The right time to call is as soon as possible after your accident. There are many reasons why you need to begin the legal process as quickly as you can. The legal process may even begin without you, with many calls from the insurance company trying to either rush you or to pressure you to give a statement. They may try to catch you unaware and trick you into compromising your legal rights. Hiring an attorney could prevent this from happening.

An insurance claim is a negotiation. You have a number in mind for your injuries; the insurance company has a much lower one. Your claim starts when your Plantation personal injury attorney files a demand letter, prompting the adjuster to work against you to save their company money. The adjuster may deny your claim, question liability, or make a low settlement offer. Expect it — it's just their opening move. Your attorney will likely reject it and counter with a higher demand. Both sides will make moves toward compromise, and most cases eventually settle, even if you start far apart.

Filing a personal injury lawsuit is just the start of the process. Most cases settle out of court, but if yours goes to trial, expect it to take one to two years due to crowded court schedules. Early on, you’ll see motions and evidence gathering. The longest phase is discovery, where both sides exchange information, and you may need to give a deposition. Filing a lawsuit doesn’t stop settlement talks — it often speeds them up. Most cases continue negotiating right up until a jury is seated.

Negligence is the foundation of every personal injury claim. When you file a lawsuit, you must prove your case with evidence showing your version of events is more likely true. Your Plantation injury lawyer will gather witness statements, accident scene photos, security footage, expert testimony, maintenance logs, and medical records to build your case. These are difficult to collect and connect on your own. An experienced attorney knows how to find the right evidence and use it to prove someone else caused your injury.

Your personal injury damages include both economic and non-economic compensation. Economic damages cover actual financial losses like medical bills and lost wages. Lost wages include not just past time missed from work, but also future losses — even reduced earning potential if your injury limits your career growth. Insurance companies often fight lost wage claims, disputing your earning potential or using lower estimates to reduce their payout.