Accidents can happen any day and at any time. No one is well prepared for when an accident happens, and so, people are bound to get hurt. When a personal injury results from an accident, it is expected that the injured will seek compensation for their injuries. It becomes possible if the accident was as a result of another's fault. This is the same in the state of Florida, and so, there are laws in place to enable injured persons to pursue compensation from those who deliberately cause them injuries.
The good thing is that we have dedicated attorneys whose aim is to make things easy for injured persons who are seeking compensation for their damages. We handle all manner of personal injury cases, and our goal is to ensure that our clients receive the compensation they deserve for their losses. Therefore, if you have been injured in Crescent City, the Jacksonville Personal Injury Attorney could help you through the legal process.
Reasons to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney
When an accident occurs, there is usually a lot of confusion about what needs to be done and what not to do. The aim is to avoid doing anything that might compromise your chances of getting compensated. Injuries resulting in any kind of accident can be severe or mild. People who get serious injuries may not be able to gather enough evidence to support their personal injury claim. Sometimes even those who have not been seriously injured could get confused to the point of not doing anything to help their case.
The most advisable thing to do is to remain calm and allow the paramedics and police to arrive at the scene of the accident. It is also advisable to get in touch with a personal injury attorney at that instant, as he/she can help in areas you are not able to handle. Here are some of the advantages of hiring an experienced Crescent City Personal Injury Attorney immediately you get into an accident:
- An experienced attorney will ensure that you receive the right treatment for your injuries. Whether you have received minor or major injuries, the most important thing at that time is to ensure that you are well treated for all your damages. he/she will collect all your medical records to use when filing for compensation in a civil court
- An experienced personal injury attorney will negotiate with the at-fault party's insurance provider for fair compensation. He/she will be your legal representative, and so, will only negotiate with your best interest in mind. A skilled attorney will not agree to compensation that does not seem fair to you.
- Your attorney will proceed to file the necessary documents in a civil court if out-of-court negotiations are not productive. He/she will also collect and prepare enough evidence to prove fault and also to show the amount of money that you deserve as compensation.
- Your personal injury attorney will walk with you through all the process. He/she will be both your legal and emotional support. With an attorney by your side, you will be guided against anything that might compromise your chances of receiving compensation for your injuries.
Types of Injuries a Crescent City Personal Injury Attorney Can Help With
As mentioned above, there are all kinds of personal injuries experienced every day in the state of Florida. The good thing is that our personal injury attorneys are well-trained and experienced in handling them all. The most common personal injuries you might find help with include:
Wrongful Death
Losing a loved one is devastating, more so if another's negligence or intentional acts caused their death. There are several instances when this could happen in Florida. A factory worker can, for example, lose their life because of low standards in their work-station. Again, a person could lose their life out of misdiagnosis, or wrong prescription. When this happens, the family of the deceased person is allowed by Florida law to file a lawsuit against the negligent party for compensation. The family must, however, prove that the other party was negligent and that it was due to that negligence that their loved one lost his/her life.
No amount of money can replace a loved one. However, pursuing compensation ensures that the family can cover some of the expenses about the burial and funeral of their loved one. Again, if the bereaved family member was the sole breadwinner, his/her dependents will require some form of compensation before another solution is sought.
Laws regarding wrongful death lawsuits may not be apparent to an ordinary person, which is why it is crucial to work closely with an experienced personal injury attorney. An attorney will not only guide you through the process but also represent you in court if the matter ends up before a judge.
Car Accidents
Auto accidents are prevalent, not just in Florida but in the entire world. People get injured every day, and in most cases, it is because of other people's negligence. A car accident could, for instance, be caused by an intoxicated, inattentive, or speeding driver. Some accidents result from missing road signs, while others result from faulty vehicles or vehicle parts. In each of those cases, there is a negligent party who could be held responsible for the resulting damages. If you are dealing with an intoxicated driver, for example, you may be able to pursue compensation through his/her auto insurance provider.
Again, injuries resulting from a car accident could range between mild and severe, depending on the severity of the impact. Mild injuries may not cost a lot of money and time to heal, but devastating injuries may leave you suffering for life. That is why you need the guidance of a well-skilled Crescent City Personal Injury Attorney if you want to get the amount of compensation you deserve for your injuries. Your attorney will gather enough evidence from the accident scene and from eye-witnesses to compile a strong case against the negligent party.
Truck Accidents
Commercial trucks are usually the most dangerous on the road, because of their heavy and large nature. If a truck driver loses control of his/her truck, it could result in a devastating accident, especially if there are other motorists on the road. There are several reasons why truck accidents are quite common on our roads today. Some of these include negligence by truck drivers, negligence by trucking companies, and damaged trucks or truck parts. If an intoxicated driver causes a truck accident, the injured party is allowed by law to pursue compensation against that driver.
