FOR A FREE LEGAL CONSULTATION WITH A PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER SERVING LAKELAND,

Cases We Handle

Bartow Personal Injury Lawyer

FOR A FREE LEGAL CONSULTATION WITH A PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER SERVING LAKELAND,

Practice Areas

Additional Locations

FAQ Categories

Recent Personal Injury Blogs:

Recent Car Accidents Blogs:

The at-fault party’s insurance company will immediately launch an auto accident investigation to reduce their payout.

This investigation includes taking statements from the parties and witnesses and collecting physical evidence, such as photographs and even the damaged vehicles.

While the insurance company attempts to avoid liability, most auto accident victims are left to deal with the personal and financial effects of the trauma. This reality is why it’s important to have a specialist on your side. We won’t let the insurance company take advantage of you.

Most people avoid doctor appointments after a vehicle accident. However, after a severe auto crash, it is important to follow medical advice to give yourself the best and fastest chance to heal.

Seek medical care immediately after an injury and avoid missing appointments with your healthcare professionals.

Your auto accident case value is determined by evidence from several places, especially your doctors. Most people who require treatment will get better; however, some catastrophic injuries require lifelong care.

After an accident, document what future needs may be necessary. It is also important to tell your doctors about past issues.

The doctors need to give opinions about new injuries and prior injuries that were possibly exacerbated. Failure to provide your doctors with accurate information may damage your credibility and undermine your doctor’s findings.

After Lakeland, FL, car accident, you must demonstrate that your injury is permanent to receive compensation for pain and suffering, disability or physical impairment, deformity, mental anguish, inconvenience, or loss of capacity for enjoyment of life.

To be considered a permanent injury, it must include:

A significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function.

Permanent and significant scarring or disfigurement.

An injury that the evidence shows is permanent to a reasonable degree of probability.

Maximum medical improvement is when an injured patient’s condition cannot be further improved or when a healing plateau is reached.

It can mean the patient has fully recovered from their injury, or their condition has stabilized, and no substantial change can be expected. Maximum medical improvement does not mean the patient will not receive future care.

Sometimes, future care is designed to help with functionality or pain levels and will not cure the condition. This kind of treatment following a car wreck is called “palliative care.” Palliative care is a multidisciplinary approach to specialized health care for people with severe conditions.

It focuses on providing patients with relief from the symptom or pain. Such therapy aims to improve the patient’s quality of life.

After getting the care you need, obtaining good advice and counsel is important for your future. Hiring the right personal injury attorneys can make a difference in your case. If you need legal assistance, contact one of our car accident specialists.

If you hire a lawyer on contingency, you will likely pay the same percentage fee whether your lawyer is a first-year lawyer with little or no experience or a board-certified specialist by the Florida Bar.

Being injured because of someone else’s actions can have a big impact on your life. Sustaining injuries can change the way you are able to do things temporarily or have a longer-lasting effect on your daily routine. This, in turn, can also impact how you are able to provide for yourself and your family.

If you or a family member were injured in a personal injury accident, you deserve to receive compensation from the liable party for the damages you have endured. A lawyer from our team can provide legal support and guidance through this challenging time so you can focus on healing from your injuries.

How Can I Recover Damages in a Personal Injury Case?

Knowing what your case is worth can be a complex question to answer. Each personal injury case is different and has unique circumstances that affect the value of your case. Compensation is decided by your damages, which refers to any losses associated with your accident. Damages are typically broken into two categories: Compensatory and punitive damages.

Compensatory damages are intended to make the injured person whole again, while punitive damages are to punish the liable party who caused the harm. Compensatory damages are divided into two categories, economic and non-economic, and are available in all personal injury cases. However, punitive damages are typically awarded less frequently.

Economic Compensatory Damages

Economic damages refer to the out-of-pocket expenses related to injuries. Examples include:

  • Loss or change in income – If you have been unable to work because of the injuries you have sustained from the accident, or if your injuries change the way you are able to make money, you could be eligible to recover compensation. If you suffered a catastrophic injury, we will gather evidence to prove your ability to make money has changed due to your injuries.
  • Medical expenses – This can include medical expenses you have already received, as well as future medical expenses. It is vital to know what your treatment plan requires and what your medical team anticipates you will need. Your injuries may require seeing multiple service providers and types of care. We will use your medical records and physician testimony to prove any future medical expenses needed on your behalf.
  • Household services – This could include expenses to hire someone to complete household tasks while you are recuperating. However, you cannot recover costs for a housekeeper if that was already a part of your budget prior to your injuries.
  • Property damages – If your property was damaged as a result of the accident, you could recover costs to repair or replace damaged property based on fair market value.

Non-Economic Compensatory Damages

Non-economic damages normally are intended to compensate the victim for how their injuries have impacted their daily life. Some examples include:

  • Pain and suffering – If you suffered serious discomfort during the accident and through the aftermath, or any ongoing pain associated with the accident, you could be entitled to receive compensation. This can include physical, mental, and emotional pain you are experiencing.
  • Physical disability or disfigurement – Injuries that have changed how you are able to live your life and care for yourself and others can qualify for compensation.
  • Loss of enjoyment of life – Suffering a traumatic brain injury or spinal injury can significantly change the way you are able to enjoy life. If the aftermath of your injuries has changed your lifestyle, making it harder to enjoy life as you did prior to the accident, you may be eligible to receive compensation.

A personal injury attorney in Bartow, FL can help assess your losses to determine how much compensation you may be eligible to recover.

Filing a Personal Injury Claim vs a Lawsuit

When you hire a personal injury lawyer from our firm, we treat you like family and work hard for you to receive the compensation you deserve. While we investigate your case we gather information to build a strong case proving the liable party caused your injuries. Our goal is to successfully negotiate a settlement, however, we are prepared to represent you in court if we cannot reach an agreement.

Personal Injury Claim

You file a personal injury claim with your own insurance company, as well as a claim with the insurance company of the party that caused your injuries. Communicating with insurance companies can be complicated as they have their own interests in mind, and want to offer you the lowest settlement amount possible. When you hire a personal injury lawyer from our team, we have your best interests in mind and advocate for what you need.

If we cannot negotiate an appropriate settlement for you privately, we can file a personal injury lawsuit.

Personal Injury Lawsuit

To ensure your paperwork is completed and filed on time, we may file a lawsuit to comply with the statute of limitations but will continue to negotiate during the lawsuit process. We want to ensure we do everything possible for you to receive the compensation you deserve and do not want to miss the statute of limitations timeline.

It is important you talk with an attorney as quickly after the accident as possible to ensure you meet the deadline. According to HB 837/SB 236, you have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit from the date of the accident. If you do not meet the deadline, you lose your opportunity to receive compensation.

Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyer in Bartow, FL Today

If you or a loved one have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, slip and fall, or any other incident that resulted in injury or harm, “Ask Dave” for a free consultation. We will give you an honest evaluation of your case and provide guidance on how you should move forward legally. We understand how difficult this time if for you, which is why we offer our consultations over the phone or can even travel to you.

When you hire a member of our team, you become family. We are dedicated to providing you with personalized services no matter what your personal injury case is. Give us a call today to schedule your free consultation.

Take The Next Step

We Care About Your Recovery

Seriously injured? Have no coverage? We want to talk to you and we can help. We have two convenient office locations in Lakeland and Tampa and can even come to you if you are unable to travel due to your injuries. When you’ve been hurt in Florida, 1-800-ASK-DAVE is the only number you have to remember.

WHAT IS MY AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT CASE WORTH?
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT!

Contact Us Today

WHAT IS MY AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT CASE WORTH?
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT!

Contact Us Today