Damages You Could Recover in a Winter Park, FL Personal Injury Case
If you suffered injuries caused by another party’s negligence or recklessness, you may be eligible for compensation for your injuries and other losses. You could seek money for the following:
- Medical treatment, including hospitalizations, surgeries, doctor’s visits, diagnostic testing, medication, and mobility equipment
- Physical therapy or rehabilitation
- Long-term care expenses for assistance and support with physical disabilities caused by your injuries
- Loss of income if you take time off work to heal from injuries or must work a part-time or light-duty position
- Loss of future earnings and employment benefits if your injuries result in permanent disabilities that prevent you from returning to work or being gainfully employed
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress from the accident, injuries, or disabilities
- Reduced enjoyment and quality of life or life expectancy
- Loss of consortium if your spouse or child was injured
- Costs to repair or replace damaged personal property
Could You Recover Compensation if You’re Partly to Blame for the Accident?
In Florida, you can recover compensation for injuries if you are partly to blame for the accident that harmed you. Under Florida’s modified comparative negligence law, an injury victim can file a personal injury claim if their share of fault is equal to or less than that of the opposing party or parties. In other words, a plaintiff with most of the fault for an accident will be barred from seeking compensation in civil court.
Furthermore, the comparative negligence rule can affect the compensation that a plaintiff is awarded. A plaintiff’s compensation will be reduced in proportion to their share of the fault. For instance, a plaintiff who seeks $100,000 in damages and is found to be 25 percent to blame can receive only $75,000.
Because an opposing party may shift blame to avoid liability, it’s crucial to hire an experienced Winter Park personal injury attorney who can prove the other party is liable and help you pursue total compensation.
How Long Does a Common Personal Injury Case Last?
Every personal injury claim is unique, so there is no way to determine the exact timeline for a lawsuit. Some cases settle in a few months, while others take several years. Various factors will influence the duration of a personal injury lawsuit, such as:
- The type and severity of injuries you suffer
- The duration of your medical treatment and rehabilitation
- Whether your injuries result in permanent disabilities
- Whether you miss time from work or suffer a temporary or permanent reduction or loss of earning capacity
- The complexity of the evidence and facts in your case
- The number of liable parties
- Whether other parties also suffered injuries in the accident
- Whether you share any fault for the accident
- The availability of insurance coverage
- How quickly the insurance company communicates with you and investigates your claim
- Whether you need to file a lawsuit or take your case to trial
- The trial court’s schedule and availability
How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Winter Park, FL?
The statute of limitations in Florida typically gives you two years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, with few exceptions. If you miss the statutory deadline, the court will likely dismiss your case, regardless of its merits. If this happens, you could lose your right to seek compensation in civil court.
For this reason, it’s crucial to consult a personal injury lawyer in Winter Park immediately to ensure you don’t miss any critical deadlines. We at Paul Knopf Bigger can handle every detail of your case and file the necessary paperwork promptly.
Why You Need to Get Started Immediately on a Personal Injury Claim
Although you have two years under the statute of limitations to file your personal injury lawsuit, you should get started on your claim immediately to give yourself the best chance at recovering maximum compensation. Getting a prompt start on your case will give your attorney sufficient time to investigate your claim and gather and preserve crucial evidence. Damage gets repaired, documents get lost or deleted, and witnesses’ memories fade. Your attorney must get started immediately to build a solid case.
Getting started on your personal injury claim immediately after an accident could also give you more options for financial relief. Your case might involve insurance claims with short filing deadlines. By talking to a Winter Park personal injury lawyer as soon as possible following an accident, you could preserve your avenues for compensation.
How a Winter Park, FL Personal Injury Attorney Handles Your Case
If you suffered injuries in an accident or harmful situation that was not your fault, you deserve compensation for your losses. However, you also need to focus your time and energy on healing from your injuries and moving forward with your life.
When you hire Paul Knopf Bigger to handle your case, you can rest assured that our team will work tirelessly in pursuing the compensation you need for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Let our attorneys build a solid case in your favor by:
- Investigating the circumstances that led to your injury to determine who is liable
- Gathering crucial evidence to prove liability, such as police reports, photos of the accident scene, eyewitness statements, and expert testimony
- Identifying all possible sources of compensation, including insurance coverage, to ensure claims are filed promptly
- Reviewing your medical records, bills, invoices, receipts, and income statements to calculate the past, ongoing, and future losses resulting from your injury
- Filing insurance and legal claims on your behalf and communicating with insurance adjusters, defense attorneys, and other parties
- Negotiating aggressively for the full and fair settlement that you deserve
- Representing you in court if going to trial is the best way to pursue the maximum compensation
Contact a Winter Park, FL Personal Injury Attorney Today
If you suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence or recklessness, you may have the right to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. We at Paul Knopf Bigger can help you pursue financial relief and accountability from those who harmed you. Contact our office today for a free, no-obligation consultation with our Winter Park personal injury attorneys and learn more about your legal options.