Three 2020 Personal Injury Settlements That Prove Representation Makes a Difference

Did you know that you could win a large financial award in a settlement with a personal injury lawyer?

Let’s look at three real personal injury cases settled in 2020 that show just how much you stand to gain with representation!

When you are injured in an accident, you may not know what to do. Most people don’t consider themselves litigious, and are hesitant to take legal action, but you shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s mistake. That’s not justice. When insurance companies want to give you less than what your case is worth, or if they deny your claim, or if they’re taking too long to get you compensation, a personal injury lawyer can help you get the amount you deserve and that you need to pay your medical bills.

Some people think that they can negotiate with insurance companies on their own, but insurance companies are never looking out for your best interest; they are always trying to avoid paying you the full amount because that’s how they lose money, and they will not be intimidated by normal clients. If they deny your claim, you don’t know the best way to proceed. That’s why you need an experienced personal injury lawyer. Lawyers know your legal rights. They can advocate for you and help you stand up to the insurance companies. They can also advise you on what would be a fair offer.

Another reason why people don’t pursue representation is because they do not believe that they have anything significant to gain in a personal injury suit. However, three personal injury settlements that were awarded in 2020 prove that having a lawyer could mean getting maximum financial compensation.

In August 2016, a Canadian couple was biking in Vancouver along Interstate 84 when they were struck by an 18-wheeler truck. In April 2020, after a 5 day trial in US District Court docket in Portland, Oregon, a jury found Exel Inc., referred to as the delivery firm DHL, responsible for the collision and awarded the couple over $9 million in damages. Eric Moutal, whose leg was practically amputated, was awarded $1.3 million in financial damages, $4 million in non-economic damages, and $4 million in punitive damages; his now spouse, Andrea Newman, was awarded $400,000 in non-economic damages.

If you’re involved in a bicycle accident as severe as that one, you’ll likely pay millions in economic/financial damages – things like medical bills, prosthetics, lost wages or future lost wages, household services, etc. Those are damages you can seek in a settlement or award amount. Your lawyer can help you calculate the total cost that you might pay because of this accident, but they can also help calculate the legal and intangible cost that you can also seek in a settlement. These costs, known as non-economic damages or more colloquially “pain and suffering”, account for the emotional toll of the accident, loss of enjoyment of daily activities, or worsening/chronic injuries. The spouse of an injured victim, depending on the situation, may also be able to recover loss of consortium. These are things that personal injury lawyers are familiar with; you may not even be aware of all you can win in a settlement, which is why it is critical to have representation!

In 2015, a Mr. Steven Parton tripped on a Tallahassee city sidewalk, striking his head – an injury that required brain surgery, damaged his renal artery, limited blood flow to his kidneys, extended hospital care, and required four more surgeries in the next two and a half years. VThe City Commissioners approved a $236,500 personal injury settlement on May 13 for damages including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and more.

Personal injury extends beyond car accidents, and many victims are surprised to learn that they can recover damages for accidents where they were the only person involved. Sometimes the party at fault is the car manufacturer, or the city, like in this case. If you were injured in an accident as a pedestrian, a personal injury lawyer can help you identify the party at fault, file the right type of suit, and recover the amount you need to heal.

One example of the party at fault being the car manufacturer is a recent suit against GM. In 2014, a class-action suit was filed by law firm Hages Berman against General Motors, seeking economic damages relating to a deadly ignition-switch defect that caused vehicles to stall and disable all safety features, including airbags. In March, in New York City’s U.S. District Court, GM agreed to pay $120 million in damages to 216 plaintiffs.

If you were injured in an accident, you could win millions of dollars in compensation. The Florida Law Group is in the top 1% of law firms in the nation. We belong to the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and our ability to get verdicts for our clients has been recognized by multiple organizations and news outlets, such as the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and The CBS Evening News. We help you fight for justice! Call us today to discuss your case.