You have suffered serious injuries due to a Florida car accident and now you wonder what your case is worth. After an accident, many people are flooded with bills that they believe they will not be able to handle on their own from medical expenses that continue to pile up to lost wages from missing time at work. You may be already thinking about negotiation and how it can help you land at the perfect number but, the truth is, you should always know how much you are looking for.

A settlement is not always easy if you do not have a firm number in mind. How much is too little? If you accept too little in damages, there is a chance that you will not be able to afford to pay for the aspects that continue to pile up against you after your accident. It is important to have these numbers in mind and a general idea of how much you should settle for so that you are prepared for anything.

Understanding Your Chances of Winning at Trial

Your attorney will have a general idea focused on your chances of winning at trial. In order to determine your chances of being successful in litigation, you must be able to understand what types of evidence will be used against you and the credibility of your claim and witnesses. If you believe that your claim is likely to win, there is a good chance that you will receive the compensation that you are asking for. If you have a claim that is unpredictable and you don’t believe that you have a good chance of being successful in your claim, there is a chance that you will have to ask for less than what you originally thought.

What the Jury May Award You for Damages

Generally, you will find that you are eligible for two types of damages after an accident:

• Special damages, which are an exact calculation such as lost income and lost earning capacity
• General damages, which include those that are not easily calculated such as pain and suffering and emotional distress

By finding out information about your jurisdiction, you will be able to dictate what you will receive in damages. Perhaps the damage rewards in your area are conservative, which means that you might have to change your expectations because you might not receive a lot. On the other hand, you may live in a jurisdiction where the damages are quite large, and then you might have a large figure in mind.

You also want an attorney on your side who is skilled at negotiation tactics and will be able to get you what you are asking for. The initial demand that you ask of the insurance company or the other party should be approximately twice what you are looking to settle your case for so that you have room to negotiate with all involved. You want to ensure that you receive close to what you are asking for.

How an Experienced Attorney Can Help You 

It is not always easy to determine what you will be facing after an accident. Settlement and injury trials can be unpredictable at times, which can leave you in a difficult position at times. It is important to have a skilled personal injury attorney on your side who is best at handling these cases. At Sheftall & Associates, we have handled many car accident claims in Florida and are dedicated to helping you achieve maximum compensation for your losses. Please contact an accident attorney in Florida at (904) 575-9026 for the help you deserve in your time of need.