Types of Personal Injuries

Personal injury generally refers to mental and physical injuries to a person’s body that are caused by someone else’s negligence. These injuries may be minor or may be so severe as to cause the person’s death. Personal injury does not include damage or destruction to your property (such as your car or house).

Personal injuries can occur in any number of ways, but causes often include:

Automobile accidents

Boating accidents

Dog bites

Medical malpractice

Motorcycle accidents

Nursing home abuse

Railroad accidents

Sexual abuse

Slip-and-fall accidents

Trucking accidents

How Is Fault Determined?

To collect money stemming from a personal injury claim, Florida law requires you to prove that another party was negligent. You must show:

The party that caused your injuries had a responsibility not to injure you and failed to live up to that duty

There is a connection between the other party’s responsibility and your injury

You suffered damages, or a financial loss, as a result of the accident

Florida law will reduce the total amount you can recover if it’s found that your carelessness contributed to your injuries.

Types of Florida Personal Injury Compensation

If it’s determined that another party’s negligence was responsible for your injuries, they may be required to pay for:

Past, present, and future medical bills for treatment related to your injuries

The repair or replacement of any property that was damaged or destroyed in the accident

Lost wages for time off from work (including time spent going to doctor’s appointments and physical therapy)

The cost of hiring someone to do household chores that you’re unable to do because of your injury

Permanent disability and disfigurement stemming from the accident

Emotional distress stemming from the accident

Any lost future earning ability due to your injury

Any other costs you’ve incurred because of the accident

If you were injured because of a crime committed by someone else, that person may be prosecuted under Florida criminal laws. In the case of other accidents, you may ultimately have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Florida courts.

How Long Do You Have to File a Claim?

Florida law gives you two years from the date of your personal injury to file a claim against the party at fault. (This is known as the statute of limitations.) If you and your Florida personal injury lawyer are unable to negotiate a settlement with the other party (or the their insurance company), you should consider filing a lawsuit before the statute of limitations runs out.

If your injury claim is for $15,000 or less, you should file your personal injury lawsuit in the Florida Magistrate Court that has jurisdiction. For injury claims worth more than $15,000, you would file your lawsuit in the appropriate Florida State Court.

If you have suffered a serious injury, you may be unsure about what you need to do next. The best advice we can give is to focus on your medical needs and to begin working with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. It also helps to keep a file of your documents and to photograph your injuries.

Our attorneys bring extensive prior experience defending insurance companies against claims, and we now negotiate with those same companies. Our prior experience has taught us how the insurance companies value cases and how they approach defending against a claim. We will use that experience to help secure the maximum compensation you deserve.

If you or someone you love has suffered a serious injury in an accident, the attorneys here at Celebration Attorney, can offer you the skilled and experienced help you need. To schedule a free initial consultation, call 321-587-0061 or contact us online.