Lehigh Acres Personal Injury Lawyers

If you suffered injuries in Lehigh Acres because of someone's negligence, you might be out of work for some time while you recover. And, if the incident caused severe or catastrophic injuries, you might never be able to work again.

Personal injury lawyers represent those who have suffered from injuries from medical malpractice, vehicle accidents, wrongful death, premises liability, injuries from drugs and chemicals, nursing home abuse, medical devices, and workplace injuries.

If you suffered an injury because of another person's actions or inactions, contact a Lehigh Acres personal injury lawyer at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, P.A. for your free case evaluation. You can call us at 833-552-7274 (833-55-CRASH) or use our online contact form to request a no-cost case evaluation.

Why Choose Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers for Your Personal Injury Case

Dolman Law Group has attorneys in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. This group of lawyers settled cases or won verdicts that were over $2 million.

Some of our results include:

• $6.7 million in a wrongful death case.
• $5 million in a personal injury case.
• $3.85 million in a personal injury case.
• $3.2 million in a personal injury case.

People sometimes try to settle a personal injury case themselves, but we do not recommend that. Insurance companies use many tricks to “drum up” a reason to deny your claim or offer you a pittance that might not even cover your medical expenses, never mind other damages you deserve.

Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, P.A. removes the stress of dealing with the insurance companies—yes, there may be more than one—and allows you to concentrate on recovering. You have enough pressure without having to fight with the insurance company.

You may be thinking about how you can afford a personal injury lawyer. You do not have to. Your initial case evaluation is free and without obligation. And, we work on a contingency basis—you do not pay us unless we win your case.

Our Lehigh Acres attorneys will meet with you in person, or we can set up of telephone or video conference for your initial case evaluation.

Injury Risks in Lehigh Acres

Lehigh Acres is just east of Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and Sanibel Island—all popular tourist spots. Because of the number of tourists throughout the year, you have a higher risk of personal injury accidents, whether it is a car accident, an injury incident at a retail establishment or hotel (premises liability), or many other types of accidents.

Several major roads run through Lehigh Acres, including:

• Lee Blvd
• Williams Avenue
• Richmond Avenue
• Leeland Heights Blvd
• Homestead Road

Lehigh Acres also has many shops, restaurants, and other public establishments where you could suffer harm from a slip and fall or trip and fall accident or other premises liability issues, such as:

• Publix Super Market at Homestead Shopping Plaza
• Lee Boulevard Plaza
• The Walmart Supercenter
• Charo's Kitchen
• Perkins Restaurant & Bakery

Several top-notch medical centers serve the Lehigh Acres area, including:

• Lehigh Regional Medical Center
• Family Health Centers of SW Florida Lehigh Acres
• MedExpress Urgent Care

Although doctors and staff should provide the utmost care, mistakes happen, and you could have a medical malpractice claim if a medical provider's negligence in Lehigh Acres led to you suffering further harm.

Likewise, Florida is known for its elderly population, and Lehigh Acres has several nursing homes and assisted living facilities, such as:

• Lehigh Acres Health and Rehabilitation Center
• Lehigh Acres Assisted Living
• Fountain Crest Retirement Community

You or your loved one should receive excellent care at all times, but if you experience nursing home abuse yourself or suspect your loved one is experiencing it, you should contact an attorney to discuss your situation.

Should you suffer injuries or lose a loved one because of a personal injury matter, contact a Lehigh Acres personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Florida allows two years to take legal action on most negligence cases, including medical malpractice and wrongful death. 

Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. has experience handling several personal injury cases, including vehicle accidents, truck accidents, medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, abuse cases, and others.

