Palm Bay Personal Injury Lawyer

The best thing you can do after an accident is to contact a personal injury lawyer to review your options. At Andrew Pickett Law, our team of professionals is ready to review your case and advise you about all of your possible courses of action. Fill out our online contact form, or give us a call today to get started.

Andrew Pickett Law has the following practice areas:

• Auto Accidents
• Boating Accidents
• Catastrophic Accidents
• Commercial Trucking Accidents
• Dog Bites
• Institutional Sexual Abuse Claims
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Pedestrian Accidents
• Truck Accidents
• Wrongful Death Claims

What Does a Personal Injury Lawyer in Palm Bay Do?

A Palm Bay personal injury lawyer will help you through every step of the process, between determining liability and receiving compensation. Upon hiring a personal injury lawyer, one of their first actions will be launching an independent investigation into your accident. This investigation will serve multiple purposes.

First, the investigation will attempt to identify all liable parties. Before you can begin to pursue compensation, you must first determine who is responsible. The inquiry will also aim to prove that liability and evaluate the true cost of your claim.

Steps your attorney will likely take in their investigation include:

• Visiting the scene of the accident
• Speaking with potential witnesses
• Consulting with experts
• Obtaining copies of any type of accident report which may have been filed
• Reviewing your medical files related to the accident

What If My Attorney Can’t Reach a Settlement?

Once your attorney has completed their investigation, they will calculate the total value of your claim. They will then file your insurance claim or lawsuit against the responsible party. If filing a lawsuit, they will begin the pre-trial process. All the while, your lawyer will be in negotiations with the legal counsel for the other side, trying to reach a deal for a fair settlement.

If a settlement agreement can not be reached, your lawyer will represent you in court and fight for a favorable verdict.

How Much Does a Personal Injury Attorney in Palm Bay Charge?

Palm Bay personal injury attorneys charge clients through a different system than most other lawyers. Instead of clients racking up an additional line item on their bill for every little thing their attorney does on their case, there is only one item that clients will ever have to pay for: Victory.

Personal injury attorneys often work on a contingency fee basis, which means they only get paid if they secure compensation for their clients. Clients will never pay a penny of their own money to their attorney. Instead, the lawyer will receive a pre-agreed upon percentage of the final compensation package.

There are two great benefits of this system. First off, anyone can afford to hire a personal injury lawyer as this makes doing so no-risk. Secondly, clients can feel confident that their lawyer is doing everything in their power to secure as large of a settlement as possible. Since your attorney only gets paid if you do, you are in the same boat.

What Damages Can I Claim After an Accident?

Recovering compensation for the losses you have suffered in an accident is critical. At Andrew Pickett Law, we can help you identify what damages you may be eligible to claim. There are a wide variety of common damages that result from accidents. However, which ones apply to you will depend on the specifics of your case.

There are three main groups into which all damages fall. It is likely that you will be able to recover both economic and non-economic damages after an accident. However, punitive damages are only awarded in special cases.

Economic Damages

Economic damages cover obvious things like bills. Common economic losses include:

• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity
• Medical bills
• Future medical expenses
• Property damage

Any amount of money you lose due to your accident is covered under economic damages. It does not matter if the financial loss was direct or indirect. 

Medical bills and property damage will result in bills for the money you must pay. Lost wages cover the money that you should have received but won’t because you can’t work. Lost earning capacity covers money you won’t be able to earn in the future because your ability to work has been reduced by your injury.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are the losses you suffer that have a more profound effect on your life. Common non-economic damages include:

• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Permanent disability
• Loss of companionship

While economic losses can easily be replaced, there is no way to truly compensate a victim for non-economic damages. The court can not replace a limb or a loved one lost as the result of an accident. And since it is impossible to appropriately help those who have suffered non-economic damages, the court does the only thing it can, which is to award financial compensation for these losses.

Because the aim of this compensation is to replace the irreplaceable, the money awarded for non-economic damages is often very significant. In fact, in most cases, non-economic damages account for the largest portion of the money received by an accident victim.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are only awarded under special circumstances. That is because the money a victim may recover from punitive damages is not supposed to be a payment for any losses they have suffered.

Instead, punitive damages are designed as a punishment. When the party that was liable for your accident behaved in a manner that recklessly or intentionally put the lives of others at risk, they may be forced to pay punitive damages. Most defendants who are ordered to pay punitive damages also face a trial in criminal court for their behavior in addition to the civil court case.

What Is the Statute of Limitations in Florida for Filing a Lawsuit?

Florida offers accident victims a greater window for filing a claim than most other states. After an injury in Florida, you have four years to file a personal injury lawsuit. While four years may seem like plenty of time, it can pass quickly.

Additionally, delays in filing can weaken your case. Witness testimony becomes less reliable with each passing day, and evidence can become lost or corrupted with time.

There are also certain situations in which the time you have to file can be greatly reduced. The best course of action is to contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after an accident. Once you hire an attorney, you can rest assured that all paperwork will be filed on time and that you will have the best chance of recovering the necessary compensation.

Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney in Palm Bay

At Andrew Pickett Law, we are dedicated to helping victims get justice. We have a proven track record of winning fair compensation for our clients.

Give us a call or fill out our online contact form today to schedule a consultation. We will review your case, answer any questions you may have, and advise you of your legal options. Let us help you get the money you need to get your life back on track.