If someone else injured you, you have the legal right to request compensation. When choosing a personal injury lawyer in Largo, make sure that the firm you choose handles cases that are similar to yours. A personal injury attorney may handle just a few types of injury cases or could handle a wide variety of legal matters. For example, if you suffered injuries in a vehicle wreck or if a loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse, or if you were injured in a workplace accident, you need a firm with experience in those areas.
Contact the dedicated Largo personal injury attorneys at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, for a free consultation and case evaluation. We are here 24/7 if you've been injured in an auto accident or other incident or if you lost a loved one because of someone else's negligent or reckless actions.
What Types of Cases Do Our Personal Injury Lawyers in Largo Handle?
When you need to recover compensation after an accident to cover the cost of your losses, you need an attorney who gets you big firm results with small firm personal attention. At Dolman Law Group, we provide just that for:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bus accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Boat accidents
- Train accidents
- Birth injuries
- Brain injuries
- Burn injuries
- Workplace injuries
- Slip and trip or fall injuries
- Nursing home and/or assisted living abuse
- Business interruptions
- Sexual abuse
- Child injuries
- Product liability, including defective medications and harmful drugs
- Premises liability
- Construction accidents
- Dog Bites
- Wrongful death
While you might think that all motor vehicle crashes are the same, they are not. A truck accident is different from a car accident because truck crashes usually involve a commercial entity, which means that individuals and businesses other than the driver could share the liability for your injuries. Additionally, trucks generally weigh up to 80,000 pounds or more, and all that weight often causes catastrophic injuries.
A motorcycle accident is different because a motorcycle rider has a significantly higher risk of suffering catastrophic injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. We see some of the most serious injuries in these cases because motorcycle riders have much less protection than car or truck drivers.
Dolman Law Group Has Been Named Among the Best Personal Injury Law Firms in Largo and Throughout the State
In addition to making sure that the personal injury firm you choose handles the type of case that you're dealing with, you also need to make sure that the firm has successfully resolved these types of cases in the past. You do not want a firm that is only good at settlement negotiations but won't take a case to trial. Your lawyer will most likely start out trying to settle. However, if insurance companies do not offer a fair and reasonable settlement, you need an attorney who has plenty of experience in the courtroom and isn't afraid to litigate your case if necessary.
The legal team at Dolman Law Group proudly publishes our past case results, including settlements, litigated cases, and even cases where the insurance company refused a fair and reasonable offer but settled after the plaintiff filed a lawsuit.
Some of our case results include:
- $3.2 million for a truck accident that resulted in a brain injury.
- $1.4 million for a motorcycle accident that resulted in several serious injuries.
- $1.75 million for a truck accident that resulted in a shoulder injury and a mild traumatic brain injury.
- $1.58 million in a car accident that resulted in back and spinal cord injuries.
- $1 million in a car accident.
- $1 million in a rideshare accident.
We invite you to review more of our successful case results to see how hard we work for our clients' futures.
What Should I Do After an Accident?
If you or anyone involved in the accident need medical assistance, call first responders.
If you are able, you should:
- Check on others involved in the accident.
- Take photos of the accident scene, including damage to nearby items, real property, and anything that may have contributed to the accident.
- Obtain other driver's licenses, insurance, and registration information from all other parties involved in a car accident.
- Obtain contact information from any witnesses. You can also ask witnesses what they saw but don't force them to provide any statements.
- Allow the emergency medical technicians to check you over, even if you feel that you haven't sustained any serious injuries.
- Give the police your version of the facts.
- Get immediate medical attention at the hospital. Let doctors know you were in an accident. Keep in mind that some injuries might not manifest for hours or even a day or two after an accident.
- Notify your insurance company of the accident, but only provide your name, policy number, the date and location of the accident, and your attorney's contact information.
- Consult with a personal injury attorney in Largo to understand your rights and options.
