Were you hurt in an accident in Apopka, FL? Then you could be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. An Apopka personal injury lawyer can help you understand your next steps after a serious accident. Call Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers at (407) 648-1510 today.
Hiring an experienced lawyer to handle your personal injury claim can help you get back on your feet while you seek the financial compensation you deserve. The dedicated legal team will answer your questions and guide you every step of the way through a personal injury claim. Contact us to get a free consultation.
How Can Our Apopka Personal Injury Lawyers Help You After an Accident in Apopka, FL?
After suffering an accident in Apopka, Florida, you will need to understand what happened, who was responsible, and how to be compensated for your damages.
An Apopka personal injury lawyer will review all aspects of the incident and seek to accomplish the following goals:
- Meet with you for a risk-free consultation to learn about your accident
- Investigate the facts and circumstances of your case
- Gather evidence to support your claim
- Handle an insurance claim on your behalf
- Handle settlement negotiations with the insurance provider
- File a personal injury lawsuit whenever necessary
- Take your case to trial if the other party won’t offer a fair settlement
At Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers, we would be happy to represent you and fight for the compensation you deserve.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire An Apopka Personal Injury Lawyer?
Most personal injury lawyers in Apopka, FL will work under a contingency fee basis. A contingency fee arrangement helps accident victims get legal help without having to pay for upfront costs. Instead, you will only be responsible for attorney’s fees if they win your case. If your case does not succeed, you are not obligated to pay your attorney’s fees.
If you win your case, your lawyer will receive a percentage of your settlement or verdict award. This percentage can vary from case to case. Schedule your free consultation with our office to learn more about how a contingency fee arrangement can work in your personal injury case.
What Types Of Cases Does An Apopka Personal Injury Lawyer Handle?
No personal injury case is the same. Many fall within different categories, requiring lawyers with deep knowledge of a certain issue. A personal injury lawyer in Apopka, FL, will represent clients in a wide variety of claims based on the nature of the accident. Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers offers a range of legal services to address many types of incidents. Here is a list of examples:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Uber and Lyft accidents
- Accidents involving bicyclists and pedestrians
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Slip and fall accidents
- Workers’ compensation after a work-related accident
- Product liability
- Premises liability
- Dog bites
- Nursing home neglect
- Spinal cord injuries
- Wrongful death
This is not an exhaustive list of potential cases. If you were injured due to any type of accident, please reach out to us, and we can review the facts of your case. If someone else’s negligence led to your injuries, you could pursue a personal injury claim.
Common Injuries in Florida Personal Injury Claims
Accidents can cause a long list of potential injuries, affecting any part of the body and mind. No two sets of injuries are exactly the same, but some injuries arise more frequently than others.
Common injuries due to negligence might include:
- Fractured bones
- Lacerations and bruising
- Concussions
- Whiplash
- Hand and foot injuries
- Skull fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Soft tissue damage
- Damage to hearing and vision
- Burns
- Paralysis
- Amputation
All too often, any of these injuries can diminish your quality of life and reduce your ability to work. This is what a personal injury claim seeks to address as you recover physically and emotionally from a traumatic accident.
What Is The Value Of My Personal Injury Case?
Damages in a Florida personal injury case include two main categories: economic damages and non-economic damages. You can seek compensation for both types of damages through settlement or a jury verdict.
Economic damages refer to the financial costs connected to your accident, such as:
- Medical bills. Your lawyer will calculate your medical expenses stemming from the accident, and reimbursement will be sought from the responsible party.
- Costs for Ongoing Treatment. These are costs for expected medical treatment, therapy, and care in the future due to your injuries.
- Lost wages. If you missed work and lost pay due to the accident and your recovery, these costs are folded into your economic damages.
- Property damage. Damage to a vehicle, home, or other property due to the accident is included here.
- Nursing assistance and rehabilitation. Costs due to a rehab or skilled nursing facility are considered part of your economic damages when needed.
Non-economic damages are meant to address the personal losses and emotional trauma you must deal with as an accident victim. These damages often include pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, emotional distress, reduced quality of life, and loss of consortium with a partner.
You might have heard about punitive damages in personal injury cases. In some situations, a court will award punitive damages when a defendant engaged in gross negligence (no regard for the safety of others) or intentionally harmful behavior.
Based on the costs and losses associated with your case, the overall value of your case will vary. An experienced personal injury lawyer will be able to estimate the worth of your claim and work diligently to prove you deserve the maximum value for your injuries.
What Is Negligence and How Can I Prove It?
Most personal injury cases are based on the legal theory of negligence. This means you will be required to prove the elements of negligence before you can collect damages. Your burden of proof will be a preponderance of the evidence – in other words, whether it is more likely than not that the other party caused your injuries.
You must establish the following legal elements to prove negligence:
- A duty of care was owed to you by the other party;
- The defendant breached their duty of care;
- Your injuries were caused by the breach of duty; and
- You suffered actual damages such as medical bills and other costs.
The following types of evidence can help prove negligence:
- Medical records
- Medical bills
- Photos
- Video footage
- Property repairs and invoices
- Surveillance footage and cell phone videos
- Witness statements
- Expert witness reports and testimony
If you can prove that the at-fault party’s negligence led to your damages, you may be entitled to recover financial compensation for your injuries and costs. Negligence in a personal injury lawsuit boils down to whether the other person used reasonable care and caution leading up to the accident.
Can I Collect In A Florida Personal Injury Case If I Was Partially At Fault?
Even if you shared some fraction of the blame, you can still pursue a personal injury claim. Florida follows a modified comparative negligence law, which means that you can recover damages as long as you were less than 51% at fault. In other words, for you to recover damages, the defendant must be at greater fault than you for the accident.
For example, if you would be entitled to $100,000, but were deemed 30% responsible, your payment would be reduced accordingly to $70,000. The important thing to remember is not to let your role in the accident stop you from consulting with a personal injury lawyer.
What Is The Statute Of Limitations In Florida For A Personal Injury Case?
How long do you have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Florida? In most cases, a two-year statute of limitations applies to a Florida personal injury lawsuit. Generally, the time limit starts running on:
- The date of the incident, or
- The date your injury was discovered (if later then the date of the incident)
- The date of a loved one’s wrongful death
You must file your personal injury lawsuit before the deadline runs out. If you don’t do so, you could forever lose the right to sue the party responsible for your injuries. A knowledgeable Florida personal injury lawyer will keep a close eye on important filing deadlines in your case.
Even if you aren’t close to the 2-year deadline, there’s an advantage to filing sooner. Your case can be stronger when evidence is fresh and witnesses are still available. Moving quickly can also give you a strategic advantage over potential defendants in your case.
Contact An Apopka Personal Injury Lawyer Today
If you were injured in any type of accident in Apopka, Florida, you could have important legal rights – including the right to seek financial compensation. The distinguished legal team here at Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers has stood by clients just like you during tough times after an accident.
To learn more about how our Apopka personal injury lawyers can help, reach out to our law office to schedule your free consultation today.