Instead of handling a complex legal matter yourself, concentrate on recovering and letting us handle the stress of working toward a fair and reasonable settlement with the insurance company.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle at Dolman Law Group

Personal injury encompasses several types of accidents. Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers handle:

• Lehigh Acres Car Accidents
• Lehigh Acres Truck Accidents
• Lehigh Acres Motorcycle Accidents
• Lehigh Acres Pedestrian Accidents
• Lehigh Acres Bicycle Accidents
• Lehigh Acres Nursing Home and Assisted Living Neglect and Abuse
• Lehigh Acres Boating Accidents
• Lehigh Acres Bus Accidents
• Lehigh Acres Medical Malpractice
• Lehigh Acres Train Accidents
• Lehigh Acres Lyft and Uber Accidents
• Lehigh Acres Workers' Compensation
• Lehigh Acres Wrongful death

We also handle claims involving a number of injuries you can sustain in an accident in Lehigh Acres, including:

• Back and neck injuries
• Spinal cord injuries.
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Birth injuries
• Brain injuries
• Burn injuries
• Trip and fall injuries
• Child injuries
• Work-related injuries
• Cuts and deep lacerations
• Broken bones and fractured hips
• Face and eye injuries
• Ear injuries, including deafness
• Internal injuries
• Strains and sprains
• Depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder

The injuries you could sustain in any of the incidents and accidents listed above vary depending on the accident. However, you deserve compensation for your medical bills and other associated expenses.

Our Lehigh Acres personal injury attorneys will view your medical records to determine fair and reasonable compensation for you. Suppose your doctors believe your injuries will lead to long-term or permanent disabilities. In that case, we can work to help you recover enough compensation to cover future medical expenses and loss of earning capacity.

Recovering Personal Injury Damages

After suffering injuries, one of the things on your mind is how you will continue to pay the bills while you are out of work. Depending on the type of personal injury accident, you could use your health insurance and motor vehicle insurance to cover some medical expenses. Your vehicle insurance might pay for lost wages if you suffered injuries in a vehicle accident.

The amount of compensation you could recover depends on several factors, including the severity of your injuries and whether one or more defendants in your case were grossly negligent.

Florida allows you to recover two types of damages: Compensatory and punitive damages. The statutes divide compensatory damages into two categories: Economic damages and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

The court orders defendants to pay economic damages, sometimes referred to as special damages, to make a victim whole again. Most accident victims recover special damages which have a monetary value and include:

Medical Expenses

• Doctors' appointments.
• Surgeries and follow-up appointments.
• Prescriptions and over-the-counter prescribed medications.
• Ambulatory aids.
• Cognitive therapy sessions.
• Psychological therapy sessions.
• Physical therapy sessions.
• Occupational therapy sessions.
• Home health care aids.
• Rehabilitation and/or nursing homes.
• Hand controls for your vehicle.
• Updates to your home, including but not limited to wheelchair ramps, handrails, grab bars, and widened doorways.

Wages

Most accident victims could also recover lost wages from the time of the incident until the time they return to work. However, suppose your injuries cause long-term or permanent disabilities. In that case, you could recover loss of future earning capacity from the date of the incident through the time you would normally retire.

We base loss of future earning capacity on your current wages and the number of years until your regular retirement age. In most cases, you receive that amount as a lump sum.

Personal Property

If your personal injury case is a vehicle accident case, you could recover compensation to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property. We ask for compensation for your vehicle and anything of value in the vehicle that the accident destroyed or damaged, including cell phones, computers, and even dry cleaning.

Death-Related Expenses

If you lost a loved one in an incident, you could recover certain death-related expenses, including:

• Funeral expenses.
• Burial expenses.
• Cremation expenses.
• Probate attorneys' fees and costs.
• Certain probate court expenses.

Non-Economic Damages

The court also orders the defendant to pay non-economic damages in an attempt to make you whole again. Non-economic damages, sometimes referred to as general damages, do not have a monetary value.

Not all accident victims can recover non-economic damages. Generally, you must have injuries that caused long-term or permanent disabilities or lost someone as a result of the incident.

Non-economic damages include:

• Pain and suffering, including emotional distress.
• Loss of quality of life if you have to take prescriptions or use ambulatory aids for the rest of your life due to long-term or permanent disabilities.
• Loss of companionship if you can no longer enjoy activities or events with your family.
• Loss of consortium if you can no longer enjoy a physical relationship with your spouse.
• Loss of use of body parts such as a leg or hand.
• Loss of use of bodily functions such as your eyesight or bladder.
• Excessive scarring and/or disfigurement.
• Inconvenience if you have to hire someone to do the chores you usually do, including but not limited to house cleaning, grocery shopping, home maintenance and repair, and lawn maintenance.
• Amputation of a limb or digit.

