Question 1

How much is my personal injury case worth?

Accepted Answer

Value depends on the severity and permanence of the injury, total past and future medical expenses, lost wages and lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, the strength of the liability evidence, and the insurance limits actually available. Any lawyer who quotes a number before reviewing your records is guessing.

Question 2

How long do I have to file an injury claim in Florida?

Accepted Answer

For most negligence claims arising on or after March 24, 2023, Florida law gives you two years from the date of injury. Wrongful death claims are generally two years from the date of death, and claims against government entities carry additional pre-suit notice requirements. Missing the deadline usually ends the case.

Question 3

Can I still recover if I was partly at fault?

Accepted Answer

Usually yes. Florida uses modified comparative negligence: your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, and you are barred only if you are found more than 50% at fault. Insurers frequently overstate a claimant's share of fault, which is why early evidence preservation matters.

Question 4

Should I speak with the insurance adjuster?

Accepted Answer

You must cooperate with your own insurer's basic requirements, but you are not required to give the at-fault driver's carrier a recorded statement. Those statements are taken to find admissions and to lock in a low value. Let counsel handle communications instead.

Question 5

How much does it cost to hire Bruce Botsford?

Accepted Answer

Injury cases are handled on a contingency fee, so there is no hourly bill and no fee unless there is a recovery. The fee percentage and how case costs are handled are set out in a written agreement you review before signing. The consultation itself is free.

Question 6

Will my case have to go to trial?

Accepted Answer

Most Florida injury claims resolve through negotiation or mediation. Cases are still prepared as if they will be tried, because a documented, trial-ready file is what moves a carrier's evaluation.

Question 7

What if the at-fault driver had no insurance?

Accepted Answer

Recovery may still be available through your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, resident-relative policies, medical payments coverage, or a claim against another responsible party such as an employer or vehicle owner. Identifying every layer of coverage early is a core part of the investigation.

Question 8

Do I have to pay my medical bills while the case is pending?

Accepted Answer

Health insurance, PIP benefits, medical payments coverage, and in some cases letters of protection can address treatment during the claim. Providers and insurers may later assert liens or subrogation rights, which are negotiated before the net recovery is distributed.

Question 9

How long does an injury case take?

Accepted Answer

A straightforward claim with completed treatment may resolve in several months. Catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and disputed-liability cases in litigation often take a year or more. Settling before the medical picture is clear is one of the most common and costly mistakes.

Question 10

What areas does the firm serve?

Accepted Answer

Bruce Botsford represents injured people throughout Florida, with a concentration in Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, Gulf Breeze, Milton, Pace, Navarre, Perdido Key, and the rest of Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties.

Question 11

What should I bring to a free consultation?

Accepted Answer

Any crash or incident report, photographs and video, the names of witnesses, your insurance declarations page, correspondence from any adjuster, and a list of the providers who have treated you. Nothing is required to schedule — bring what you have.

Question 12

Does hiring a lawyer mean I am suing a person I know?

Accepted Answer

In practice, injury claims are paid by insurance carriers, and litigation is usually defended by the carrier's counsel. Filing suit is a procedural step to preserve rights and obtain evidence, not a personal attack on a neighbor, relative, or coworker.

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