Top Concerns Accident Victims Face When Seeking Legal Help

Over the past 40 years, our firm has worked with thousands of individuals who have been injured in accidents. One thing that has remained constant is the sense of overwhelm and uncertainty that often accompanies these situations. If you’ve recently been in an accident, you may be grappling with many of the same concerns that others have faced before you.

Accident victims often feel overwhelmed for several reasons. First, the aftermath of an accident is typically chaotic, involving medical care, potential time off work, and dealing with insurance companies—all while managing physical pain and emotional stress. The legal process, with its complex terminology, procedural requirements, and potential for lengthy timelines, can add another layer of anxiety.

Below are some of the most common concerns we’ve heard over the past 40 years. What questions do we recommend you ask personal injury attorneys?

• How Do I Know What My Case Is Worth?

One of the primary concerns for those considering legal action is whether their case is worth pursuing. This uncertainty stems from the fact that many variables, such as the severity of the injury, its impact on daily life, and the degree of fault, influence the value of a personal injury case.

Questions to ask: How do you evaluate a case? Have you handled similar cases? How many?

• Will I Be Buried in Paperwork and Hidden Fees?

The legal process involves significant documentation, from medical records to insurance forms and legal filings. This can feel like an additional burden for someone already dealing with the consequences of an accident. Moreover, concerns about hidden fees can exacerbate the fear of being taken advantage of, mainly when many people aren’t familiar with how legal fees are structured.

Questions to ask: How does your office process a case? Will you handle all the paperwork? Will your office deal with the insurance companies and doctor’s offices? How do I know I won’t be stuck with hidden fees if I win my case?

• Who Will Handle My Case?

Another major concern is the fear of being passed from one attorney to another or, worse, being delegated to support staff without clear communication or consistency. This concern often arises from experiences with larger firms where the client feels like just another number. Consistency in representation is crucial for building trust and ensuring that the attorney handling the case fully understands the nuances of the client’s situation.

• Will I Be Just Another Case Number?

In a system that can sometimes seem impersonal, it’s natural to worry about becoming just another case number. Many accident victims feel this way, especially when encountering these multi-state firms that handle many cases. This can lead to fears that their case will not receive the attention it deserves, ultimately affecting the outcome.

Questions to ask for #3 and #4:  Will the attorney who takes on my case be the attorney throughout the case? My case is not that big? How do I know that it won’t be ignored?

• Will My Attorney Push for a Quick Settlement?

The legal process can be lengthy, and the desire for quick resolution can sometimes lead to concerns about whether an attorney will push for a settlement that might not fully compensate for the long-term impact of the injury. This is a valid concern, especially if the client feels pressured to settle quickly without fully understanding the potential long-term consequences of their injuries.

Question to ask: Are you a trial attorney who will take cases through trial? Will your firm allocate the resources needed to win my case? Can you show me how you created a winning strategy?

• How Do I Choose the Right Attorney?

Choosing an attorney is one of the most critical decisions an accident victim will make, especially with every inch of I-95 covered in law firm billboards. With so many options, the process can feel overwhelming. Many people struggle with evaluating an attorney’s experience and reputation and whether they will receive the personal attention they need.

The answers to the questions above are a good start in this selection process. Call 3-4 attorneys and please, speak with an attorney, not an ‘intake specialist’. How long did the attorney take to talk to you? Did the attorney assure you that he/she will be the attorney handling your case?

Ultimately, hiring a personal injury attorney is a matter of trust. Who do you trust to handle your claim? Who do you trust to be available throughout the process? Who do you trust to represent you in court, if necessary, aggressively?

So why Hoffman, Larin & Agnetti?

So, what sets Hoffman Larin & Agnetti apart? HLA reviews a case to see what is possible, not what is obvious nor easy.

Our firm understands that every person who calls is unique and that the typical cookie-cutter approach many firms, especially those with hundreds of attorneys, just doesn’t cut it (forgive the pun).

When we accept a case, our attorneys formulate a customized strategy factoring in the unique set of facts, the opposing insurance company and counsel (in 40 years, we’ve litigated against most of them), and any other relevant facts.  A one-size-fits-all approach might get a quick settlement but not necessarily the best result.

For many firms, taking on a case where someone is hit by an uninsured drunk driver who fled the country would be a non-starter.

Not HLA.

Our client was a passenger in a car hit head-on by another driver in a construction zone on a busy Miami street and was left paralyzed. The other driver had been drinking and negligently crossed over onto the wrong side of the road. Shortly after the accident, the other uninsured driver fled the country and was never located. 

Our firm hired engineering and transportation experts to evaluate the construction site. Based on their findings, we filed suit against the construction company, the barricade company, the engineers, the County, and the State Department of Transportation.  The defendants, who had deep pockets and large law firms representing them, each denied responsibility for the accident, all blaming the drunk driver for our client’s injuries. 

HLA  obtained engineering and construction documents, had our experts evaluate the site conditions, and deposed various construction personnel from the defendants. 

We proved that the defendants failed to properly maintain traffic in the construction zone by using sufficient barricades and striping on the roadway.

The defendants settled before trial for $950,000.00.

If you or a loved one was injured in an accident, a slip or fall was hurt or assaulted in a place of business, or from medical negligence, call us for a FREE case evaluation. Let our 40 years work for you.