wages and the extent of liability. Nationally, the median settlement for personal injury cases is $52,900. When you’ve been injured in an accident, it’s important to have a results-driven personal injury attorney who not only will go the extra mile for you but has a proven track record of aggressively negotiating with insurance companies.
The success fee – what an attorney charges for representing your case – typically ranges from 33% to 40% of the settlement won or judgement awarded. Personal injury attorneys are paid a success fee, also known as a contingency fee, only if they succeed in recovering compensation for clients’ injuries and damages such as medical costs and lost wages.
In a personal injury case, “damages” refers to money awarded to the injured party for the injuries and losses they suffered because of someone else’s negligence. There are three types of damages that a skilled personal injury attorney may pursue:
Economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and the cost of transportation to and from appointments)
Non-economic damages (Pain and suffering, loss of the enjoyment for life, disfigurement, and emotional distress)
Punitive damages (Awarded to punish the negligent party and deter similar actions)
To file a personal injury claim, there are a number of steps accident victims should take before meeting with a personal injury attorney, like ours at Gallagher & Hagopian. It’s also important to keep in mind that, if you’re injured, most personal injury claims must be filed within two years from the date of the accident, according to Florida law. Following an accident, to file a personal injury claim, remember to:
An example of personal injury coverage, also known as Personal Injury Protection (PIP), is auto insurance that pays for medical expenses and lost wages following a car accident. If you’ve been injured in an accident, a personal injury attorney can help fight for you to receive full benefits and additional compensation if negligence is involved.
What’s considered a “good” settlement figure varies based on the severity of the injuries you’ve sustained, medical expenses, and lost wages. However, at Gallagher & Hagopian, we consider it to be fair compensation that covers all of your costs – immediate and long term – and then some, enough to get your life back.
The typical amount for pain and suffering varies widely, often calculated by adding up economic damages and multiplying them depending on the severity of the case. The average settlement for pain and suffering is roughly $15,000. However, to get an accurate estimate, consult with a local personal injury attorney who can thoroughly assess your case.
Every person deserves equal rights under the law, especially after an accident. If you’ve been injured, our personal injury lawyers at Gallagher & Hagopian can help you get the compensation you deserve – and closure to experience life again.
With over 75 years of combined expertise, we understand the ins, outs and intricacies of personal injury cases. For the personal injury lawyers at Gallagher & Hagopian, your fight becomes our fight.
