Florida Personal Injury Lawyer

About Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa

At Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa, P.A., we are committed to advocating for personal injury victims throughout Florida. Our firm specializes in helping individuals who have been wronged due to accidents, negligence, and other unfortunate circumstances. We understand that a serious injury can disrupt your life, leaving you with medical bills, loss of income, and emotional stress. With over 95 years of combined experience, our Florida personal injury lawyers are here to ensure you receive the justice and compensation you deserve, so you can focus on healing and rebuilding your life.

 

Understanding Personal Injury Law

Personal injury law exists to protect individuals who have been harmed due to the negligence or wrongful actions of others. Whether you’ve been involved in a car accident, suffered from medical malpractice, experienced a slip and fall, or endured any other type of injury caused by someone else’s carelessness, personal injury law allows you to seek compensation for your losses. These losses can include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

At its core, personal injury law ensures that when someone is injured due to another party’s fault, they have a legal avenue to recover financial compensation for their physical, emotional, and financial hardships. The law covers a wide range of cases, from everyday accidents to catastrophic injuries, all with the goal of making the injured party “whole” again—at least financially—by holding the responsible party accountable.

For many victims, the aftermath of an injury can be overwhelming. Beyond the physical pain, you may face mounting medical bills, lost income, and uncertainty about the future. A personal injury lawyer steps in to ease this burden by navigating the legal complexities, negotiating with insurance companies, and, if necessary, advocating for you in court to ensure that your rights are protected and you receive the compensation you deserve.

With the help of an experienced personal injury attorney, you can focus on healing while knowing that your case is in capable hands. Understanding the basics of personal injury law is the first step toward regaining control of your life after an accident, and securing the justice and compensation you’re entitled to.

Injured and Have 
Questions?

Call us or request a case review by our experts.

RDCY law firm shareholders

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle

Our firm has extensive experience in handling a wide variety of personal injury cases. No matter how complex or challenging your situation may seem, we have the resources and legal knowledge to help. Below are some of the most common types of personal injury cases we handle:

Car Accidents

Car accidents are among the most common causes of personal injuries in Florida. From minor fender benders to devastating collisions, we help clients recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Our Florida car accident attorneys are experienced in handling cases involving:

Rear-End Collisions: Often caused by distracted or negligent drivers, rear-end collisions can result in serious neck and back injuries.

Head-On Collisions: These accidents can be catastrophic, often resulting in severe injuries or fatalities. We pursue maximum compensation for victims and their families.

Drunk Driving Accidents: If you were injured by a drunk driver, we will fight to hold the responsible party accountable and seek punitive damages.

Hit and Run Accidents: We assist clients in navigating complex legal challenges when the at-fault driver leaves the scene of the accident.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents: These accidents often involve significant injuries, as pedestrians and cyclists have little protection. We are experienced in holding negligent drivers accountable for injuries to non-motorists.

Slip and Fall Injuries

Property owners have a legal duty to maintain their premises in a safe condition. If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Common causes of slip and fall injuries include:

Wet or Slippery Floors: If a property owner fails to place proper warnings or clean up spills in a timely manner, they may be held liable for any injuries.

Uneven Surfaces or Potholes: Sidewalks, walkways, and parking lots that are not properly maintained can result in serious injuries like broken bones or head trauma.

Inadequate Lighting: Poor lighting in stairwells or hallways can contribute to dangerous falls.

Unsafe Stairs or Handrails: Broken steps or faulty handrails can lead to falls that cause serious injury, particularly to older adults.

Our Florida slip and fall injury lawyers will investigate the property owner’s negligence and build a strong case to secure the compensation you need.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider fails to provide an acceptable standard of care, resulting in harm to the patient. Our medical malpractice lawyers in Florida are skilled at handling complex cases involving:

Surgical Errors: Mistakes during surgery, such as wrong-site surgery or leaving instruments inside the body, can lead to long-term health problems or death.

Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis: Failure to properly diagnose a condition like cancer or heart disease can lead to worsening health outcomes. We hold negligent healthcare providers accountable for these errors.

Medication Errors: From incorrect dosages to administering the wrong medication, these mistakes can have life-threatening consequences.

Birth Injuries: Improper medical care during childbirth can lead to serious, lifelong conditions for both the mother and the child, including cerebral palsy and Erb’s palsy.

Our legal team works closely with medical experts to analyze your case and ensure that negligent doctors, nurses, or hospitals are held responsible.

