No one expects tragedy to strike on a Florida vacation. However, with tens of millions of tourists each year, some are bound to be injured before returning home. If this sounds like you and you are attempting to deal with the aftermath of an accident far from home, you need the help of personal injury attorneys. But should you hire a Florida-based personal injury lawyer or one from your home state?
Which Personal Injury Lawyer is Best for Your Accident Case?
When deciding between a lawyer from your home state or one based in the Sunshine State, the key factor is where the accident occurred. In almost all situations and accidents, the laws of the state where the accident actually happened apply. So, for your Florida injury? A Florida personal injury is the best one for the job.
Like every state, Florida has its own set of unique personal injury statutes and regulations. Everything from negligence rules to statutes of limitations likely differs slightly or massively from your state. A local lawyer’s experience brings with it a deep understanding of these laws that other attorneys cannot compete with.
Not only are attorneys in your home state probably not familiar with local Florida laws, but they may not be eligible to practice law in this state. If they have not been admitted to the Florida State Bar, their credentials aren’t valid to take on a Florida personal injury case. Sometimes, attorneys in an injured party’s home state can work alongside attorneys in Florida. However, going down this route is not always necessary and may make the case more complex.
What Florida Personal Injury Attorneys Can Do for You
You’ve suffered a personal injury in Florida and explored the option of hiring an attorney. Now what? It’s important to learn what personal injury attorneys can help with and why you want them to work on your case as soon as possible. Florida personal injury attorneys can:
- Negotiate Aggressively with Insurance Companies: Insurance companies often lowball out-of-state claimants, assuming they won’t have the resources or willingness to pursue full compensation. A Florida lawyer knows these tactics and can push back to secure a fair settlement.
- Address Tourism-Specific Scenarios: Not all cases involve tourism, but if they do, the law becomes more complicated. Rental car accidents might involve numerous parties and agreements, and issues occurring at short-term rentals like AirBNBs require coordination between you, the owner, and the involved companies. Plus, if you’re injured at a major institution like a theme park, their teams of attorneys may give you a hard time if you don’t have skilled representation on your side.
- Maximize Compensation: At the end of the day, what matters most is holding negligent parties accountable and rebuilding your life. A local attorney knows how to present evidence and work within the Florida system to position you for the best possible outcome, whether through a settlement or a trial.
Injuries that cut your vacation short can be problematic and disruptive – but what’s even worse is dealing with the impacts of the injury far from home. Whether you need help beginning your case or are exploring options after a Florida incident that injured you, Probinsky & Cole can help. Call today to schedule a free consultation with our team.
Probinsky and Cole are personal injury and immigration attorneys with offices in Sarasota, Bradon, and Orlando. We offer a depth of experience in our practice areas, and all members of our team speak fluent Spanish.
