Deland, FL Spinal Cord Injuries Lawyers

There are so many reasons to hire a spinal cord injury attorney in Deland, FL if you or your loved one has suffered this kind of injury. Here's a look at different scenarios that might require the intervention of an attorney.

When the Insurance Company Dismisses Your Claim

When you file a claim with an insurance company seeking compensation for damages caused by the injury, you expect them to cooperate. But that's not always the case. Some insurance providers are known to frustrate the claims process. 

It all starts by dismissing the claim for petty reasons. It's even worse when you don't have an attorney representing you. Such companies know that you probably don't understand your rights, making it easier for them to manipulate you into thinking that you don't deserve compensation. 

If the insurer denied you or your loved one's insurance claim, you might need to speak with an attorney. The attorney will review the reason for denial and come up with solutions. And since spinal cord injury attorneys specialize in these kinds of injuries, you can count on their experience dealing with insurance companies to fight for your rights.

Of course, you don't expect the insurance company to let you know what you may be entitled to as compensation for your injuries. Instead, they will most likely bully you when you pursue the compensation you deserve after the accident. However, when you contact an established and powerful personal injury law firm like Morgan & Morgan to fight for your rights, chances are the insurance company will stop playing games and begin to take your claim seriously. 

This is because Morgan & Morgan is the largest personal injury law firm in the country, consisting of over 800 injury attorneys. Our law firm has handled countless cases involving spinal cord injuries for more than three decades. For this reason, we can almost predict how insurance companies respond to such claims. As a result, we have some of the best and most effective tactics to fight for what you may be entitled to as compensation for your losses. 

When the Insurance Company Undervalues Your Claim

In some situations, the insurance company might not deny the claim; instead, they'll propose a settlement offer below what you may be entitled to. Insurance companies mostly do this when they realize that you do not have an attorney representing you. They know that you probably don't understand your rights when it comes to these kinds of cases. 

After all, spinal cord injuries are not the kind of injuries you suffer daily. So you shouldn't feel bad about not understanding how the law protects you in such situations. That's the attorney's job. They'll help you understand what you may be entitled to as compensation for your injuries, protecting you from manipulation by insurance providers. 

Speaking of manipulation, insurance companies are pretty good at it. Here's how they do it: 

When you get injured in a car accident caused by a negligent insured, the insurance company will contact you as soon as they find out about the accident. They know that you're probably in shock after such an accident and unable to make crucial decisions, especially those involving finances. At such a time, they will propose a quick settlement offer to close the case. 

But before they propose a settlement offer, they will send a claims adjuster to determine the claim's value. However, claims adjusters don't always play fair — most of them serve the insurance company's interests. So they will do whatever it takes to help insurance companies save money, even if it means undervaluing your claim.

When insurance companies contact you a few hours or days after the accident, offering a particular settlement, it's not because they care so much about you. Instead, it's because they want to close the case as soon as possible and pay you as low as possible. But things are different when you work with an attorney. This legal representative can help you make the right decisions as far as the settlement offer is concerned.

Remember, once you sign the release of a settlement agreement with the insurance firm, you cannot sue them again over the same incident. This is because signing the release waives your right to take legal action against the other party for the same incident. The only way you may be able to reopen the case is by proving that the insurance company committed fraud or acted with malice during the claims process. Of course, fraud is one of the most difficult things to prove, especially in these kinds of cases.

Therefore, it is always advisable to turn down any settlement offer from the insurance company and speak with an attorney as soon as possible. Also, don't sign any paperwork without your attorney's approval. 

Spinal Cord Injuries Are Expensive to Treat

When you get injured in an accident caused by negligence and suffer minor injuries such as bruises, the insurance company will most likely approve your claim. This is because minor bruises are not as complicated or expensive to treat. On the other hand, it is never advisable to file a claim without an attorney when you suffer significant injuries, such as a spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injuries are expensive to treat. According to statistics, most people stay in the hospital for at least 11 days while undergoing treatment for spinal cord injuries. After treatment, they might need at least 31 days to recover from the injuries. But some injuries are more severe than others. For this reason, some patients require more time to recover while others never recover; they just learn how to live with their new condition. 

