Multi-Million-Dollar Advocate in Florida
When you've been injured in an accident caused by someone's negligent actions, you have a right to financial compensation that can cover damages ranging from medical bills to lost wages from missing work. Because injuries can be serious and require extensive medical treatment, it's not uncommon for victims to feel overwhelmed by the expenses they've accrued. At Heyman Law Firm, our team believes victims shouldn't suffer any more than they have. We can and will pursue justice on your behalf by holding at-fault parties financially responsible for the harm they've caused. Through our aggressive, caring advocacy, we've been able to recover millions for our clients so they don't have to worry about their futures.
Schedule your free consultation by calling (727) 822-3700 , (855)-HEYMANLAW (855-439-6265), or contact us online. If you're unable to visit us, we will come to you at home, at the hospital, or via Zoom.
Personal Injury Cases We Handle
With more than 40 years of experience both in and out of the courtroom, Heyman Law Firm has handled a wide range of injury claims. We are ready to use this experience to help you. Whether you're dealing with minor injuries like sprains and whiplash or catastrophic injuries that may impact your life down the road, like paralysis or traumatic brain injuries, we have a solution for you.
Our personalized services include:
- Bicycle accidents
- Car accidents
- Lyft and Uber accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Pedestrian accidents
- Negligent security
- Premises liability
- Wrongful death
Determining liability can be more challenging than anticipated, especially when insurance companies attempt to undermine your claim for their own benefit. Having a personal injury attorney on your side to build your case can ensure that you're able to recover the full amount of compensation you deserve.
Do Personal Injury Cases Go to Court?
Most cases do not go to court even if a lawsuit is filed. The attorneys for both sides are able to take formal steps to learn more about the case by taking witness depositions, obtaining documents, and employing expert witnesses to assist in evaluating the relative strengths and weaknesses of each side's case.
Before a case can be scheduled for trial, the parties are required by the Court to attend a mediation conference where formal settlement discussions take place with the assistance of a court-approved mediator. The vast majority of cases usually settle at the mediation conference.
If no agreement is reached at mediation, the case can then be scheduled for trial, although some cases still settle prior to an actual trial taking place. If no settlement is reached, the case will proceed to a jury trial in which both sides attempt to convince the jury that their case is supported by the greater weight, or preponderance, of the evidence.
The sooner you call our St. Petersburg personal injury attorney, the sooner we can help you or your loved one heal. Call (727) 822-3700 today for a free consultation.
Determining Your Claim's Value
The value of a claim is based upon a number of factors, which include the following:
- The evidence establishing the liability of the parties involved
- The extent of the insurance coverage maintained by the at-fault party
- The severity and permanent nature of the injuries sustained
- Past and future medical expenses
- Past and future wage losses
- Pain and suffering
How long your case will take to resolve depends upon the success of the settlement negotiations. In those cases where liability is clear and the resulting damages can be easily calculated, a settlement can be obtained in a matter of a few months.
In most cases, however, it takes a number of months for the treating physicians to properly diagnose and treat the injuries sustained and thereafter determine that the client has recovered as much as can be expected, usually referred to as “maximum medical improvement.” At that point, the doctors can give an estimate regarding the need and cost of future medical treatment and whether there will be any restrictions placed upon the client's previous activities and the ability to continue working.
Once this information is received, it is sent to the insurance company to evaluate, together with a demand for settlement. If the fair value of the claim is offered, the case will usually be settled within 30 days of the demand. If the insurance company does not offer a reasonable settlement amount and a lawsuit is filed, the case may take a year or longer to resolve.
By Your Side Throughout Your Case
While many attorneys handle personal injury cases, there are some who never file lawsuits. If the client does not want to accept what the insurance company has offered in settlement, those attorneys refer the client to another attorney who will file the lawsuit and handle the case through its conclusion. You should always inquire of any prospective attorney as to whether this is their practice or not. The insurance companies know which lawyers actually try cases and which ones always settle. Our own attorney has more than two decades of trial experience and represents his clients from the making of the initial demand for settlement through a jury trial, if necessary, to seek the full measure of their damages.