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Lawsuit & Litigation

Miami Car Accident Lawsuits and Litigation

A lot of Miami car accident cases can be resolved quickly without having to file a car accident lawsuit and litigate in Court. At Wolfson & Leon, our Miami Car Accident Lawyers will try to move your case to an end as fast as we can. But there are some Miami car accidents cases that cannot be settled. Because there are some insurance companies that will never make a reasonable offer until they are on the Courthouse steps. And there are other insurance companies that just don’t pay certain claims unless a jury tells them to do. And that is where Wolfson & Leon comes in. Your car accident case should not end when the insurance company denies it. Your Miami car accident attorney should be able to file and handle car accident litigation. The insurance companies know what firms can and cannot litigate and, eventually go to trial on a Miami car accident lawsuit.

What kind of Miami car accidents end up in car accident litigation? Simply put, when there is a disagreement as to who is at fault, causation, damages, and/or the amount of the damages themselves, your Miami car accident case will end up in litigation. However, sometimes, the defendant admits that he, she, or it is at fault but they disagree that they are responsible for any damages. But that does not mean that you will have an easy road. They will still defend your Miami car accident lawsuit and say that the injuries are not permanent, serious, or even caused by the accident. And, much of the time, their Miami car accident insurance lawyer is just trying to get the jury to give them a discount for admitting fault.

In Miami, we are in the 11th Judicial Circuit and the civil trial courthouse is located at 73 W. Flagler Street, Miami, Florida. That is where the Clerk of Court, Harvey Ruvin, Esq. works and accepts filings. Mr. Ruvin happens to be a lawyer also and a former county commissioner and mayor of North Bay Village. These days, he accepts filings at the Miami Dade Courthouse. In fact, he has brought things into the information age and filings and complaints are filed online. If you have to file a Miami car accident lawsuit, this is where the case will be situated.

Miami Car Accident Lawsuit and Litigation Attorneys

If we have to file a Miami car accident lawsuit for you, we will need your help. The easiest way to lose your case is to ignore our calls for assistance and help. Car accident lawsuits and litigation have these basic steps:

  1. The first thing that Wolfson & Leon will do is file a car accident complaint. The complaint is the beginning of car accident. This can now be done online. A complaint needs to set forth the basic facts that would entitle you to relief. Florida is an ultimate fact pleading State. This means that your car accident lawyer will need to prepare a complaint that, if all of the facts are true, would entitle you to relief.
  2. At this point, your Miami car accident lawyer at Wolfson & Leon needs to get a summons issued. Down at the courthouse the clerk issues a document called a summons that tells the Defendant what to do with the Complaint.
  3. Then, your car accident lawyer has to put the complaint into the hands of a process server. A process server serving a complaint has to be an independent party which can be a private entity. However, the sheriff of Miami Dade County also serves process. This can be effective if folks are avoiding being served. The process server needs to take the summons and complaint and hand it personally to the person or registered agent who is being sued. If that cannot be done, there are other ways that the car accident lawsuit can be served. Florida Statute allows for service to be effectuated in other ways, depending on the situation.
  4. When we serve the car accident lawsuit upon the Defendant(s), we almost always include written discovery with the car accident litigation. Written discovery consists of a series of questions and a list of things to provide.
  5. Next, the defendant who is served with the car accident lawsuit and discovery has 20 days to answer the complaint and 45 to answer the discovery. The questions need to be answered under oath and signed in front a notary. If the defendant is a government, they get 30 days to answer.
  6. If the Defendant does not answer the car accident lawsuit, then we can go get a default, effectively winning liability. However, the law almost always allows those defaults to be removed and the car accident litigation to start over again and be decided on the merits.
  7. The Defendant sends discovery to you consisting of the same questions and list of items to produce. We will sit with you to work on your answers with you because much of what they ask is legal or has legal consequences.
  8. At some point after the written discovery is done, we will start asking the Court for a trial date to move things along faster.
  9. Then, both sides take deposition testimony. Depositions are meetings when a lawyer asks questions and whoever is being deposed has to answer and the court reporter types up everything that is said. Sometimes, these depositions are done via videotape so that the video can be played back at trial. We will be there for you every step of the way to make sure you are prepared for your deposition. Your deposition can take half an hour or it can take days. We will go with you and protect you the best we can.
  10. After depositions are done, that is when the Defendant will usually exercise their right to send you to an expert doctor of their choice for an opinion they can use at trial. This is called a Compulsory Medical Examination. They may try to call it an independent medical examination. But it is not independent because the defendant in the car accident lawsuit pays the doctor expert.
  11. After this, the parties usually mediate the case. A mediation is almost always court ordered in car accident lawsuits. A mediation is just a meeting between the parties that is a settlement conference. A mediation that happens during car accident litigation is 100% confidential under the law. The mediator is impartial and tries to settle the case by listening to brief presentations by both sides and then going from room to room carrying messages that amount to negotiation. If the case settles, then everyone signs a mediation settlement agreement and things are on their way to being done.
  12. If your car accident lawsuit does not settle at mediation or shortly thereafter, then we will make sure the case is ready for trial and we push hard to get it to an end.
What Should I Expect If I File A Lawsuit?

