Consult with an experienced Florida personal injury lawyer who will listen to the facts of your case and the extent of your injuries and losses, and help you make an informed decision on how to move forward. Learn everything you need to know about Florida personal injury lawsuits and when you might want to hire a lawyer below. For additional information, contact Chiappetta Trial Lawyers.
Key Takeaways
- Anyone who suffers an injury as a result of another person or entity’s actions or inaction may qualify to file a personal injury lawsuit in Florida.
- Our leading Florida personal injury attorney routinely handles civil claims involving car, truck, motorcycle, and pedestrian accidents, as well as catastrophic injuries.
- Working with an attorney in your Florida personal injury claim can greatly increase your chances of successfully recovering all your losses after an accident. Let a lawyer handle the paperwork, evidence gathering, and document submissions on your behalf.
Florida Personal Injury Lawsuits: The Basics
If you were recently injured in an accident that was not your fault, you may be wondering what to do next. The first thing you should do is seek medical treatment. Any potential personal injury claim for compensation could be derailed if you do not seek medical care in a timely manner.
Once your medical needs are taken care of, you will want to consider what happened and who may be at fault.
A personal injury includes any injury suffered as a result of someone else’s negligence. If you want to file a personal injury lawsuit in Florida, you must prove that your case satisfies the following four elements of negligence under state law:
- The other party had a legal duty to protect you from foreseeable harm;
- The other party ultimately failed to uphold their duty of reasonable care;
- The other party’s failure to act reasonably directly caused to contributed to your otherwise preventable accident; and
- The accident caused undue harm in the form of injuries and/or other damages.
If all of the above elements are present in your situation, you might have a valid claim for compensation. An initial consultation with a Florida personal injury attorney won’t cost you anything. Chiappetta Trial Lawyers offers free initial consultations to help you determine your legal rights and options after an accident.
Common Types of Personal Injury Claims in Florida
Are you wondering whether a legal duty of care existed in your accident situation? Below, we will go over some of the most common types of personal injury claims that our Florida lawyer handles.
Florida Personal Injury Claims Involving Car Accidents
Under Florida civil law, many situations create a legal duty of care. For instance, when someone gets behind the wheel of a car, they automatically assume a legal responsibility to drive with reasonable care.
An average of 7,500 individuals are injured in car accidents every day. Statistically, that means almost everyone who frequently rides in a vehicle will likely get into at least one car accident in their lifetime. With numbers like those, it makes sense why so many states make car insurance mandatory.
Florida is a no-fault state when it comes to car accidents, meaning carrying insurance is mandatory, and you will first have to turn to your own insurance provider to cover your medical expenses and other monetary losses, regardless of who is responsible for the collision. When your losses exceed your policy limits, however, you may need to seek additional compensation through a Florida personal injury claim. A personal injury claim can also help you recover compensation for non-financial losses, like pain and suffering.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim in FL for a Truck Accident
Accidents involving semi-trucks generally lead to more severe damages. Injuries tend to be severe or life-threatening, and property damage is often worse than in other accidents.
Not only do these factors make a personal injury claim more likely, but they also make the situation more complicated.
Specifically, severe injuries often require testimony from medical and vocational experts about potential future damages, and multiple parties could be considered at-fault or partially at fault for the crash, including the truck driver, their employer, and others. For these reasons, it is advisable to speak with a person injury lawyer in Florida if you experience a truck crash in the Sunshine State.
Can You File a Florida Personal Injury Lawsuit for a Motorcycle Accident?
Another type of accident that often leads to serious injuries, substantial losses, and personal injury lawsuits is motorcycle crashes. While motorcycle riders usually know to wear protective gear, they can still get seriously injured in an accident. In most cases, the rider is thrown from their bike. Unfortunately, many motorcycle accidents happen when drivers fail to give bikers the right of way. In these situations, the biker usually has a right to seek a personal injury claim in Florida.
Florida Personal Injury Claims and Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents happen when a vehicle strikes a person who is traveling on foot. As you can imagine, these collisions are usually severe for the pedestrian. This kind of personal injury accident can happen at crosswalks, in parking lots, garages, and even on sidewalks when vehicles lose control and veer off the road. Any Floridian who has been struck by a vehicle while walking should contact a local personal injury lawyer for legal assistance.
Florida Personal Injury Lawsuits Involving Catastrophic Injuries
Some accidents lead to catastrophic, life-altering injuries. These types of personal injuries can lead to long-term losses including the need for future medical care, an inability to return to work, emotional distress, and more. When a personal injury accident causes such substantial losses, it may be best to consult with a Florida lawyer about your options.
Contact a Florida Personal Injury Attorney Today
Were you or a loved one recently injured in an accident like the ones described above? If your losses are adding up, then now might be the best time to reach out to a Florida personal injury lawyer.
The right attorney will listen to you explain what happened, identify whether any legal duty of care existed, and learn more about your losses. From there, they can help you make an informed choice on how to proceed.
Here at Chiappetta Trial Lawyers, our team is ready to listen and help. Contact our office now to schedule a consultation with our leading attorney.