Wrongful Death

Losing a loved one is never easy, but it can be especially painful when the death is caused by someone else’s negligence. In these tragic cases, our Florida wrongful death attorneys can help you seek justice for your loved one. We will guide you through the process of filing a wrongful death lawsuit, helping you recover compensation for:

  • Funeral and burial expenses
  • Loss of income and financial support
  • Loss of companionship and emotional suffering
  • Medical bills incurred before death

Our team is sensitive to the emotional toll these cases take on families, and we work with compassion and professionalism to pursue justice for your loss.

Workers’ Compensation

If you’ve been injured on the job, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits to cover medical treatment and lost wages. Our workers’ compensation attorneys in Florida can help if you’ve suffered injuries such as:

Construction Site Accidents: Falls from heights, machinery accidents, and other dangers are common on construction sites. We ensure that injured workers receive the benefits they are entitled to under Florida law.

Repetitive Stress Injuries: If your job has caused long-term injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome or back problems, we can help you pursue compensation.

Occupational Illnesses: Exposure to hazardous materials in the workplace can result in diseases like mesothelioma or respiratory conditions. We will fight to secure the benefits you need to treat your illness.

We assist clients with filing claims, appealing denials, and negotiating settlements to ensure they receive the full benefits they are owed.

Catastrophic Injuries

Catastrophic injuries are those that result in long-term or permanent disability, significantly impacting the victim’s quality of life. These injuries often require extensive medical care and rehabilitation. Our firm has successfully handled cases involving:

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Whether caused by a car accident, fall, or other trauma, TBIs can have severe and lasting effects on cognitive and physical abilities.

Spinal Cord Injuries: Spinal cord injuries can result in partial or complete paralysis, requiring a lifetime of medical care and accommodations.

Amputations: Losing a limb in an accident is a life-altering injury that often requires expensive prosthetics, rehabilitation, and long-term care.

We fight for compensation to cover not just your immediate medical expenses, but also your future care needs, lost earning potential, and pain and suffering.

Product Liability

If you’ve been injured by a defective product, you may have a product liability claim against the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer. These cases can involve:

Defective Vehicles: Faulty airbags, seat belts, or brakes can lead to serious car accidents. We help clients hold manufacturers accountable for their defective products.

Dangerous Drugs and Medical Devices: If you’ve suffered side effects or complications from a dangerous drug or defective medical device, we will pursue compensation on your behalf.

Unsafe Household Products: From defective appliances to children’s toys, any product that causes harm due to poor design or manufacturing defects can be grounds for a personal injury claim.

We work with industry experts to investigate the defect and establish liability, helping you recover compensation for your injuries.

Dog Bites and Animal Attacks

In Florida, dog owners are held strictly liable for injuries caused by their pets, regardless of whether the dog has a history of aggression. Our attorneys help victims of dog bites and animal attacks recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional trauma.

 

What to Expect During the Personal Injury Claim Process

At Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa, we guide our clients through each stage of the personal injury claim process, from filing a claim to reaching a settlement or verdict. Here’s an overview of what you can expect when you work with us:

Free Consultation
We offer a free consultation where we’ll discuss the details of your case, assess its merits, and provide an honest evaluation of your legal options.

Thorough Investigation
Our team will conduct a comprehensive investigation to gather evidence such as medical records, accident reports, witness statements, and expert testimony.

Negotiation with Insurance Companies
We will handle all communications with insurance companies to negotiate a fair settlement. If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair amount, we are prepared to take your case to trial.

Litigation and Trial
If your case goes to trial, our experienced trial attorneys will present a compelling argument, backed by evidence, to secure the compensation you deserve.

Settlement or Verdict
Whether through a negotiated settlement or a jury verdict, our goal is to obtain the maximum compensation available for your injuries.

Why Choose Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa for Your Personal Injury Case?

Selecting the right attorney for your personal injury case is crucial to obtaining a favorable outcome. At Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa, we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional results for our clients by combining years of experience, personalized legal strategies, and an unwavering commitment to justice. Here’s an in-depth look at the reasons why we stand out as the trusted choice for personal injury representation in Florida:

Extensive Experience Across a Range of Cases

One of the most important factors when choosing a personal injury attorney is their experience in handling cases similar to yours. Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa has decades of experience across a wide spectrum of personal injury cases, including complex and high-stakes litigation. Our firm has successfully represented clients in car accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death, workplace injuries, product liability, and more. This extensive experience allows us to anticipate challenges, craft effective legal strategies, and navigate the intricacies of Florida’s personal injury laws.

