FAQ

You probably have many questions regarding your potential injury claim. Below are just a few frequently asked questions. For a more detailed response, or if you have a question not identified below, please feel free to contact us for a free consultation.

1. What should I expect at my initial consultation?

The Law Office of Alicia A. Piro offers free consultations to anyone injured as a result of the negligence of someone else. Please bring any paperwork you have received since the accident, any photographs you have from the accident, your driver’s license and insurance information. You pay no fees or costs to us unless you win. Fees are computed as percentage of recovery before costs.

2. How much will legal services cost me?

We work exclusively on a contingency fee basis. This means we will not get paid anything unless we successfully resolve your case resulting either in a settlement or jury verdict. Our fees are computed as percentage of your gross recovery before costs and are deducted from your settlement or award. If you don’t get paid we don’t get paid!

3. What are some of the changes to the Florida PIP Insurance Law?

Some of the changes to the Florida Personal Injury Protection Law include the following:

You must be seen by a physician within 14 days of the accident to receive any benefits You must be diagnosed with an “Emergency Medical Condition” to receive the full $10,000 in PIP insurance benefits. If an “Emergency Medical Condition” is not diagnosed, then the amount that you are eligible to receive is decreased to $2,500.

4. Who will pay for my medical bills?

It depends on what caused your injuries. In Florida, if you were injured in an automobile accident and diagnosed with an Emergency Medical Condition within 14 days of the accident, the first $10,000.00 of your medical bills will be paid by your automobile insurance company. Medical bills in excess of $10,000.00 will be paid by your health insurance company and/or the party at fault for the accident. What if you have no automobile or health insurance? Then we will ask the doctors that treat you to withhold collecting payment until you receive your settlement proceeds or award which will include an amount for your outstanding medical bills.

If, however, you were injured on someone else’s property, such as a slip and fall accident, your health insurance company will pay for your medical bills. If you do not have health insurance, we look to the insurance policy for the property where you were injured to see if a provision exists to pay for some of your medical bills. If no such provision exists, then we will ask the doctors that treat you to withhold collecting payment until you receive your settlement proceeds or award..

5. What should I do if I get into a car accident?

If you are involved in an auto accident, call the police immediately, even if no one was injured and file an accident report. Make sure that you verify the information included in the accident report is accurate and thorough. The accident report should include interviews with all involved parties and any witnesses. Photographs and diagrams of auto accident scenes are often supplied by the police as well. You can also take pictures of the auto accident, and gather as much information as possible. Get the names and phone numbers of all auto accident witnesses, as well as anyone involved in the accident itself.

6. What if I am injured on someone else’s property?

Those injured by a negligent owner or possessor of a premise may recover damages for their injuries, including: loss of income, medical expenses, pain and suffering, etc. If you are injured on someone else’s property, contact Alicia A. Piro, P.L., who will analyze your case and the principles of law concerning premises liability. You should not give an interview to insurance adjusters or investigators hired by insurance companies until you have consulted with an attorney.

7. How much is my case worth?

This is perhaps one of the most common questions we are asked. Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this question. The exact value of your case is dependent upon the circumstances surrounding how your accident occurred, the severity of the injuries you sustained, and the amount of medical expenses and wage loss (both past and future). There is no way of knowing the true value of your case until we have better understanding of the extent of your injuries. Moreover, it is possible your injuries may start off as minor and develop into something more serious in the future. There can be both past and future lost wages to consider in addition to future medical care and host of other factors that must be considered when determining the value of your case. As we get closer towards the end of your medical treatment we will be in much better position to discuss the true value of your case.