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Frequently Asked Questions for Accident Victims

When an accident leaves you wondering about your legal rights, speaking to a lawyer is the next step. Choosing someone to represent your accident case is an important decision. You’re likely in pain and possibly facing financial difficulty. You need information about what to do next, and you deserve to find a lawyer willing to give you personal attention.

When contacting a lawyer about an accident case, you have every right to ask questions. Similar to hiring any professional or contractor, you should confirm a lawyer’s credentials to practice in your state. Finding a good personal fit matters as well. You’ll likely need to speak with this person over a period of weeks or months. When searching for a lawyer, a simple phone call to a law office is a good way to see if the staff is responsive and caring.

The partners at Kirshner, Groff & Diaz have earned a strong reputation for achieving results for clients. In 2019, the peer review platform Martindale-Hubbell honored us with the Platinum Client Champion award. We’ve prepared this guide to answer common questions about personal injury cases so that you can proceed with greater confidence.

You should ask any lawyers that you’re considering the following questions. Any reputable personal injury lawyer will provide a free consultation, like we do. We are always available to discuss these and other questions with you on the phone or in person.

Q: What areas of law do you specialize in?

We only represent personal injury accident victims. Our attention is not pulled in different directions. You’ll encounter some law offices where lawyers practice in multiple legal areas like criminal, employment, immigration, real estate, business, and family law. At our office, you’ll benefit from our specialization in personal injury law because our narrow focus keeps us fully connected to the issues that matter most to injury victims.

Since 1984, Kirshner, Groff & Diaz has managed all types of cases related to:

• Automobile and traffic accidents
• Drunk driving accidents
• Truck accidents
• Premises liability
• Slip and falls
• Wrongful death
• Pedestrian accidents
• Boating accidents

Choosing a lawyer who only manages personal injury cases means that you’ll always be speaking to a specialist. You already know that you’re an accident victim, and a personal injury lawyer is the specialist for that exact type of case.

If you knew that you had a heart condition, then you’d naturally want to consult a cardiologist instead of a general practitioner. The same reasoning applies when selecting a lawyer.

Q: Have you taken cases similar to mine in the past? How many cases have you worked on and how did they turn out?

We have devoted our careers to seeking compensation for people hurt in car and truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, slip and falls, and other accidents.

The partners Richard M. Kirshner, Jonathan H. Groff, and Angel Rafael Diaz have represented thousands of personal injury cases.

Rick and Jon have each been helping people hurt in accidents for over 35 years, and Angel has done the same for over 15 years.

Although we cannot predict how your case might resolve without speaking to you, we have succeeded in collecting compensation for many people over the years.

Here are just a few examples:

• $625,000 for trip and fall accident
• Multi-million dollar, confidential settlement for wrongful death
• Multi-million dollar, confidential settlement for motor vehicle accident
• $375,000 for pedestrian accident
• $2,750,000 for motor vehicle accident

We have achieved results like this by digging deep for evidence. We consider every detail in an insurance policy, look tirelessly for important witnesses, and hire experts to deliver powerful testimony.

Q: Will other attorneys be working on my case?

One of the partners, Rick, Jon, or Angel, will work with you directly. Although one of us will serve as your primary contact, we work on cases as a team. Clients receive a partner’s personal cell phone number because helping you is our entire purpose. We’ll keep you well informed about what is going on.

Q: How long do you think it will take to resolve my case?

You’re understandably anxious to solve your problems, but every accident produces its own set of variables that influence when a case concludes. No attorney can honestly provide a firm answer about how much time is needed to resolve your case. In general, we can say that responsible parties reply to claims for damages within 2 to 3 months after you’ve completed medical treatment.

The timeline will be longer if your case must go to trial. If the responsible party does not offer an acceptable settlement, we’ll have to wait for a spot on the crowded court schedules in South Florida.

Waiting for trial might be worth it because we have successfully won jury verdicts that recovered damages for our clients. Our efforts sometimes produce pretrial settlements as well. We’re always open to negotiating a settlement that provides fair terms for an accident victim.