Aggressive Advocacy and Negotiation Skills

Insurance companies are notorious for attempting to minimize payouts to injury victims, often offering low settlements or denying valid claims altogether. At Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa, we approach every case with the goal of maximizing the compensation our clients receive. We are known for our aggressive advocacy, both in and out of the courtroom.

Comprehensive Legal Support: From Investigation to Trial

We understand that navigating a personal injury case can be overwhelming, especially while you’re trying to recover from an injury. That’s why Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa provides comprehensive legal support, managing every aspect of your case so that you can focus on your health and recovery. Our approach is to handle the complexities of the legal system on your behalf, ensuring that no detail is overlooked.

Client-Centered Approach: Compassionate and Personalized Legal Service

At Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa, we believe that each client’s case is unique, and we tailor our legal strategy to fit the individual circumstances of your injury and recovery. We are not a “one-size-fits-all” firm, and we pride ourselves on providing the personalized attention each client deserves.

No Fees Unless We Win: Contingency Fee Representation

We believe that everyone deserves access to justice, regardless of their financial situation. That’s why we operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t pay any legal fees unless we successfully recover compensation for you. This allows you to pursue your personal injury case without worrying about upfront costs or hourly legal fees.

Injured and Have 
Questions?

Call us or request a case review by our experts.

RDCY law firm shareholders

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a personal injury lawyer in Florida cost?
At Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa, we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case. Our fees are a percentage of the compensation we recover for you.

Do I need a personal injury lawyer for a car accident in Florida?
While you are not legally required to hire an attorney, having a Florida personal injury lawyer can greatly increase your chances of receiving the full compensation you deserve. An attorney will handle negotiations with insurance companies, gather evidence, and, if necessary, represent you in court.

How long does a personal injury lawsuit take in Florida?
The duration of a personal injury case depends on several factors, including the complexity of the case, the willingness of the other party to settle, and whether the case goes to trial. Some cases may be resolved in a few months, while others may take years.

Contact Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa Today

If you or a loved one has been injured due to someone else’s negligence, don’t wait to seek legal representation. Contact Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa today for a free consultation. Our team of experienced Florida personal injury lawyers is dedicated to fighting for your rights and ensuring you receive the compensation you need to move forward with your life.

Frequently Asked Question Videos

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Why Proving Negligence Can Be So Difficult | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa
Why Proving Negligence Can Be So Difficult | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa

Video Transcript

The challenges that arise in proving negligence in a particular case obviously depend upon the facts of the case. We have some cases where there’s really tough liability, where it’s difficult to prove that somebody failed to use reasonable care, and then we have other cases that are so clear that the insurance company will admit liability, they will admit negligence.

So it’s hard to say as a general rule what the challenges are, but I will tell you whatever the challenges are, we are prepared to accept those because among the three partners and the other attorneys here, we’ve handled thousands of personal injury cases over the years.

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Injured by Someone Without Insurance? You Still Have Options | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa
Injured by Someone Without Insurance? You Still Have Options | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa

Video Transcript

So if a person responsible for an injury doesn’t have insurance, there are a multitude of ways that we can try to find insurance. At the end of the day, if there is just no insurance that’s available, then there’s probably not much we can do to help. But there are things like uninsured motorist coverage that people can purchase prior to an injury to where if the person who hurts them doesn’t have insurance that uninsured motorist policy will kick in. You know just looking at the initial crash report and that one insurance policy listed if there’s no insurance there it’s very important to look into you know whose car were they driving? Are they insured under another policy? Were they working at the time? There’s a lot of different ways you can try to find coverage but at the end of the day if there’s no coverage then not much we can do.
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Think Twice Before Speaking to an Insurance Adjuster | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa
Think Twice Before Speaking to an Insurance Adjuster | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa

Video Transcript

What should people know about dealing with insurance adjusters after an injury? So what people should know about dealing with insurance adjusters after an injury is that they are not on your side. And that goes for insurance adjusters for the person who hits you, but also oftentimes your own insurance adjuster.

You know, if you have uninsured motorist coverage especially, then that adjuster really isn’t your friend. They’re not on your team. So I would highly recommend, again, going to an attorney immediately after you’ve been injured so that the attorney can be the one to communicate with the insurance adjuster.

Because just like an attorney has experience day in, day out handling these things, so does the insurance adjuster. And oftentimes the injured client has zero experience doing this so it’s very important to get an attorney on your side as quickly as possible so that they can handle that communication.