When you file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver in a car accident, your personal injury lawyer takes care of filing all of the paperwork necessary for your case. They will do the leg-work to build your case, which may include getting copies of accident reports and medical records. A personal injury lawyer works with the insurance company to negotiate a settlement to cover medical expenses, lost wages, future care, and other costs. In some cases, your lawsuit may require litigation in court. Depending upon the severity of the crash, they may engage expert witnesses to testify on the cause of the accident or the nature of your injuries. Settling your lawsuit may take weeks, months or longer based on your situation and the court system.

Will My Lawsuit Automatically Go To Trial?

Not necessarily. In many cases, your personal injury lawyer can negotiate a settlement directly with the insurance company. If an agreement can't be reached, and your claim meets specific minimum requirements, litigation may be necessary. For your case to go to court, your injuries must meet Florida's definition of cases that can be pursued under Florida law. Typically this covers permanent injuries, such as disfigurement, scarring, and loss of limbs. It is in your best interests to speak with a Miami car accident attorney to explore the potential of your specific car accident. Wolfson & Leon offers free consultations and they never charge a fee unless they recover damages for you.

Why Not Just Settle On My Own With The Insurance Company?

When you are hurt and receiving mounds of medical bills, a quick settlement with the insurance company may sound like a great idea. You'll have the cash you need to pay your bills and even replace your lost wages. But what happens if your injuries are more extensive than you think? Or you are out of work longer than you expected? Once you've settled with the insurance company, you are stuck with what they've paid you. To protect your rights and financial future, it's a good idea to seek legal advice on your case. A personal injury attorney looks beyond medical bills to determine the damages you may need. This may include in-home care, future medical treatment, lost income if you are out of work longer than expected or if your injuries have affected your long-term earning potential. If you settle early with the insurance company, you may miss out on much-needed damages that you need to get on with your life.

How Do I Find The Best Lawsuit Lawyer In Miami?

When you have serious injuries resulting from a car accident, seek legal advice to find out what damages you may be entitled to. Given the life-altering impact that a car crash can have on your life, you need to find the best personal injury attorney to defend your rights. You should choose a personal injury lawyer that you are comfortable with and trust. Take the time to ask questions about the lawyer's experience and track record with these matters. Will they take the time to explain how the process works and answer your questions when they come up? Find out who you will work with in the law firm. Injuries from car accidents can permanently impact your health and your family's wellbeing. It's in your best interest to choose an attorney that you trust and work well with.

Miami Car Accident Trials

If your car accident lawsuit cannot be settled, then your case must go to trial. At Wolfson & Leon, we are car accident lawyers and take trial very seriously and spend considerable time on preparing for trial and making sure that our team is always working on their trial skills. And, we will try your case. Through our many years, we have obtained successful settlements for our clients as well as significant jury verdicts in Miami car accident litigation. See our results page.

Jonah Wolfson is a bilingual personal injury lawyer in Miami. Formerly a Miami Beach City Commissioner, he has represented personal injury victims in all forms of personal injury accidents. He can help you, all you have to do is call (305) 285-1115 for your free consultation today.

The Miami Car Accident Injury Lawyers at Wolfson & Leon have counselled people who suffered personal injuries at the Miami International Airport, and on Miami Beach, Fontainebleau, Wynwood, Allapattah, Biscayne Gardens, The Roads, Edgewater, Tamiami, Miami Shores, Flagami and many other communities throughout South Florida. Call us today for a free consultation at (305) 285-1115.


Client Reviews
★★★★★
I was rear-ended on my motorcycle by a distracted driver. I broke my leg, lost two fingers and my entire life changed. I searched Google and came upon Jonah Wolfson. His reviews were quite impressive. Within five months, my case was entirely settled. JONAH IS A BULLDOG WHO WILL REPRESENT YOU AND BE BY YOUR SIDE UNTIL THE BITTER END. HE TRULY CARES ABOUT YOU AND WILL ADVOCATE FOR YOU WITH HIS TEAM. Thank you for helping get me through this with compassion, honor and stealth. You are my hero Mr. Wolfson. God bless you! Cindy
★★★★★
Mr. Wolfson helped me tremendously with my car accident. He was able to represent me with care and respect while fighting hard to get my case resolved. I live a busy life and being able to go about my day and not worrying about my case was a huge relief because I knew I was in good hands. I wasn't just another client to him and that's what makes the difference. Thank you again Mr. Wolfson! Michael
★★★★★
All I can say is WOW! I have never met such a professional law team. They are caring and put your needs above money. I guess to describe them is fair, kind, and professional. Don't be fooled by the other attorneys who only want your money. By far the best attorneys in Florida! Marina Barber
★★★★★
I absolutely love this firm! It's personalized, you always have someone on the phone and you literally feel like family. They were always on top of my case and I felt supported the whole time my case was being settle. I got what I need it and what I deserved! Totally recommend them! They are the good attorneys for real! Dora
★★★★★
Wolfson & Leon took my case and did everything they said they were going to do followed up with me to let me know what was going on and were very professional and were able to win me a larger settlement then I anticipated. I give them five stars for excellent representation. Russ
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