Panama City Personal Injury Lawyer

Personal Injury Claims - Common Questions

At the Seaton Law Offices, P.A., we are asked several common questions, and we have made the effort to give you straightforward answers to assist you.

How much will my claim be worth?

Claims for injuries are carefully evaluated to determine the amount that will be sought from an insurance company or in civil court. There are two types of damages that are pursued, economic and non-economic. The economic damages that will be evaluated are the financial damages to the victim. These include medical bills, rehabilitation, loss of income from work, and future predicted financial losses. Very serious injuries may require years of medical care or nursing care, costs for medical equipment, and the individual may be unable to function in their profession, or at all. All of these costs are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Non-economic damages are those damages that are more personal – the pain and suffering experienced by the victim. If you or a loved one was injured, you want to have a full case evaluation before proceeding with any discussion with an insurance company.

Why do I need a lawyer?

The reasoning behind getting a Panama City personal injury lawyer is that you really need an attorney to protect you from various strategies that insurance companies employ to reduce settlements. For example, if you allow access to all of your medical records, there could be information in those records, unrelated to your injury that could be used to try to reduce your claim. Insurance companies know that you are not a legal professional, and if they believe that you can be pressured to accept a low settlement, they are going to try. Even law firms have to press hard to get results from these firms. An individual, on their own, without legal help, is at risk of being offered and then accepting a settlement that could be 1/3 or less of what could be recovered with the help of a qualified Panama City personal injury lawyer.

What do I do after an accident?

After an accident, your first action must always be getting medical attention and an evaluation of your injuries. Even if you do, there are some types of injuries that are not immediately evident. Serious soft-tissue injuries may not begin to be painful until a day or two after an impact – and then the pain sets in. It can be extreme, and the injured person may be uncomfortable sitting, standing or walking. It is impossible to go to work and function. You need to return to the doctor and get treatment. Furthermore, a new Florida law requires you to seek medical treatment for your injuries within 14 days of the accident to receive all of you PIP benefits. After an accident, it is important that you get in touch with a highly skilled personal injury lawyer, as the insurance company for the negligent party will soon be trying to contact you. Let an attorney handle this part of the process, for your own benefit.

Will I have to file a lawsuit?

A large majority of personal injury claims are settled without the need for litigation. There are those cases which will have to be taken to civil court for resolution. When there is a very high value case, there could be difficulty in getting it resolved fairly. No seriously injured person who has suffered catastrophic injuries through the negligent actions of another party should have to pay anything for their medical care, lost income and pain and suffering. In these cases, litigation may be necessary to hold the party accountable and to seek justice and fair compensation. In either case, our firm can manage the entire process. We know that it is important to you to get fair compensation, and time is usually an issue. Discuss your case with our firm and we can advise you of what to expect.