Punitive Damages

Florida allows accident victims to recover punitive damages if they can prove the defendant's actions or inactions were grossly negligent or intentional. Asking for punitive damages lengthens the case somewhat, but it is often worth the extra hassle and time in cases where you suffer catastrophic injuries.

It takes extra time because you can only collect punitive damages if you recover compensatory damages. The trial is actually two parts. Once you receive a ruling on compensatory damages, the court hears reasons for punitive damages. Because punitive damages are a punishment for the defendant's behavior, you must prove that their actions or inactions were grossly negligent or intentional.

Your Lehigh Acres personal injury attorney investigates your case to help determine whether the defendant should pay compensatory damages, if you have injuries that could result in long-term or permanent damages, and if the defendant's actions or inactions warrant asking for punitive damages.

Why You Should Retain a Lehigh Acres Personal Injury Attorney

Some people believe they will get more compensation if they do not hire an attorney. That is rarely true. Insurance companies are in business to make money. Every claim they pay out decreases their profits. Thus, insurance companies trick you out of your money. They will twist what you say and convince you that the accident was your fault so they can deny your claim.

Another trick is to admit their client is the one at fault. The insurance company then tells you that the most it can pay for your injuries is a low amount—the lowest amount it thinks it can get away with.

Insurance companies know they cannot get that past an experienced personal injury attorney. If you start the claim process yourself, give the insurance company your name, contact information, date and location of the accident, and your attorney's contact information. Once hired, we will handle the rest.

What to Do After an Accident in Lehigh Acres

For those who can move around after the accident, it helps your case to take photos of the accident scene. For example, if you tripped and fell, the store will clean up the mess within hours. Taking photos of the slippery liquid or the crate left in the middle of an aisle helps prove your trip and fall case. Taking photos of a car accident helps our investigators determine who is at fault, regardless of what the police report states.

In addition to taking pictures of the evidence, you should also give the police a statement if they are involved. If you were injured at work, always notify your employer as soon as possible. Allow the EMTs to check you over as best they can. That will determine if you need an ambulance ride or are okay to drive yourself to the hospital.

You should also see medical attention immediately after an accident or incident. This is one of the first steps in documenting your injuries. Even if you believe your injuries are minor, you should seek medical attention.

Once you receive medical care, contact a personal injury lawyer. Your loved one can also contact our office on your behalf if you cannot speak due to your injuries.

Contact a Personal Injury Attorney at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C.

After an accident, you might be in the hospital for some time. Do not let that stop you from contacting us to help you. We can set up a telephone or video conference, or come to you if you cannot come to us.

If you suffered injuries or lost a loved one in an accident or another personal injury incident, contact Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. as soon as possible for your free case evaluation.

Lehigh Acres Personal Injury FAQs

Our clients often have many of the same questions when they come for a free case evaluation. We will answer some of those questions here. If you need additional information about any of these or other topics, or if you would like to schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation, call Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. today.

Do I Have to Go to Court?

Not necessarily. Most personal injury cases settle out of court. Insurance companies do not like going to court because it is expensive. Not only do they have to pay their attorneys, but they also have to pay your attorney when they lose.

If an insurance company refuses to come to a fair and reasonable settlement, we will file a court case against it. Often, once we file a case, the insurance company re-opens negotiations.

How Long Does it Take to Settle a Personal Injury Case?

Settlement can take as little as a few weeks and as long as a few months. They could take longer, but most accident victims elect to file a lawsuit if an insurance company refuses to settle for a fair and reasonable amount. If you have to litigate your case, it could take several months to over a year to resolve.

While all personal injury cases are complex, some are more complex than others. The more complex your case, the longer it takes. Complex cases usually involve more than one defendant, or you have catastrophic injuries and deserve long-term medical expenses, loss of earning capacity for life, and pain and suffering.

