No one expects to be in an accident with injuries, but they happen every day in Florida and across the country. Whether it’s a car wreck, truck crash, slip and fall, or product injury, accidents can lead to severe injuries, medical bills, being out of work, and more.
If you suffered a severe injury in a Tampa accident, a critical decision to consider is who to hire as your personal injury lawyer. When another person causes your accident, hiring the best personal injury lawyer can greatly impact the case outcome.
On the other hand, injury victims who represent themselves may discover, to their surprise, that the liable party’s insurance provider doesn’t take them seriously. The insurance claims adjuster may lowball you or doubt that their client injured you. These problems can be avoided by hiring a skilled attorney to obtain the most compensation for your claim.
However, considering who to hire as your personal injury lawyer in Tampa, you can be overwhelmed by the options. Think about the factors below as you think about who should represent you in your case.
Florida Accident Statistics
Florida is one of the country’s fastest-growing states. Many Americans move to Florida to enjoy the sun, warm weather, and strong economy and job market. However, more accidents and injuries occur as more people move to the Sunshine State.
For example, the Florida State Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports more than 100,000 auto collisions in the state in the first four months of 2024. To date, there have been more than 66,000 auto accidents, personal injuries, and 830 deaths. In 2023, there were 394,000 crashes, 250,000 injuries, and 3,400 fatalities.
These statistics are only for auto accidents in Florida. There were also thousands of other personal injury accidents, including workplace accidents, slips and falls, truck accidents, product injury claims, and more.
Whatever type of accident you were in, you should look for a Tampa personal injury lawyer with the following qualifications:
Excellent Track Record In Personal Injury Lawsuits
You should always look for a personal injury attorney with a strong track record in personal injury lawsuits. The best personal injury attorney in Tampa will possess a strong record of settlements and lawsuit verdicts in your type of case. Remember, most personal injury claims - whether it’s a motor vehicle accident or premises liability claim - usually end with a settlement.
A personal injury settlement occurs when the defendant’s insurance company agrees to pay the plaintiff a sum to end the case. A settlement is often the best choice for both sides because it ends the case sooner rather than later without going to trial.
However, some accident claims can’t be settled, and going to court in a lawsuit is possible. You should hire a Tampa personal injury attorney who is equally skilled in settlements and court litigation. Then, your bases are covered because you know your lawyer can negotiate for a settlement effectively or take a case to a favorable jury verdict, if necessary.
Skilled In Florida Personal Injury Claims
Next, look for an attorney who only handles personal injury claims in Florida. Every state has different laws for personal injury claims and related subjects. For example, Florida is a no-fault state for car accidents. In most car accident claims, each party pays for their own damages from their personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. PIP pays each party for the first few thousand dollars of lost income and medical bills. It differs from a fault-based state, such as California, where the liable party for the accident pays for the other party’s damages.
There are limited situations when a plaintiff can step outside the no-fault system and sue, such as with a catastrophic injury. However, ensuring that the case qualifies for filing a personal injury lawsuit in Florida requires knowledge that an experienced Tampa personal injury attorney has.
Handles Your Type Of Personal Injury Claim
Suppose a truck driver injures you in Tampa because they don’t stop at a red light. You have multiple broken bones and can’t work for three months. You need a lot of compensation for your losses. You should only hire a Tampa personal injury attorney who handles high-value truck accident claims. Truck crashes usually involve major injuries, multiple liable parties, and large trucking insurance companies with deep pockets and smart lawyers.
You must choose a seasoned truck accident attorney in Tampa with many favorable settlements and jury verdicts. Truck accident claims are complicated and involve many moving parts. You don’t want a rookie car accident lawyer handling a multi-million dollar truck accident claim.
Excellent Reputation
Retaining a Tampa personal injury attorney with a stellar local reputation is important. The attorney’s reputation with other attorneys, courts, judges, and insurance companies may help resolve your case sooner and for more money. Many insurance companies may not want to go to court against a personal injury attorney with a fierce litigation reputation.
Large Financial Resources
Severe injury claims are often complicated and can take months or years to resolve. You need a Tampa attorney with deep pockets and a large staff. Taking a high-value claim to a favorable jury verdict can be expensive, and you need a lawyer who won’t take an early settlement to reduce case costs.
For example, a severe car accident case can require much work to prove who was at fault. There can be several potentially liable parties, and your attorney may need to hire legal and accident experts to prove how someone else injured you. Court experts bill at hundreds of dollars per hour, so your attorney needs to have the resources to handle those case costs. The Insurance Research Council found that choosing a personal injury attorney to handle your claim results in a higher settlement.
