There are a number of ways that personal injury can occur in The Villages. Some accidents are small, such as almost falling in a grocery store because there was a spill, while others are much more severe, such as a three-car pile-up on the freeway. No matter what happened, you may wonder what steps to take next.
Personal injury law can be complicated, which is why attorneys specialize in this area. At Florin|Roebig, our personal injury attorneys take the time to understand the situation before giving you professional advice or taking your case. Here are a few things that you should know before filing a personal injury claim.
Car Accidents And Other Incidents That Lead To Personal Injury
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, then you’ve suffered a form of personal injury. In 2017, there were 983 injuries reported for collisions in the larger county of Sumter, making this one of the most common ways for people to be injured.
But this broad category can apply to any number of events, not all of which refer to physical bodily harm. For example, if you suffered from a psychiatric injury due to harassment, this would still be filed under personal injury under Florida law.
You can file personal injury claims in The Villages for any of the following reasons:
- medical malpractice
- slips and falls
- food poisoning
- sexual harassment
- product defects
- fire
- head trauma
How you file and what kinds of damages you claim will depend on the circumstances of the event. A personal injury lawyer can give you more information about how your case will be processed by Florida courts.
What You Need To Know About Personal Injury Claims
Florida courts ideally want to be fair to the people who pass through their doors, but its officials only have so much time and energy to devote to each claimant. If you can’t definitively prove what happened to you, court officials may dismiss your case.
Whether the injury happened to you or someone you know, it can be difficult to structure your claim in such a way that a judge will award you compensation for your losses. If the facts are confusing, the evidence is limited, or the paperwork is filled out incorrectly, this might hurt your requests for compensation.
There’s also the issue of comparative negligence to contend with. Under Florida law, the victim of personal injury may be deemed partially at fault for the accident, depending on how it occurred.
For example, you may be deemed 15 percent at fault while the other person is deemed 85 percent at fault. Comparative negligence can ultimately affect how your settlement is determined, so you need to be aware of how it works.
Types Of Damages Awarded For Personal Injury Claims In The Villages
Damages are the costs and expenses you incurred as a result of your injury.
The following damages can be included under your claim:
- medical care: These costs include all doctor visits as well as expenses like physical therapy or psychiatric counseling.
- assisted care: If you need to stay at a nursing home to recuperate or need at-home care, you can include these costs.
- lost income: You can file for lost wages if you needed to miss work due to your personal injury.
- loss of consortium: These damages can be filed by your spouse if they were impacted by your injury.
- pain and suffering: These costs are filed for emotional stress due to your injury.
- punitive damages: Also known as a punishment for the at-fault party, these costs are not based on the victim’s expenses.
The Villages, like other cities, experience a range of personal injuries. These are the four most common types of personal injuries in The Villages which includes car accidents, slip and fall accidents, golf cart accidents, and pedestrian accidents. Here are brief explanations of each type of injury:
- Car Accidents: Car accidents are common in The Villages and can result in various injuries, from minor to severe. In one instance, two vehicles collided at an intersection, causing injuries to occupants in both cars. The victims filed personal injury claims to seek compensation for their medical expenses and other damages.
- Slip and Fall Accidents: Slip and fall accidents can occur in numerous locations, such as shopping centers, restaurants, and public spaces. In The Villages, a person slipped on a wet floor inside a store and suffered a broken arm. The injured individual pursued a personal injury claim against the store for negligence in maintaining a safe environment.
- Golf Cart Accidents: Golf cart accidents are more prevalent in The Villages due to the community’s extensive use of golf carts for transportation. An accident involving two golf carts occurred, resulting in injuries to both drivers. The injured parties sought compensation for their injuries through personal injury claims, alleging negligence on the part of the other driver.
- Pedestrian Accidents: Pedestrian accidents can happen when pedestrians are struck by vehicles or encounter unsafe conditions. In The Villages, a pedestrian was hit by a car while crossing the street at a crosswalk, sustaining injuries that required medical attention. The injured pedestrian filed a personal injury claim against the driver for failing to yield.
Knowing What Your Claim Is Worth
There are a nearly infinite number of ways to work out the damages of your claim. How can you put a price on emotional trauma if your life was significantly affected by the accident?
This question isn’t easy to answer, but a lawyer will assess the facts and help you put it in perspective. Attorneys won’t be able to give you an exact dollar amount, but they will be able to give you an estimate that can help you decide if you want to take the next step.
You will also learn more about the details of each kind of damage. For example, lost income doesn’t just have to include the week from work you missed when you were in the hospital. It can also include the wages you would have made in the future.
Personal injury can alter the course of careers or even stop them in their tracks. If you were training to be in surgery and your hand was severely mangled in the accident, you can file for the wages you would have made as a surgeon had you not been injured.
There are countless factors that can be used to decide how much to claim in your case, and a personal injury attorney can help you understand which of these factors apply to your individual circumstances.
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Do I Need To Hire A Personal Injury Attorney?
The state of Florida will try a personal injury claim in The Villages with or without an attorney. However, filing a case on your own can be a difficult if not impossible mission.
If you’ve been injured, you may not have much mental energy to devote to the courts. If someone you know has been injured, you may want to focus on helping that person heal rather than researching every legal term you come across.
Personal injury lawyers in The Villages can give you more time to focus on the things that matter. Plus, they already have experience and relationships in court. Even if you can work out a reasonable settlement amount and the paperwork on your own, you’re unlikely to be able to present the case in such a way that will result in maximum compensation.
List Of Personal Injury Lawyers Serving The Villages
When you’re ready to file your claim, your greatest opportunity for success is through hiring a personal injury attorney. The Florin|Roebig legal team has a team of lawyers with more than 30 years of experience in handling personal injury claims. We serve areas throughout Florida, including in The Villages.
Some of our esteemed lawyers who are ready to take on a personal injury claim include:
- Wil H. Florin, B.C.S.
- Tommy D. Roebig, B.C.S.
- Luca G Esposito
- Chad K. Florin, M.B.A., LL.M.
We Are Nationally Awarded Lawyers
Reach Out For Help With Your Personal Injury Claim
If you’re in the middle of a personal injury debacle, it’s not uncommon to feel confused or alone. Before you decide that it’s not worth the hassle, call Florin|Roebig for a consultation.
There’s no way to take back what happened, but there are ways to bring justice to the at-fault party and potentially prevent it from happening to someone else. And while a financial settlement won’t fix everything, it can take some of the burden off your shoulders. To learn more, contact us today to get started in filing your personal injury claim in The Villages.