Why You Should Partner With a Personal Injury Attorney in Largo
People often wonder if they can settle their personal injury cases themselves. While it is your right, most unrepresented people leave money on the table. Insurance companies are in business to make money. Whenever they have to pay a claim, especially a seven-figure claim, it cuts right into their bottom lines.
When you call an insurance company to notify it of an accident, the adjuster will ask you to give a statement about the accident. No matter how much pressure the insurance company representative applies, refer the representative to your attorney. One of an insurance company's favorite tricks is to twist what you tell it and use this as a reason to deny your claim. At the very least, the company will likely offer you a pittance that might not even cover your medical expenses.
What are the Phases of a Personal Injury Case?
Once you find a personal injury attorney that you believe is the best firm to protect your interests, you'll be ready to take the next steps. Your attorney will ask you many questions about your case. They might investigate the matter before contacting the insurance company. This depends on how detailed the police report is and whether there is other evidence, such as photos of the accident scene and medical records.
Settling a Personal Injury Case
Once your injury attorney has reviewed your case, they will draft a demand letter for the insurance company. The letter will explain the accident, describe your injuries, and present a settlement demand in an amount that you and your attorney agree is fair and reasonable.
The demand letter also gives the insurance company a set number of days to respond. If the insurance company does not respond, you may proceed to litigation. If it responds with a counteroffer, and you accept the counteroffer, the attorney or insurance company will draft a settlement agreement. If you decide that the insurance company's offer does not cover the full cost of your injuries, you can continue negotiating, or you can notify the insurance company that you will take legal action.
Litigating a Personal Injury Case
When you decide that it is better to end settlement negotiations and litigate your case, your attorney will draft a complaint. Your attorney will then file it with the court and have a process server serve the insurance company with the lawsuit. The defendant has a specific number of days to file responsive documents. In most cases, the defendant files an answer and maybe a counterclaim to your complaint.
Both sides may file motions to resolve the case before trial, but these may be denied. To prepare a case for trial, the parties enter into the discovery process, where evidence is gathered, depositions are taken, and information is shared in an attempt to settle the case. The court may order mediation or arbitration before setting a trial date to see if the case can be resolved without trial. If all else fails, the lawsuit will be heard by a jury or a judge, and a verdict will be entered.
What are the Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Statute of Limitations For a Largo Accident?
In most cases, you have two years to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. However, don't wait. You are more likely to remember pertinent facts soon after the wreck. Also, it's better to gather evidence to support your claim as soon as possible before it disappears.
If you are in the hospital, we can arrange for a free case evaluation by phone or video call. We can even visit you in the hospital. Once we are on board, we can help gather and preserve evidence to support your case.
What Damages Can a Largo Injury Lawyer Recover on My Behalf?
In Florida, you can recover two types of damages: compensatory damages-divided into economic and non-economic damages-and possibly punitive damages.
Economic Damages
Special damages, often referred to as economic damages, have a monetary value. The court orders economic damages in an attempt to make you financially whole again. Economic damages include:
- Past medical expenses for bills incurred after the accident and before a settlement or trial award.
- Future medical expenses for bills that will be incurred in the future.
- Past lost wages for income lost because of accident injuries before a settlement or a trial award.
- Future lost wages for the income you expect to lose in the future. You could also collect partial future lost wages if you can return to work, but your injuries and/or disabilities prevent you from making the same salary or hourly wage that you earned before the accident.
- Replacement or repair of destroyed or damaged personal property or real property.
- Burial, funeral, and/or cremation expenses if you lost a loved one in an accident.
Non-Economic Damages
General damages, often referred to as non-economic damages, do not have a monetary value. The court may order non-economic damages in an attempt to make you whole again, although the money does not remove your injuries or bring back a loved one. Non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering, including emotional distress such as PTSD.
- Emotional distress for those who lost a loved one in an accident or incident.
- Loss of quality of life if your injuries cause long-term or permanent disabilities that require medication or the use of ambulatory aids for the rest of your life.