How Can I Afford a Personal Injury Lawyer When I Cannot Even Put Food on the Table?

You do not have to choose. The experienced personal injury attorneys at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers work on a contingency basis.

Your case evaluation is free and without obligation. When you retain us, we will review our contingency contract with you—you do not pay us unless we win your case. When we work on your settlement with the insurance company, we also include an estimate of our fees and the costs we front. When you win, the insurance company forwards a check to us, and we deduct our fees and costs as the contingency agreement dictates.

How Does a Settlement Work?

Once you retain Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers in Lehigh Acres, we will start investigating your case, including doing an investigation and possible accident reconstruction of the accident location and reviewing your medical records.

We may call in expert witnesses for accident reconstruction and testify that your injuries will likely cause long-term or permanent disabilities (where applicable). Once we have all the information, we determine what we believe is a fair and reasonable settlement amount. Once we discuss this with you, we will forward the insurance company a demand letter.

The insurance company has a set number of days to respond—usually 10 to 15 working days, depending on the situation. The insurance company responds in one of three ways: It denies the claim, accepts the claim, and forwards a check, which is rare, or it forwards a counteroffer to our office.

If the insurance company denies the claim, we file a lawsuit. If the insurance company forwards a counteroffer, we will discuss it with you. Often the counter offer is a lowball amount. It is up to you whether to counter the insurance company's counteroffer or bow out of settlement negotiations and file a lawsuit against the insurance company.

If your case makes it to court—often, an insurance company will re-open negotiations after we file a lawsuit—the jury decides how much compensation you deserve. Insurance companies will often re-open negotiations because they know that the jury could award an amount higher than they would have paid if they had just settled.

How Do I Maximize My Personal Injury Settlement?

The best way to maximize your personal injury settlement is to build strong evidence in your case. If you can, take photos of the accident site and your injuries. They help our investigators put your case together. Medical records, police reports, and other documents that we can help you also bolster your personal injury claim.

You must also understand the damages you could recover and the evidence needed to justify compensation for those damages. Finally, responding to correspondence and pleadings aggressively and on time is also important.

We understand that your injuries might prevent you from helping gather the initial evidence. Our investigators will work diligently to gather the evidence before it disappears; thus, you must retain a personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

If your injuries prevent you from speaking with us, a loved one can call on your behalf.

The Accident Caused Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Why Did I Not Receive Emotional Distress?

When you receive pain and suffering, you also receive emotional distress. Pain and suffering not only refer to physical pain and suffering but also emotional pain and suffering. Suppose you lost a loved one because of a personal injury accident or incident. In that case, you could also recover pain and suffering as part of your damages, along with loss of companionship and loss of consortium.

What Is This “Discovery” I Keep Hearing About?

The discovery process is the legal process wherein both parties—the plaintiff and the defendant—exchange information about the accident or incident. The discovery process prevents either side from withholding evidence that could make or break a case.

The discovery process also prevents one side from springing surprise evidence on the other side at trial. By the time you get to trial, there is no time to find refuting evidence.

How Do I Find a Personal Injury Attorney?

When looking for a personal injury attorney in Lehigh Acres, you need to keep two things in mind: The firm's experience handling cases like yours and whether you are comfortable with the attorney. This is one of the most important decisions you will make, as the outcome of your choice could affect you for life.

The best way to find a personal injury attorney is to research several firms on the internet. When you narrow your list down to three or four firms, contact those firms to schedule a free case evaluation.

During the case evaluation, you should be prepared to ask the attorney several questions about your case, the firm, and its record.

For example, you might ask:

• The number of cases like yours the firm settled.
• The number of cases like yours the firm litigated.
• The average settlement amount for cases like yours.
• The average amount returned by a jury for cases like yours.
• How the firm bills you for its services (Dolman Law Group in Lehigh Acres does not charge you upfront for its services).
• How often the firm communicates with you about your case and the method of communication.
• Questions about your rights and how the firm determines a fair and reasonable settlement amount.