Statistics show that a paraplegic — an individual paralyzed from the waist down - will need at least $550,000 in their first year of hospitalization. In addition, their lifetime costs for treatment after the injury is at least $2.4 million. Additional data show that at least 77 percent of individuals with spinal cord injuries struggle to find employment after the injury. 

These numbers prove just how serious spinal cord injuries are. The cost of treatment and rehabilitation is also one of the primary reasons insurance companies try to avoid liability after the accident. They'll try to come up with different reasons not to compensate you after the accident, even if it means blaming you for the accident. And in cases where they cannot entirely free themselves from liability, they'll try to share the blame with you. 

Remember, Florida practices comparative negligence laws when settling personal injury claims. This law states that the percentage of fault reduces the damages you may be able to recover following an injury caused by negligence. So, for example, if you slipped and fell at a store in Deland, FL, due to a wet floor injuring your spinal cord in the process, the insurance company could try to find a reason to blame for the accident.

You need an attorney who understands the tactics insurance companies use to avoid liability. Such an attorney can help build a strong case against the insurer, ensuring that you receive the compensation you need and deserve after the injury. 

When You Need to Prove Liability for Your Injuries 

When seeking compensation for your spinal cord injuries and other damages deriving from the injury, you carry the burden of proof. This means that the other party expects you to prove their role in their injuries. The burden of proof weighs heavier in some cases than others.

For example, if you suffered spinal cord injuries because the negligent driver rear-ended your vehicle, Florida laws will most likely find the other driver responsible for the injuries. But what happens when you slip and fall off a flight of stairs while at work or on someone else's property? How do you prove that the other party is responsible for your injuries?

Think of a situation where you're wearing high heels when you slip and fall, injuring your spinal cord. The other party could claim that you slipped and fell due to the type of shoes you were wearing and not because of the alleged dangerous condition on their property. It will be your responsibility to prove them wrong when that happens. 

But that's not easy to prove without conducting thorough investigations. Remember, there's always a possibility that the other party could get rid of evidence if granted the opportunity. This is because such cases are serious and involve a significant amount of money as compensation. In that case, how do you prove that they are liable for your injuries? How do you prove that you slipped and fell due to a dangerous condition such as poor lighting, a lack of warning signs, wet floors, etc., but not because of the type of shoes you were wearing?

That's where an experienced personal injury attorney comes in. The attorney can help investigate the incident and determine the party responsible for your injuries. Bear in mind that more than one party might be liable for your injuries in some cases. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help establish the party responsible for your injuries and whether other parties might also bear some liability. This tactic helps maximize your claim, ensuring you receive the compensation you need and deserve for your injuries. 

However, it's important to note that not all personal injury attorneys or law firms you hire can investigate such incidents. Therefore, you need a lawyer or law firm with unlimited legal resources to fight for you. That's where Morgan & Morgan comes in. 

We are the largest personal injury law firm in the United States, boasting unlimited legal resources and a network of experts to fight for our client's rights. It's not cheap to investigate a personal injury claim, and that's one thing you need to consider when choosing an attorney or law firm to work with. 

If you hire a legal representative with limited resources, chances are they won't investigate the accident thoroughly. This could mean losing out thousands or millions of dollars as compensation. Such law firms or attorneys will want to settle the case before it becomes too expensive. And when that happens, they'll add your case to their list of success stories, but that will only count as their victory, not yours.

At Morgan & Morgan, we know how it feels to suffer due to someone else's negligence. We also understand how expensive it is to treat these kinds of injuries. You do not need to spend anything out of pocket to treat an injury caused by someone else's negligence. And if you already have, you deserve compensation not only for your expenses but also for other damages suffered due to the injury. 

Fill out our free online consultation form or call our Deland office at 386-281-6800. We are available 24/7 to help you or your loved one secure the much-needed and deserved compensation following a spinal cord injury caused by negligence.