Navigating the complexities of Lakeland personal injury cases is difficult for people without legal experience. That’s why so many victims of negligence rely on personal injury attorneys to handle their legal matters
Lakeland personal injury lawyers have substantial training and ample legal experience—ideally, they have already overcome a variety of challenges in the course of winning cases for their clients. Issues that may seem complex to a personal injury victim are likely very familiar to them.
What Makes Personal Injury Cases in Lakeland So Complex?
Legal matters and insurance claims are almost always complex. Nobody wants to hand over money, including insurance companies and negligent parties. When a plaintiff or attorney seeks compensation, they will likely face resistance. This dynamic creates a complex situation that an attorney can resolve for you.
Some specific challenges related to personal injury cases include:
Money-Saving Motives of Insurance Companies
Insurance companies are businesses—and like every business, the insurer’s goal is to maximize profits. This is the main reason why insurers often try to avoid paying victims of negligence fairly. As a general rule, the less money the insurance company pays to victims of negligence, the more money they can retain for themselves.
This desire to avoid payouts often enhances the complexity of personal injury cases. A plaintiff or attorney may encounter numerous bad-faith tactics from an insurer, including:
- Lies about the details of an insurance policy
- False accusations about the plaintiff’s liability
- Lowball settlement offers
- Pressure to make a statement, accept a settlement, or other actions that benefit the insurance company
- Claim delays
- Intimidation
A plaintiff may not recognize these tactics on their own until it’s too late. If you hire a Lakeland personal injury attorney, they can handle all communications with insurers for you.
The Difficulty of Proving Liability
You must prove liability to get compensation for a personal injury or wrongful death. It’s one thing to know who is liable for your damages—proving negligence and liability is often a far greater challenge.
A personal injury attorney can help prove liability by:
- Securing accounts from witnesses who saw negligent behavior by the defendant
- Hiring experts to testify about the defendant’s liability
- Securing police reports and other documents that indicate liability
- Tying together all available evidence to show who caused your damages
The American Bar Association explains that negligence occurs when another party acts carelessly, recklessly, or unreasonably. Personal injury attorneys know how to translate evidence into proof of a defendant’s negligence.
Difficulty of Securing Evidence
Time and other challenges can make it difficult to gather quality evidence. You may be unable to gather evidence on your own because you’re focusing on your recovery, tending to personal responsibilities, or otherwise indisposed.
A personal injury lawyer can help overcome the challenge of securing quality evidence by:
- Dispatching investigators to the scene where you suffered injuries as quickly as possible
- Exploring all potential sources of photo and video evidence (such as traffic cameras, security cameras, and cell phone cameras)
- Hiring experts to produce relevant evidence for your case (such as accident reconstruction)
- If necessary, filing a letter of spoliation demanding that third parties preserve any evidence in their possession
If you’re not familiar with personal injury cases, you may not know where to look for evidence. And even if you do know where to look, it could be difficult to secure the evidence for a variety of reasons. Many law firms employ attorneys, paralegals, and investigators who can secure all available evidence as soon as possible.
Complex Math Required to Calculate Damages
In order to seek fair compensation, you or your attorney must first calculate the cost of your damages. It may require complex math to determine your settlement value, especially if you have:
- Non-economic damages: In most personal injury cases, the primary non-economic damage is pain and suffering. Because pain and suffering does not have a set financial value, we must use a mathematical calculation to determine its cost. If you are not a lawyer, you’re likely unfamiliar with this calculation method.
- Unresolved economic damages: Some clients are still dealing with their injuries, receiving treatment, and losing income. An attorney can either calculate the future cost of your damages or delay seeking a settlement, depending on the circumstances of your case.
Determining the full value of a personal injury case in Lakeland is easier said than done. Fortunately, many attorneys have extensive experience in calculating damages and getting fair compensation for their clients.
Potentially Contentious Settlement Negotiations
Those who don’t like conflict may not do well in settlement negotiations, especially if they become tense or heated. While difficult settlement negotiations are a challenge, they’re a challenge that personal injury attorneys accept willingly.
Moving Parts of a Trial
If your case goes to court, a skilled personal injury lawyer can manage all the moving parts of a trial, including:
- Planning the entire legal strategy in advance of the trial
- Completing pre-trial processes, including discovery
- Arranging witness testimony and questioning favorable witnesses
- Cross-examining the defendant’s witnesses
- Completing opening and closing arguments
- Addressing any unforeseen challenges that arise
Your lawyer must also face the greatest challenge of all: winning the compensation you deserve.
A Personal Injury Attorney from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine Can Fight for You in Lakeland
At the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, we go the extra mile to address the complexities of Lakeland personal injury cases, providing clients with impeccable service, regular case updates, and more. You don’t have to try to shoulder all these challenges on your own, especially if you are in a fragile place physically or psychologically. Focus on your recovery and let us handle the rest.
Our personal injury lawyers never require any upfront payment, and we only get paid a fee if you win. To get started, contact us today for your free consultation.
