Experience
Matters

Under Florida personal injury laws, you likely have a personal injury case if you can prove that you were injured due to negligence, misconduct, or intentional infliction of injury. In other words, if someone else was responsible for the incident that caused your injury, even if it was not intentional, you likely have a case. The best way to know for sure is to schedule a free case evaluation with an attorney at our firm. During this initial consultation, we can review the details of your situation and determine whether you have grounds for a case.

If you have not yet sought medical attention, do so immediately. Once you have received the proper medical care, you should contact an attorney who can review your situation and determine whether you have grounds for a personal injury claim or another method of receiving compensation (such as filing a personal injury protection, or PIP, claim). During your initial consultation with an attorney, try to provide as much detail as possible about the injury-causing event, including information about the other person or people involved, how the incident occurred, the nature of your injuries, and more.

Although many people understandably wish to know how much their personal injury claims are worth, the fact is that it is not possible to accurately estimate the value of your case without first reviewing the specific details involved. Some of the many factors that affect the potential value of your claim include the severity of your injuries, whether or not you are now disabled, the amount of time you had to take off work (if any), your degree of fault (if any), the liable party’s available insurance coverage, the value of your pain and suffering, and more. We encourage you to schedule a complimentary consultation with our attorneys to learn more about how much your personal injury claim might be worth.

Several factors influence the amount of time it will take to resolve your personal injury case. These include the overall nature and severity of your injuries and damages, the liable party’s willingness to settle, and whether or not your case goes to litigation and trial. While some claims are resolved within a matter of months, others may take years. Our lawyers can review your unique case and provide information specific to your situation during a free initial consultation.

Personal injury lawyers, including ours at Schackow & Mercadante, provide their legal services on a contingency fee basis. This means that you do not pay any attorney retainers or upfront legal fees when you hire our firm. Instead, we only collect attorney fees and other litigation-related costs if and when we recover compensation for you. At the successful conclusion of your case, our fees are paid via a percentage of your total settlement or verdict (typically about 33 1/3%, though this may differ somewhat depending on various factors). We will discuss the exact percentage with you before you officially hire our firm. And, because our fees are contingent upon us winning your case, you do not pay anything if we do not recover a settlement or verdict for you.