FAQs Answered by Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers
According to studies conducted by the Insurance Research Council, accident victims who hired personal injury lawyers to negotiate on their behalf received three to four times more compensation than those who chose to fight alone. As we’ve said before, insurance companies are businesses, meaning, if you’ve been injured in an accident, they may look to settle quickly – and offer a minimal payout. That’s why you should avoid signing anything or incriminating yourself and speak to an experienced personal injury lawyer who is focused on reaching a fair outcome.
At Gallagher & Hagopian, we don’t accept the bare minimum when it comes to giving you and your family closure. With over $300 million won through trial verdicts and settlements, count on our personal injury lawyers to stay in the ring and fight for what you deserve… or you’ll pay us nothing.
Yes, you should consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer who can aggressively negotiate for the maximum settlement amount. It’s important to remember to never sign anything after an accident, as insurance companies are ultimately in business to make money and may look to offer you the bare minimum payout – an amount that doesn’t cover the full value of the injuries you’ve suffered.
Compensation that you can win for a personal injury case varies based on the severity of your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and other factors. While the average compensation won for these types of cases is $52,900 nationally, a skilled personal injury lawyer can assess your case and tenaciously negotiate for the maximum amount of compensation you deserve to get your life back on track.
The most an attorney can charge varies depending on their experience, location, the type of case, and its complexity. However, many personal injury lawyers typically charge clients a contingency fee between 33% to 40% of the settlement won or judgement awarded. At Gallagher & Hagopian, with a proven track record of success with over $300 million won for our clients, you only pay us if we recover for you.
The “price procedure” typically refers to a personal injury lawyer representing clients on a contingency fee basis – a charge based on a percentage of the compensation won in a settlement or awarded at trial. It’s common to pay anywhere from 33% to 40% of the amount received, depending on the law firm and complexity of the case. As a small, local law firm dedicated to defending your rights, if we don’t win, you pay us nothing.
General damages, also known as non-economic damages, are awarded for pain and suffering, which compensates for physical pain, disfigurement, physical impairment, loss of enjoyment for life, loss of companionship, and mental suffering and stress. An experienced personal injury lawyer can quantify these intangible losses and fight for a fair outcome that gives closure in the aftermath of an accident.
When you’ve been injured in an accident, the three types of damages a personal injury lawyer may pursue are:
Economic damages: For medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and the cost of transportation to and from appointments
Non-economic damages: For 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)
When you’ve been injured, an experienced personal injury lawyer can fight to help you claim “damages” – compensation intended for getting your life back on track in the aftermath of an accident. Damages that you may win, depending on your unique situation, can cover medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and the loss of the ability to make a living in the future. Punitive damages may also be awarded to set a precedent and deter future parties from similar actions.
Personal injury coverage (PIP) is an added layer of protection for you and your family, providing financial relief in the aftermath of an accident. This type of coverage can pay for costs that health insurance may not touch. In our state, if your vehicle has four wheels, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles notes that you must be able to show proof of PIP coverage. In Florida, PIP can offset:
A Personal Injury Protection (PIP) deductible is the out-of-pocket amount you have to pay before insurance covers medical expenses, lost wages or death benefits after an accident. Deductibles can be $250, $500, or $1,000 – and there’s an option to pay no deductible. Typically, selecting a higher deductible lowers premium costs but increases out-of-pocket expenses.
The Florida No-Fault Law requires that PIP covers 80% of medical expenses and 60% of lost wages up to the $10,000 limit, regardless of fault, after deductibles are met. Accidents can be devastating, and if you’ve been injured, our personal injury lawyers can help you navigate these costs, assess your case, and identify avenues for more compensation.
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.