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Timing Is Everything After an Injury—Here’s Why | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa
Timing Is Everything After an Injury—Here’s Why | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa

Video Transcript

It’s very important to act quickly after a personal injury when considering legal action because evidence disappears. If you look at it from the context of a trucking accident case, in many trucking accidents, the employers, the trucking companies require their drivers to actually call the employer before they call 911. And before police ever even get to the scene, there are times where you’ve got investigators already hired by the defense that are there on site gathering evidence. And if you’re late to the to that process, evidence disappears and you’re at a disadvantage. So, it is very important after suffering an injury, whether you do it or if you can’t because you’re in the hospital, a family member, reach out to somebody to start that process of preserving evidence before it disappears. Sometimes that evidence is very critical in proving your case.

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How One Post Could Damage Your Injury Claim | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa
How One Post Could Damage Your Injury Claim | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa

Video Transcript

Social media can be huge in a personal injury case. It can be hugely helpful. It can also be hugely hurtful, you know, if your client posts the wrong thing. But oftentimes, I will use social media to research the defendant, witnesses, different things like that. And you’d be amazed the kind of stuff that people who are actively involved in litigation will still post for the world to see.

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Understanding the Full Value of Your Injury Case | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa
Understanding the Full Value of Your Injury Case | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa

Video Transcript

So, the difference between economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are going to be things like medical bills, lost wages if you haven’t been able to work. Economic damages are going to be the things that you can actually put a dollar figure on. Either things you’ve had to spend money on, or money you haven’t been able to make because of the injury. Non-economic damages are going to be things like the pain and suffering. You can’t really put a set dollar amount on how much a broken arm or a broken leg is worth. So that’s going to be the difference between economic and non-economic damages.

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Can You Still Sue If You’re Partly at Fault? | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa
Can You Still Sue If You’re Partly at Fault? | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa

Video Transcript

So, if someone is partially at fault for their injuries, they can still recover damages up to a certain point. Now, the law in Florida used to be that even if somebody was 99% at fault for their injuries, but there was another person who was 1%. At fault, the injured person could still recover at least 1% of what their damages are. There was a recent change in the law back in 2023. Now, if the injured person was more than 50% at fault, they can’t recover anything. So, as long as you are 50% or less at fault, you still can recover at least a fraction of your damages.

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Trial vs. Settlement: What You Need to Know | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa
Trial vs. Settlement: What You Need to Know | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa

Video Transcript

So, if a case goes to trial instead of settling, basically you’re going for full value and it’s going to come down to an all or nothing thing and the jury’s going to make that determination. At RDCY, we have no fear of going to trial. We’re happy to do it. Obviously, settling is the most efficient way to resolve a case, but sometimes you’re not able to resolve it via a settlement for what you feel is just amount for your client. So, when that happens, we have to go to trial. We have a lot of experience doing so and are confident in our abilities.

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Strong Claims Start With Strong Evidence | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa
Strong Claims Start With Strong Evidence | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa

Video Transcript

So, in order to build a strong personal injury claim, you obviously need to gather evidence. And one of the best ways for us to do that is right on the front end, cuz. A lot of that evidence is going to be gone within maybe a week of the crash. Uh, if it was a motor vehicle crash, I will reach out to the other driver’s insurance company and have them put what’s called a legal hold on the other driver’s car. That way I can ensure that that car is going to be kept all the evidence with that car. What’s often referred to as the black box, which you know we can go and do a download of. That’ll show us a number of things. How fast the person was going, any movements they made. Another way that’s become huge for us is just Google.

You know, a lot of people don’t think you’re going to be able to find good stuff on Google. I’ve been able to find a lot of useful information. What a certain intersection looks like or whether, you know, if it’s a products case where there was a defective product, we can search that company. Their website will often have a lot of information that actually is kind of incriminating and can show problems they’ve had with previous versions of the product, things like that.

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Preparing for Your First Legal Consultation | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa
Preparing for Your First Legal Consultation | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa

Video Transcript

So, when a client is coming into their first consultation with a personal injury attorney, some of the things that are very important to bring in if you have them would be the crash report. You know, if it was a motor vehicle crash, that often has a lot of the information that we need on there. Not only the facts of what happened, but the other driver’s information, their name, date of birth, address, but then their insurance information as well, so that we can go ahead and reach out to their insurance company and see what kind of coverage they have. It’s also important to bring in your own insurance documents if you have them. Not just your car insurance, but health insurance as well. And if you’ve received any correspondence from your insurance company or from the other person’s insurance company, that would also be very important stuff for us to have.

