FAQ – Accident Injury Attorney
Is Aventis Law Firm Right for Me?
Choosing a law firm to represent you and your case is one of the most important decisions you can make. We understand that your case is important to you and choosing the right firm and attorney to represent you could make the difference for your case.
Attorney Nicole Liu has spent years working for some of the biggest insurance defense law firms in the State of Florida representing some of the largest insurance companies and corporations in the country, as well as big-box and specialty stores, large and small businesses, restaurants, gas stations, hospitals, and property owners. Because Nicole knows how the insurance companies think and the tactics they use to settle your case for as quickly and minimally as possible, she has a unique insight into how these companies defend their cases to get the best result for your case.
What types of cases does Aventis Law Firm handle?
At Aventis Law Firm, we handle claims in the pre-suit phase and at all levels of litigation. Our areas of practice include Auto Accidents, Bicycle Accidents, Boating Accidents, Drunk Driving Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Pedestrian Accidents, Trucking Accidents, Dog Bites, Premises Liability, Fire Claims & Burn Injuries, Slip and Fall, Negligent Security, Medical Malpractice, Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect, Wrongful Death, Products Liability, and Homeowners Insurance.
Please see our Areas of Practice for a detailed description of each.
You do not need to make this decision on your own. Contact us and set up a free consultation to go over the facts of your case in detail. We will be able to tell you whom you can sue and what you can expect to recover, based on the facts of your accident. Essentially, in most situations, you will have a case if someone acted carelessly under the circumstances and caused your injuries. Applying this standard is more complicated than it sounds, however, which is why it is important to call us for a free consultation.
It is preferable for you to come to our office to meet you in person. However, when it is not possible for you to come to our office, we can schedule a date and time to meet with you at a location that is more convenient for you. In addition, we can facilitate video conference meetings that can take place over a computer or phone.
We offer free consultations to our clients and potential clients to ensure that our clients are well informed on their legal rights. and options.
Nearly all personal injury lawyers in the state of Florida represent their clients on a contingency fee basis, so there is no charge for an initial consultation on your case and there will be no fees or costs owed to the attorney if a successful settlement or verdict is not reached. Basically, what this means is that you are not charged an attorney’s fee unless you recover money in your case – either by way of a settlement, judgment, or jury verdict.
A contingency fee is paid out of the settlement, judgment, or verdict proceeds of a personal injury case. For example, if the case settles out of court, the contingency fee and expenses will be paid out of the settlement proceeds and a net check will be issued to you at the end of the case. If the case goes to trial and the jury awards money, the attorney’s fee will be paid out of the total jury award. On the other hand, if you get nothing from the case, neither does the attorney.
What if I don't recover anything in my personal injury case?
If you do not recover anything in your case via settlement or jury trial, you will not be charged an attorney’s fee under a contingency fee agreement. As such, we have a tremendous incentive to work hard on your case and obtain a favorable settlement or jury verdict for you.
Are there any out-of-pocket expenses I have to pay?
In addition to legal fees, there are various expenses that must be paid as part of your case. For example, payments must be made to obtain necessary reports, documents, and medical records, to employ court reporters to take depositions, to file suits in courts of law, in addition to other expenses that are necessary to help your cause. Generally, the amounts of these charges will be in direct proportion to the complexity of the matter involved. The easier your matter is to solve, the less these costs will ordinarily be.
At the start of your legal matter, we will try to estimate for you the amount of out-of-pocket expenses which may be incurred on your behalf.
As our client, it is our duty to keep you informed of any updates in your case. We are here to support you and take some stress away by keeping track of all of the detailed proceedings in your case.
At Aventis Law Firm, we have the most up-to-date programs that make communication convenient and easy. Not only are we available by phone, text, and e-mail, but each client has access to their own client portal where they can see all updates, documents, and important events, such as deadlines and court hearings.
The best way to get your case started is to call us at (904) 714-8500, e-mail us at info@aventislaw.com, or fill out our Contact Us form on the website to schedule your free consultation.
Do I need a lawyer after I’ve been injured in a car accident?
If you’ve been injured in an accident, you should keep in mind that insurance companies will try to pay you as little as possible. No matter what type of accident caused your injuries, Aventis Law Firm can help you get the fair treatment and compensation you deserve.
You can still get damages from the person who was at fault for your accident. The damages may be reduced to account for your pre-existing condition, but you can hold another person or entity accountable for aggravating the condition. Someone who interacts with you takes you as they find you, so the question of whether someone without your condition would have been injured is irrelevant. That said, these cases tend to be more complex and may require the assistance of experts, so hiring an attorney is particularly important.
Florida is a comparative negligence state. This means that if you are partially at fault for the accident that caused your injuries, your recovery of damages will be reduced according to your percentage of fault.
For examples, let’s say your case goes to trial and the jury awards you $100,000 in damages. However, the jury also finds that you are 30% at fault for the accident and the defendant is 70% at fault for the accident. Therefore, you will receive $70,000.
In Florida, you have 4 years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit. Because the clock begins ticking from the day of your accident, you should file your claim as soon as possible so we have adequate time to build your case, negotiate a settlement, and prepare it for trial before the clock expires, at which point you may be unable to pursue a lawsuit.
Very few personal injury cases actually go to trial. The overwhelming majority end in a settlement with the defendant or insurance company. Many accident cases can be resolved in six to 18 months, but the length of time needed to settle your particular case may differ. Unfortunately, the time that it takes to reach a settlement is hard to predict and can vary dramatically. As a general rule, a claim that involves substantial injuries and a significant amount of money will take longer to settle because the defendant or insurer will fight harder over it. If the case is complex or liability is unclear, a settlement also may take longer to reach. Hiring an attorney can sometimes motivate a defendant or insurer to make a fair offer earlier in the process, since they know that they are less likely to take advantage of you.
There is no exact formula for calculating a fair settlement amount because there are a number of factors that must be considered and every case is unique. The value of your case will largely depend on the specific nature of your injuries and cannot be ascertained until your case has been thoroughly investigated. In general, however, the more serious your injuries are, the larger the amount of compensation. There may also be non-economic losses to consider, but you must have sustained a permanent injury in order to bring a claim for such losses in auto accident claims.
You can ask your attorney for a rough estimate of your settlement value based on similar cases that they have handled. However, you should be aware that attorneys are prohibited from promising that they will recover a certain amount or otherwise predicting the outcome of a case. Any estimate that you receive likely will be vague and qualified. A responsible and ethical attorney will not calculate a final value before you have reached what is known as maximum medical improvement, or the point at which your medical team believes you will have no further improvement in your injuries.