- Loss of companionship if you can no longer enjoy or take part in family activities and events.
- Loss of consortium if you can no longer have a physical relationship with your spouse.
- Loss of use of a body part, such as a hand or foot.
- Loss of use of a bodily function, such as your eyesight or bladder control.
- Amputation of a digit or limb.
- Excessive scarring and/or disfigurement.
- Inconvenience if you have to hire someone to do the chores you usually do, such as lawn maintenance, house cleaning, grocery shopping, and home repair and maintenance.
Punitive Damages
Courts only order defendants to pay punitive damages if a plaintiff can prove that a defendant's actions or inactions were grossly negligent or intentional. Punitive damages punish the defendant's actions or inactions that caused your injuries. Additionally, the court will not grant punitive damages unless it also grants compensatory damages.
To recover punitive damages, you have to go through a bifurcated trial. During the first part of the trial, the jury decides whether to award compensatory damages and, if so, how much. You then go through the second part of the trial, usually with the same judge and jury, to determine whether the defendant's actions or inactions were grossly negligent. If the jury rules in your favor, it will make a recommendation for punitive damages and the amount that the defendant should pay.
Our Largo Personal Injury Attorneys Answer Your FAQs
After a personal injury accident, such as a car or truck accident, workplace accident, or a slip and fall accident, you should always seek medical attention first, then contact a Largo personal injury attorney at Dolman Law Group.
Florida follows general no-fault laws, which means that your insurance company pays regardless of who caused a motor vehicle accident. However, no-fault or PIP insurance does not apply to motorcycle accidents or other types of personal injuries, like slips and falls or medical malpractice. Do not make the mistake of thinking that your insurance company has an allegiance to you or working for you. Insurers are businesses, and their bottom lines are more important than their policyholders' recovery.
If you have questions, we have answers. The following only addresses general topics, and the answers may not apply to your situation. If you have questions that we don't address below, or want to know how the law applies to your specific Largo accident, call Dolman Law Group today.
What if I Only Sustained Minor Injuries?
Never assume that you do not have serious injuries after an accident. Adrenaline might keep you from feeling pain. After an accident, always seek medical attention and ask for a thorough checkup, including x-rays and scans to check for fractures and internal injuries. If you hit your head, you should notify doctors so that they can check for a concussion and other brain injuries.
What Should I Tell the Insurance Company?
Even though you likely have already had to deal with your insurance company, you should only provide your contact information, the date and location of the accident, and your attorney's contact information. Insurance companies want to make money, not pay out claims. Paying claims reduces an insurance company's profits. Thus, the insurer will find any reason, including twisting your words, to deny a claim or offer you a pittance of a settlement.
How Do I Pay for My Medical Bills Until I Receive My Settlement or Trial Award?
Your health insurance and vehicle insurance may cover medical expenses related to a car crash and, depending on the insurance company, might cover lost wages until you receive your settlement or trial award.
Will I Have to Go to Trial For My Largo Personal Injury Claim?
Not necessarily. Most personal injury cases settle before the plaintiff files a lawsuit. In some cases, where the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation before litigation, it might offer a fair and reasonable settlement after you file a lawsuit but before it goes to trial.
How Can I Maximize My Personal Injury Settlement?
Your lawyer will have to show that the defendant injured you and caused your damages. You can ensure that you recover compensation to cover your losses by:
- Providing all medical records related to your accident injuries for all medical appointments, including therapy appointments.
- Providing witness testimony of the accident.
- Providing an accurate accounting to the police officer at the scene.
- Obtaining medical attention immediately after the accident. If you wait too long, the defendant could accuse you of faking your injuries or argue that your injuries stem from a subsequent event.
- Continuing attending doctors' appointments, including therapy appointments.
- Providing any other documentation showing how the accident and your injuries affected your financial standing.
What if My PIP Insurance Policy Doesn't Cover the Damages and Losses Caused by the Defendant?