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What Compensation Can You Claim After an Injury? | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa
What Compensation Can You Claim After an Injury? | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa

Video Transcript

So, the types of compensation somebody can recover in a personal injury case varies widely. Oftentimes, unfortunately, it’s going to come down to how much insurance coverage the person who hit you has. But, you know, if you have horrible injuries and the person who hit you has a ton of insurance, I mean, what you can recover really is unlimited.

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Debunking the Myths Around Personal Injury Cases | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa
Debunking the Myths Around Personal Injury Cases | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa

Video Transcript

One of the biggest misconceptions about personal injury cases is that they’re all frivolous. You know, we we’ve all heard the hot coffee being spilled in the lap and getting millions of dollars, but there’s also thousands and thousands of legitimate cases with people who are seriously injured through no fault of their own. And those are the cases we like to handle here at RDCY. Handling the frivolous cases not only hurts your credibility with the judge and with the public if it eventually goes to trial, but we spend a lot of money and time litigating these cases. And if at the end of the day we’re not able to recover anything, that’s a loss on our end. And so taking frivolous cases can hurt you not only with your reputation but financially and with the time that you spend on it.

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What Is ‘Pain and Suffering’ Really Worth? | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa
What Is ‘Pain and Suffering’ Really Worth? | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa

Video Transcript

The way pain and suffering is calculated is very difficult to explain because it’s completely intangible. It’s left completely up to the jury. The jury instruction even says there is no exact standard for determining these damages. So a jury has to decide what is this worth? What is loss of enjoyment of life worth? What is physical impairment worth? And that’s how a jury arrives at that number. Now, when we settle cases, a lot of times the settlement will include a large component for pain and suffering, and that’s just a matter of convincing the insurance company of what we think a jury will do on the case.

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No Fees Unless We Win—Here’s What That Really Means | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa
No Fees Unless We Win—Here’s What That Really Means | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa

Video Transcript

So, contingency fees. Um, and you’ve probably heard, you know, no fees unless we win. And what that means is that we’re not billing you by the hour. What we make on a case is going to be a percentage of what the ultimate recovery for our client is. We pay all the costs of litigating the case. So, if we need to hire an expert to come in and testify, we are fronting the costs on that and paying for them. Those costs will eventually come out of the ultimate recovery, but if there is no recovery, if we’re not able to win the case, then that’s a cost that we eat. And you won’t owe us any money if we aren’t able to win. And again, any money we get comes out of the ultimate recovery.

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How Long Will My Injury Case Take? | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa
How Long Will My Injury Case Take? | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa

Video Transcript

Typically, a personal injury case will take one or two years to resolve. But if we have to file a lawsuit, then we have to depend upon the trial judge to tell us when the case is going to trial. If the case goes to trial, there could be an appeal. So, cases can go on for a long time, but most of our cases settle before we have to file a lawsuit, probably at least 90%. And then after we file a lawsuit, probably 95% of those cases settle before we go to trial.

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Thinking of Handling Your Case Alone? Think Again. | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa
Thinking of Handling Your Case Alone? Think Again. | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa

Video Transcript

It’s really important to hire a reputable personal injury firm to handle your case because if you don’t, the insurance companies are going to take advantage of you. And there are a lot of nice people in the insurance companies, but their job is to settle cases as cheaply as possible. And there are plenty of studies that show that even after you pay attorney’s fees, you still get a much higher net recovery when you hire an attorney. And I would take that a step further and say if you hire a reputable firm that has a reputation that the insurance industry respects, then you’re going to get even a better settlement than if you just hire any personal injury lawyer off the street.

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Injured in an Accident? Do These Things First | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa
Injured in an Accident? Do These Things First | Rafferty Domnick Cunningham Yaffa

Video Transcript

So, when someone’s been injured in an accident, it’s imperative that they contact an attorney right away. Obviously, we hope that they reach out to us, but regardless of who you’re going to reach out to, it’s very important that you reach out to someone right away because a lot of the best evidence that’s used in these cases. Uh only lasts for maybe a day, maybe a week. But if you sit around and wait to hire an attorney, a lot of that’s going to be gone and oftentimes there’s no way to get it back. So, first thing to do is reach out to an attorney who knows what they’re doing, who has handled these cases day in and day out, and can really kind of take the pressure off of you, the stress off of you, and take over the work.

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