We understand that it’s hard to wait, especially when you’ve experienced financial hardship. We’ll be your guide and advocate throughout the process so that you’ll know the status of your case at all times.

Q: Can anything be done to improve the chances of my case being successful?

Yes, you can contribute to the potential success of your case. You should document everything as much as possible and keep track of all medical bills and payment receipts. A strong case comes from an accurate and honest presentation of your suffering and financial damages, backed up by written records, photographs, or witness testimony.

Documentation is absolutely essential. Your verbal statements mean nothing to an insurance company trying to limit what it pays you. Realistically, undocumented claims do not exist. An insurer will not believe what you or we say unless medical records and other documents provide proof. Compensation for your damages will come down to the expenses and suffering revealed within medical records and receipts.

Q: Do I have a case?

If you’ve been hurt in an accident that you did not cause, then you very likely have a personal injury case. Even if you’re uncertain about how the law might view what happened to you, talking to a lawyer is in your best interest. You’re far better off learning about your legal position than never knowing.

You have much more to gain by asking a lawyer to evaluate your accident than always wondering what might have been. You can call us and arrange for a free consultation. We understand that this might be a new situation for you, but you’ll find a welcoming environment at our office. We’re prepared to speak to you in English, Spanish, or Creole. Information about your legal rights is only a phone call away. Contact Kirshner, Groff & Diaz today.

Q: What is my case worth?

The losses resulting from your accident can cause significant financial strain and worry. You naturally want to know how much money could be collected, but we cannot attempt to answer the question until we review your medical expenses.

As long as you have begun receiving medical treatment, we can schedule an appointment to discuss your expenses. Your medical records will indicate whether you should get better or face continued disability. Medical evaluations could also indicate how long you might need rehabilitative care. We’ll look at all of these factors and begin the process of assigning a value to your case.

Personal injury law could authorize compensation for many damages, including:

• Necessary medical treatment
• Property damage
• Lost income
• Permanent disability
• Disfigurement
• Mental and physical pain and suffering
• Reduced quality of life

You can rely on us to carefully tally your expenses and answer all of your questions. We’ll strive to communicate the details of your case clearly and help you make informed decisions that promote your best interests.

Q: Why do I need an attorney?

Your self-reliant spirit likely serves you well in many areas of life, but sometimes asking for help leads to better results. An attorney who has navigated insurance and legal bureaucracies many times understands the system that accident victims have to go up against. Doing things alone could expose you to negative outcomes, like a denied claim or a low settlement offer that does not really reflect your need.

Large insurance companies employ thousands of attorneys for the sole purpose of reducing payouts to accident victims like you. Insurers put on a friendly face in their advertisements, but they are not your friends. When an insurance adjuster talks to you about your claim, that person is really fishing for information to use against you. Even questions that appear innocent could tease information out of you that an insurer will use to devalue your claim.

You can hand off these tricky conversations to a personal injury lawyer. We understand the ins and outs of insurance policies. We’ll look at the entirety of the insurance contract and hold an insurer to its contractual obligations even if the company tries to dodge responsibility. Our job is to pursue the full value of your claim.

With Kirshner, Groff & Diaz, you gain access to resources like:

• Medical experts
• Accident reconstruction specialists
• Investigators

Evidence gathered by our network of specialists could strengthen your case. Our legal insights will empower you with unbiased information about your rights and access to insurance coverage.

Insurance companies write policies that are purposefully difficult to understand. On your best day, an insurance policy can leave you confused. After an accident, when you’re feeling the pressure of pain and medical bills, you’re vulnerable. A lawyer can protect you by standing up for your rights and challenging a party that hopes to ignore your legitimate damages.

Legal advice is always appropriate after an accident that appears to involve negligence.

We’re easy to talk to and ready to listen.

Contact Kirshner, Groff & Diaz today to schedule a free consultation about your accident claim.