If you do not have enough insurance to cover all of your damages, you can opt to sue the defendant and/or the at-fault insurance company for any amount that your insurance company will not cover. For example, if your insurance policy maxes out at $10,000 for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages, but you suffered catastrophic injuries that will cost $1,000,000, you can request some or all of the difference from the defendant's insurance company and/or the defendant.
What Should I Do if the Insurance Company Calls Me After I Retain a Lawyer?
Do not give the insurance company any other information about your case. Remind the insurance company that you provided your attorney's contact information and that it should no longer call you regarding the accident.
Immediately contact your attorney and let them know that the insurance company contacted you in an attempt to get you to make a statement. Also, if the insurance company asks you to sign anything, advise the insurance company to forward the document to your attorney.
Can I Afford a Personal Injury Lawyer in Largo?
When you contact a personal injury attorney after an accident, you should receive a free initial case evaluation. Additionally, at Dolman Law Group, we do not charge you for our services unless we successfully resolve your case. The sooner you contact one of our personal injury attorneys, the sooner we can start working on your case, including investigating the accident and starting settlement negotiations.
Should I Retain a Largo Personal Injury Attorney?
If you sustained injuries or lost a loved one in an accident, you should contact an experienced Largo personal injury attorney at Dolman Law Group, even if you only want to ask questions about your case. Our local attorneys can explain the law, your legal rights, and how to build a solid claim, all without cost or obligation.
How Do I Choose a Largo Personal Injury Lawyer?
You can start by researching different firms online. Look up the attorney on the Florida Bar Association's website to be sure the attorney remains in good standing. Check the attorney's website for information about the firm. Most attorneys feature their biographies on their websites. You can also look for referrals and recommendations by searching the attorney's name.
Write down any questions you have for the attorney. You might find this information on the attorney's website. If not, when you schedule a case evaluation, you can ask the attorney your questions.
You should ask:
- How many cases like mine have you settled?
- How many cases like mine went to court? How many of those cases did you win?
- What average payout have you received for cases with similar injuries?
- Do you work on a contingency basis?
- Do you offer free initial case evaluations?
- How long before you can start working on my case?
- If I incur legal expenses, such as those for expert witnesses, depositions, arbitration, and court filing fees, when do I have to pay those expenses?
- How many attorneys will work on my case?
You might have additional questions. Write all of your questions down so that you do not forget to ask anything during your initial case evaluation.
When Should I Contact a Personal Injury Attorney in Largo?
You should contact a Largo personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Even if you continue to receive treatment in the hospital, we can arrange to meet you there or do a video call. If you wait to contact a lawyer, you risk forgetting important facts about your case—facts that could make a difference in winning (or losing) your case.
Additionally, while you only have two years to file a lawsuit, most insurance companies give you much less time—sometimes as little as 15 to 30 days—to file a claim with them. You might notify the insurance company of the accident, but some might not consider that as starting a claim. In most cases, the attorney should file the claim with your insurance company so the insurance company cannot twist what you say to fit its agenda—denying your claim or offering you so little that the money does not even cover your medical expenses.
Contact the Largo Personal Injury Lawyers at Dolman Law Group Now
When someone else injures you or causes the death of a loved one by acting negligently or failing to act when they should have, you have the right to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more from the responsible party.
Choosing a law firm with attorneys who are experienced in cases like yours makes a significant difference in ensuring that you receive maximum compensation based on your specific circumstances. When you work with a Largo personal injury lawyer at Dolman Law Group, you can rest assured that we have extensive experience in the area of law related to your personal injury. Contact the legal team at Dolman Law Group online or at (866) 826-1298 for a free case evaluation today.
Largo Office Location
10225 Ulmerton Rd, Building 6A-2
Largo, FL 33771
(866) 826-1298
Client Testimonial
“AMAZING and understanding attorneys! Did great on my case and I highly recommend Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA for anyone that has been injured in an accident!"
Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Koralis R.
Jan 2020
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