A Clear Payment Structure
A contingency fee system compensates most personal injury attorneys. This means they are paid a portion of your settlement or jury award. Many attorneys charge roughly 33 percent for their services, but your attorney may charge more or less. You should understand what you will pay for their legal fees and ensure you know if the attorney handles all legal expenses. Most attorneys also take legal expenses out of the plaintiff’s settlement or award.
Don’t choose your attorney just by how much they are paid. Skilled lawyers in Tampa charge a hefty fee for their services, but they are worth it. A skilled personal injury attorney is more likely to obtain the best financial outcome in your case. You’ll have more than enough money to pay for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and property damage.
Good Communication
Being injured in a serious accident is a difficult time in life. Your financial future may be tied to the outcome of your claim. Hiring an excellent personal injury attorney in Tampa will increase your chances of compensation, but your attorney also should be available regularly to answer your questions.
You should note how well a prospective attorney communicates with you by phone, email, and person. You may have questions during your case, which may sometimes last months. You should have an attorney who is easy to contact and provides regular case updates.
Some busy attorneys may have a paralegal or administrative assistant update you. This is fine, but the attorney should also regularly be available to speak directly to you.
Your Comfort Level
You can find the best attorney in Tampa with an excellent track record, but getting along with that attorney is also critical. Your personal injury claim can take months or years to resolve. You and your lawyer will deal with each other for as long as the case takes. It’s vital to have a personal injury attorney you feel comfortable with.
You’re more likely to work well and share information with an attorney you feel comfortable with and are honest and open with. The more open and honest you are with your lawyer, the better they will represent you with the insurance company and in court.
Availability
Ensure that the Tampa personal injury attorney you choose is available. You don’t want the case to take longer to resolve because your attorney is too busy to work on the case. Confirm that the attorney will begin your case promptly and has the state and time to prioritize your claim.
Also, understand who will be handling the day-to-day aspects of your personal injury claim. It’s fine if lower-level attorneys handle some of your cases, but you should know who they are and be able to contact them.
Don’t Be Misled By Flashy Tampa Lawyer Advertising
Personal injury attorney advertisements can make a mediocre attorney look fantastic. However, winning your case takes more than a slick attorney commercial. Instead of choosing the biggest lawyer name on TV, take the time to meet with every potential attorney you consider. You need to ask about their track record in recent cases that they specifically oversaw.
A common problem with large personal injury firms with big ad budgets is that they are focused on bringing in a lot of cases. Their business model may be to settle many cases for a small amount. The volume of their caseload is how they make money. It may work well for the attorney but may not be in your best interest. You have one personal injury case with one chance to secure adequate compensation. So, you want a Tampa personal injury attorney who is fully dedicated to getting you the most money in a settlement or court.
Don’t Wait Too Long
You suffered an injury and were overwhelmed with medical bills, possibly pain, and being unable to work. It’s understandable if you delay hiring a personal injury attorney. However, you shouldn’t wait too long to seek legal representation.
Florida has a statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit. You will forfeit your right to pursue compensation if you wait too long to hire an attorney. The best attorneys in Tampa are usually busy and may not want to work with clients who are waiting too long to hire a lawyer. After all, researching and investigating a case takes time, and a good attorney may only take a personal injury claim with enough time to ensure the best outcome.
After a severe accident in which another party is at fault, it is advised to hire an attorney as soon as possible.
Not Every Tampa Personal Injury Attorney May Take Your Case
Another reason to look for a personal injury attorney early on is that only some attorneys will take your case. There are many reasons an attorney may decline to take a case, such as:
- Liability is in doubt: A car accident attorney you want may look at your case and think it’s too difficult to prove another driver violated their duty of care and injured you. However, another attorney could have a different opinion. Leave yourself a lot of time to shop for the best attorney who will take your case.
- Case expenses are too high: Some accident cases may be too expensive to litigate compared to their potential case value.
- Case takes too long: The personal injury attorney in Tampa may decide that your case takes too much time compared to its worth.
- Other attorneys rejected your case: Did other attorneys turn down your personal injury claim? Your attorney may ask about this and can decide to do the same.
Contact A Personal Injury Attorney In Tampa
A severe accident can cause life-changing injuries and related losses. When someone else causes your accident injuries, you need a personal injury lawyer in Tampa to help. Speak to a Tampa personal injury attorney today in a free consultation to learn if you have a case. Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, so you should not worry about paying upfront legal expenses. You also will not pay any legal fees unless your personal injury attorney obtains compensation for you.