Suffering a severe brain injury in an accident changes a person forever. While some are lucky to recover entirely in days, weeks, or even months after an accident, others are left with permanent injuries that change their way of life. Many are faced with an inability to work and increasing medical expenses, creating undue stress in an already tragic situation.
If this sounds like you, it’s important to remember that you have options. Speak to a Sarasota brain injury lawyer to learn more about what compensation you can receive from the party that put you in this situation. No one deserves to feel like their life is out of control. Your attorney is there to help you put your life back together. Read on to learn more about how an attorney can help you and what damages you may be entitled to recover.
How Can an Attorney Help Me?
Personal injury lawsuits are complicated, and working with Sarasota brain injury lawyers who are experienced in these cases is crucial to obtaining the compensation you deserve. There are several important ways an attorney can help with your claim.
Gather Evidence
Brain injury lawyers in Sarasota work with their clients to gather helpful evidence supporting their compensation claims. There are various types of evidence that your attorney may use like:
- Medical records,
- Eyewitness statements,
- Photographs or video, and
- Police reports.
Reviewing this evidence gives your attorney valuable insight into the facts surrounding your accident and strengthens your case against the liable party.
Calculate Damages
A skilled attorney understands how to calculate the value of your case. Knowing the value of your case is extremely helpful when entering into the negotiation phase of your lawsuit. A victim armed with this information can make informed decisions about settlement offers they may be willing to accept to avoid a costly trial.
Negotiate
The vast majority of personal injury cases are settled without trial through negotiations. Sarasota brain injury lawyers understand the importance of negotiating a lawsuit to a fair settlement to help their clients get compensation faster. The insurance company is much more likely to offer you a fair settlement if they know you have an experienced attorney in your corner.
Litigate
Some cases fail to settle because the parties are unable to reach an agreement in the negotiation phase. In these situations, it’s vital to have an attorney who is prepared to litigate your case to trial. Your attorney can prepare evidence, obtain helpful witness testimony, and represent your interests in the courtroom.
What Can I Recover?
Victims suffering from brain injuries after an accident are entitled to recover compensatory damages in the form of economic and noneconomic damages. Compensatory damages make a victim whole after suffering losses due to someone else’s negligence. Economic damages are financial losses stemming directly from the event. Common examples include:
- Medical expenses,
- Lost wages,
- Loss of future earnings, and
- Property damage.
Tangible documentation, including receipts, bills, and medical invoices, helps your brain injury attorney in Sarasota calculate and prove the value of these losses.
Noneconomic damages are subjective losses resulting from a victim’s pain and suffering, such as the following:
- Physical pain,
- Emotional distress,
- Loss of consortium,
- Loss of enjoyment of life,
- Permanent disability or injury, and
- Disfigurement.
Brain injury lawyers in Sarasota know how to put a value on all losses resulting from an injury. For example, what is it worth for a victim who is unable to engage in physical activities with their children anymore due to their injury? Or a victim who has to have around-the-clock care due to their brain injury? A Sarasota brain injury lawyer helps their clients recover damages for all the losses that may impact their way of life.
Courts may award punitive damages to victims in personal injury cases to punish the defendant and to deter future bad behavior. Punitive damages are not awarded in every personal injury case but only in situations where a defendant acted intentionally or with gross negligence. Speak to a brain injury attorney in Sarasota to learn whether punitive damages may be available in your case.
Contact Us
At James Horne Law PA, our primary value is our commitment to our clients for personal injury matters. We never view our clients as a file number; instead, we take the time to understand your legal situation’s full extent and serious nature. We fight to achieve the best possible result in every case. Known for being detail-oriented and compassionate, our legal team is ready to assist clients at the most challenging times in their lives. We know what’s at stake and have recovered millions of dollars in settlements and judgments on behalf of our clients. We provide each client with top-notch service and work hard to handle your case in an expedient manner. Contact James Horne Law PA by phone or email to learn how we can assist you!