Accidents and injuries never follow quite the same procedure. The circumstances and individuals involved are about as varied as it can get. Everyone knows to call for medical help in case of an emergency, but few know what to do after that. Perhaps the help of an attorney can be considered just as vital as that of a doctor or emergency responder. Instead of immediately saving your life, a lawyer is responsible to help you fight for the quality of its remainder.
Get in touch with a lawyer at Clark Fountain today! 561-899-2100
Personal Injury Damages You Could Receive Compensation For
Though monetary compensation will never completely make up for pain and suffering caused by a serious accident or by the tragic loss of a loved one, our goal at Clark Fountain is to help restore you to a state of security and comfort as you move forward in your life. Many personal injury claims can be compensated in one or all of the following areas:
- Medical Treatment: This covers present and future treatment for your injury.
- Income Lost Due to Injury: This covers previous and future lost wages because of injury.
- Property Loss Due to Accident: This covers reimbursement for repair or compensation for fair market value of property lost.
- Pain and Suffering: This covers compensation for present and future pain and discomfort due to the injury.
- Emotional Distress: This compensates an individual for the psychological impact of an injury, including fear, anxiety, and sleep loss.
- Loss of Enjoyment: This compensates you for the inability to enjoy day-to-day pursuits.
- Loss of Consortium: This compensates you for an impaired relationship with your spouse due to injury.
Variables That May Affect a Florida Injury Award for Damages
If you have been deemed partially to blame for the accident that caused your injuries, you may receive a lower damages award or, in some states, none at all. Another potential cause for an awards reduction may be if you failed to pursue proper and timely medical treatment for your injuries. Be sure to contact Clark Fountain today for a complimentary evaluation of your case. We will inform you of your legal rights and options.
You deserve seasoned litigation that cares about you and your life—call 561-899-2100 for a free case consultation!
Accepting a Broad Range of Cases
Clark Fountain has extensive experience in personal injury claims and offers representation for the following categories:
- ATV Accidents
- Aviation Accidents
- Bike Accidents
- Boat Accidents
- Brightline Accidents
- Bus Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Construction Accidents
- Slip and Falls
- Cruise Ship Accidents
- Dog Bites
- Elevator Accidents
- Gas Tank Explosion
- Negligent Security
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Premise Liability
- Railroad Accidents
- Scooter Accidents
- Train Accidents
Filing for a Personal Injury Lawsuit
Under Florida Law, there is no criteria that must be met in order to file a lawsuit for a personal injury you sustained. The only exception is when it comes to injuries suffered in a motor vehicle accident. Florida is a no-fault state, which means that drivers involved in an accident are compensated through their insurer regardless of who caused the collision. Anyone who drives in Florida is legally obligated to have no-fault insurance coverage.
If you have been in a car accident that resulted in serious injury, you can recover the following economic damages from your insurance carrier:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
If you want to file a claim for mental and physical pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life, you must first make sure that your injury meets one of the following 4 thresholds:
- Significant and permanent loss of one of your important bodily functions
- Permanent injury within a reasonable degree of probability
- Significant and permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Death
Get Help with Your Personal Injury Claim Today: 561-899-2100
If you or a loved one have been wrongfully injured, don’t hesitate to call the Palm Beach Gardens attorneys at Clark Fountain. Our firm prides itself on over 200 years of shared experience and over a Billion dollars received in verdicts and settlements. You can be sure you are receiving sound legal advice from experienced lawyers who not only are skilled in the courtroom but also genuinely care about your needs and concerns.
Call our firm at 561-899-2100 today for more information! We fight for you.
Significant Case Results
FAQs
Why Do Personal Injury Lawsuits Take So Long?
The legal process has a reputation for moving at a snail’s pace. The time from the initial complaint to a settlement or verdict varies greatly from case to case because there is such a great degree of variance depending on the nature of your claim, the district in which you are filing, and whether or not your case goes to trial. Many personal injury cases can take up to two or even three years, but for the most accurate estimate of how long your case might take, speak directly with a lawyer at our law firm. Below, we’ve listed an overview of the process and how long each step can take.
What Is Considered a Serious Injury?
Accident injuries that impede your ability to walk or make it difficult to lift or carry things for an extended period of time are considered serious injuries, as long as the injury in question meets the criteria we listed above. If your accident meets all of the necessary qualifiers, you can take legal action to pursue compensation for your injuries.
Is a Small or Large Florida Personal Injury Law Firm Better?
A solo attorney (someone that runs their own law practice) will usually have limited resources, so they limit their caseload. By limiting their caseload, they can focus more time and attention on each individual case. Because they can only take on so many cases at a time, they are usually incredibly selective, only taking on cases they believe they can win. Another potential advantage is that you won’t get passed off to another attorney, and you will be able to have a closer relationship with your legal counsel. Some downsides include lack of resources, busy schedule, and too broad a focus (many solo practitioners handle multiple areas of practice).
One of the biggest advantages of hiring a large law firm to represent you is that they will undoubtedly have the resources you need. This means they have the financial capital to gain access to expert witnesses, accident reconstructionists, and more. Another advantage is that most large law firms are large for a reason, and will have the reputation that can secure more favorable settlements than smaller law firms or solo practitioners. A potential downside is that the client may not receive the same level of personalized service one might receive with an individual practitioner.
At Clark Fountain, we believe that we truly have the best of both worlds. While we have large-firm resources and many experienced attorneys and paralegals on staff, we also provide a personal touch that many solo attorneys cannot even provide. We stay in close communication with our clients throughout the duration of their case, which we believe can often produce a better result.
There can certainly be downsides to picking the wrong law firm, but if you find a firm that is well-equipped, trusted, and has a track record of success, you can be confident in your legal representation. At Clark, Fountain, La Vista, Littky-Rubin & Whitman, we have over 200 years’ of combined experience representing clients in Florida and beyond. You can have peace of mind that your claim is being handled effectively and efficiently.
What Is a Typical Fee Structure for Personal Injury Lawyers?
Most plaintiff lawyers in personal injury cases represent their clients on a contingency fee basis. This means that the client does not pay attorney fees or expenses unless/until they receive a recovery. So if the attorney doesn’t win the case and the client gets no money, the client does not have to pay attorney fees and expenses. If the plaintiff’s attorney does win and a recovery is secured, the attorney fees and expenses are taken out of that total amount.
Generally, the percentage taken out for attorney fees and expenses will differ from case to case, but can be anywhere in the range of 20-40%. We encourage you to speak directly with a lawyer about the potential merits of your claim, how much your specific case could be worth, and what the attorney fees and expenses might be.
The benefit of a contingency fee model is that the plaintiff does not have to worry about upfront fees to retain an attorney. You have the freedom to choose the attorney best suited to meet your needs, regardless of cost. With this type of fee structure, the attorney shares your risk as well as your reward. If the attorney doesn’t win the case, they don’t get paid either, and typically, lawyers spend thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars litigating these cases, and months or years of their time.