You may also have general medical questions about how your medical situation pertains to your case. We will try to answer them in that context but cannot give medical advice. Only your doctor is qualified to answer direct medical questions.

How Do I Pay for Medical Expenses While Waiting for a Settlement or Trial Award?

Depending on the type of accident, you can use your health insurance and/or your vehicle insurance to cover a lot of your medical expenses. We can also refer you to doctors willing to work with accident victims to collect after a settlement or trial award.

Another option is to write a letter of credit requesting that a doctor or medical facility hold off on collections under your case is finished.

Once you receive your settlement or trial award, we pay any outstanding medical expenses and reimburse your health insurance and/or auto insurance companies.

Does a Settlement Cover Psychological Therapy?

Yes. You can recover compensation to pay for the sessions if you have to see an occupational therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, physical therapist, cognitive therapist, or another therapy professional.

We will discuss your ongoing care with your doctor to determine whether they believe you need therapy for months, years, or forever so we can ask for the appropriate amount. However, if you are seeing a therapist, it is pertinent that you do not miss any appointments as the defendant will argue that you are faking your issues, even if they are blatantly obvious physical issues because of traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord injuries.

How Long Does It Take to Get My Check After My Case Settles?

It could take up to a month or a little longer to receive your check. Once you agree to a settlement, an attorney—usually the insurance company's attorney—drafts a settlement agreement. The attorney then forwards the agreement to our office, where we review it, then forward it to you for your review.

If everything is in order, you sign the settlement agreement, and we forward it to the insurance company for processing. The insurance company delivers a check to us. We cannot move on to the next step until the check clears the bank. It could take up to 14 days for the check to clear.

Once the check clears, we pay any outstanding medical expenses you have and reimburse your insurance company. We deduct our fees and any costs we fronted you. We then forward a check for the balance to you.

What Are the Consequences of Waiting to Get Medical Attention if My Injuries Are Minor?

Accident injuries sometimes hide for several hours or days. You should seek immediate medical attention—and ensure you tell the medical professionals what type of accident you were in. If the doctors do not find anything, but an injury manifests days later, be sure to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

The defendant's insurance company could allege that your injuries are not as severe as you claim if you wait to obtain medical assistance. They could also claim the same if you do not keep medical appointments. You must involve doctors at every step of the process to reduce the risk of a claim denial. When an insurance company decides to fight, it prolongs the outcome of your case. Additionally, the risk of losing significantly increases when your case is light on medical evidence.

Who Do I Contact About Nursing Home Abuse?

If you are afraid to contact the nursing home administrator or the state because of the possibility of retaliation, contact a nursing home neglect and abuse attorney at Dolman Law Group as soon as possible.

Why Can't I Trust My Own Insurance Company to Do the Right Thing?

As with any insurance company, your is in business to make money. It does not matter how loyal you have been to the insurance company over the years or how much you have paid in premiums. The bottom line is that the insurance company, whether your vehicle or homeowner's insurance, does not want to pay any claims as it decreases their profits.

Always seek the help of a personal injury attorney to file an insurance claim, as all insurance companies have tricks to place fault on you for the accident. Even your employer's workers' compensation insurance will try to get away with paying the least amount possible.

Contact Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers in Lehigh Acres

Dealing with injuries and trying to recover the compensation you deserve do not mix well. Insurance companies are sneaky! Instead, concentrate on recovering and let our experienced personal injury attorneys at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C., handle that extra stress for you.

If you suffered injuries or lost a loved one in an accident or another personal injury incident, contact Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. at 833-552-7274 (833-55-CRASH) as soon as possible for your free case evaluation.

Lehigh Acres Emergency Room

If you suffered serious injuries in an accident someone else caused in Lehigh Acres, you need to get prompt medical attention by visiting:

• Lehigh Regional Medical Center Emergency Department: 1500 Lee Blvd, Lehigh Acres, FL 33936

*Disclaimer – Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA does not endorse this medical center nor do we profit from having them listed on our website.