The challenge that injured parties in truck accidents face is in determining fault. That is why the help of an experienced personal injury attorney is needed. The cause of the accident will have to be defined, as this is what will lead you to the party responsible for the accident. Enough evidence will be needed too, to support your claim. You also need a smart attorney to negotiate for a fair settlement with the insurance company involved. If not, the matter will have to be represented before a judge on time. It means that the necessary documents must be filed within the given deadline for the case to be heard and determined by the civil court.
Pedestrian Accidents
Motorists are not the only ones at risk when it comes to auto accidents in Florida. Pedestrians are at an even higher risk of suffering severe injuries when a car, bicycle, motorcycle, or truck hits them. Pedestrians are usually not well protected, as is the case with motorists and so, the resulting injuries are often devastating. Like in other personal injury cases, the case of the accident must be determined, as well as fault for the injured pedestrian to be compensated for their injuries.
In populous cities, it is common to see people walking along busy roads, others jogging or running and others are skating or on rollerblades. However careful such people could be, an accident could happen that will change their life for good. We have all manner of motorists on our roads, including intoxicated, inattentive, and careless drivers. A simple miscalculation on their part could result in a severe accident that might leave a pedestrian fighting for his/her life.
You need the help of an experienced personal injury attorney to ensure that a negligent motorist is not getting away with it. Your attorney will not only help you prove fault but also be with you every step of the way until you get your rightful compensation.
Bus Accidents
Just like other auto accidents, bus accidents can result in mild or catastrophic injuries, depending on the nature of the impact. Bus drivers and bus companies owe a duty of care to their passengers and other road users. Any act of negligence that could result in an accident is illegal, and anyone injured in such an accident is allowed by law to pursue compensation against the responsible party.
There are several ways in which bus drivers can become negligent, such as inattentiveness, drunk driving, and speeding. Bus companies can also be accused of negligence for failing to hire qualified drivers, or overworking their drivers for more profits.
Determining liability is crucial if you want to get compensated for damages incurred in a bus company. For this, you will need the help of an experienced personal injury attorney. The legal process is complicated too, and only an experienced attorney can navigate it with ease.
Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycles are a popular means of transport in the state of Florida. They are fast, reliable, and affordable. Again, the weather in Florida is favorable for riding, and the scenery is breathtaking. For that reason, there are several reported cases of motorcycle accidents in the state every year. Motorcycle riders are usually not well protected, like drivers, and so, they are likely to suffer more severe injuries if involved in a road accident.
Determining fault in the case of a motorcycle accident is not an easy task without the help of an experienced personal injury attorney. Unfortunately, you need enough evidence against the alleged at-fault party for a civil court to grant you compensation for your damages. The insurance company will try to portray the rider as the reckless party to avoid paying full compensation for the incurred damages. A skilled attorney will be able to help you with this.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice occurs when hospitals, healthcare providers, doctors, and nurses portray irresponsibility when treating and caring for their patients. There are instances when even the most experienced medical care provider makes errors that could cause their patient injuries or even result in death. If this happens to you or your loved one, know that Florida personal injury laws allow you to pursue compensation against the negligent party.
Negligence, in this case, could be in the form of improper standards of care, misdiagnosis, wrong prescriptions, incompetence, or pure negligence in handling a patient. Any of these could aggravate the patient’s health condition, or cause them a new injury.
Medical errors can result in devastating results that no amount of money can replace. However, pursuing compensation for their damages may make it easy for the injured to cope with their losses. This is another area where the help of an experienced Crescent City Personal Injury Attorney is needed.
Types of Compensable Injuries
If you have suffered a personal injury in any of the above accidents, the second most crucial thing from establishing fault is determining your compensable damages. These are the losses that you could recover from the accident and are determined by the losses you have incurred as a result of the accident. There are three types of compensable injuries in Florida personal injury cases:
- Economic damages- they are for instance medical costs, lost income, lost earning capacity, and vehicle repair/replacement among others
- Non-economic damages- They are, for instance, pain and suffering, emotional distress and loss of consortium
- Punitive Damages- The court awards these as a way to punish the at-fault party against similar negligence in the future.
Find a Crescent City Personal Injury Attorney Near Me
If you have suffered a personal injury in Crescent City, you may be able to get compensated for all your damages. However, it may be an uphill task if you are working alone. The help of an experienced personal injury attorney will go a long way in helping you gather evidence, deal with the insurance provider as well as in handling all legal documents. If you are in Crescent City, consider hiring an experienced lawyer from the Jacksonville Personal Injury Attorney. Call us at 904-800-7557 for quality help and guidance.