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Personal Injury Attorney Tampa, FL

Personal Injury Lawyer Tampa, FL

Anyone that has experienced a personal injury or a wrongful death should contact a Tampa personal injury lawyer to go to court for you and help you get the best settlement possible. Accidents are not intentional, but many times, by exercising a little care, they can be prevented. Often a personal injury is the result of someone’s negligence.

Tampa Bay personal injury law firms often have injury lawyers that specialize in handling a very specific practice area. Personal injury lawyers handle personal injury claims. A wrongful death attorney would handle wrongful death cases. Said another way, personal injury lawyers often specialize in specific injuries related to certain parts of the body or age groups. For example, brain injury lawyers focus on brain injuries cases. A birth injury attorney handles only birth related injuries, a car accident attorney specializes is car accident injuries, and a workers comp lawyer would handle only serious on the job injuries. If you want to hire the best personal injury lawyer, choose one that specializes in your related area of injury. Our Tampa law firm has a personal injury attorney that can handle the toughest injury cases and get the best injury settlement for you. So call us today for a FREE consultation to see how we can help you win your case.

Accidents and injuries often occur without warning and when a victim least expects it. In a single instant, an accident victim’s life can be turned upside down as they can end up in the hospital, facing substantial financial losses, and experiencing long-lasting effects of their injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 31 million people in the U.S. visit an emergency room on an annual basis due to unintentional injuries. Many of these unintentional injuries can be very serious or even life-threatening, as accident injury is the fourth-leading cause of death the United States.

Tampa Bay personal injury law firms often have injury lawyers that specialize in handling a very specific practice area. Personal injury lawyers handle personal injury claims. A wrongful death attorney would handle wrongful death cases. Said another way, personal injury lawyers often specialize in specific injuries related to certain parts of the body or age groups. For example, brain injury lawyers focus on brain injuries cases. A birth injury attorney handles only birth related injuries, a car accident attorney specializes is car accident injuries, and a workers comp lawyer would handle only serious on the job injuries. If you want to hire the best personal injury lawyer, choose one that specializes in your related area of injury. Our Tampa law firm has a personal injury attorney that can handle the toughest injury cases and get the best injury settlement for you. So call us today for a FREE consultation to see how we can help you win your case.

 

Incidents Resulting In Personal Injury

Personal injuries can happen in a wide variety of ways and can take place on the roads, at work, at a store, or even in a person’s own home. The following are some of the common incidents from which personal injury cases may arise.

Traffic accidents — Accidents involving traffic vehicles are one of the leading causes of unintentional injuries in the U.S. and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported nearly 1.6 million traffic-related injuries in only one year. Collisions can involve passenger vehicles, large commercial trucks, bicycles, motorcycles, or even pedestrians. No matter what type of vehicles are involved, all traffic accidents have the potential to cause devastating injuries to victims and can result in permanent damage including paralysis or brain damage. Some of the common causes of traffic accidents include distracted driving, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, other acts of negligence by drivers, dangerous roadways, defective brakes, tires, or other car parts, among others. Injured victims of traffic accidents can seek compensation by filing a claim with their own personal injury protection (PIP) insurance or by pursuing a legal claim against the party that was responsible for causing the collision.

Product defects — Companies have the legal duty to design, produce, and market products that are reasonably safe for consumers to use them as intended. Unfortunately, many products make it onto the market that are defective or potentially dangerous. The following negligent acts of manufacturing companies can lead to serious injuries:

  • Products that are designed with inherent defects;
  • Products that are inadequately manufactured, incorrectly assembled, or that use shoddy materials; and
  • Products that do not come with appropriate warnings for possible risks of injury to consumers.

Products that can lead to injury can range from household appliances to pharmaceuticals to sports equipment and many more. Pursuing a personal injury claim against a large company can be intimidating, however, an experienced products liability attorney can assist a victim through every step of the legal process so that they can receive the compensation they deserve from the negligent corporation.

Dangerous premises — Like companies have a duty to consumers, property and business owners similarly have a legal duty to act in a manner that will keep visitors and customers reasonably safe when they are on the property in question. Specifically, property owners are expected to regularly inspect the premises, keep the premises well-maintained, and repair any possible hazards in a timely manner. If a hazard cannot be immediately eliminated, the property owner must provide proper warning to visitors that there may be a hazardous condition. A common example of this is a sign warning of wet floors.

When a property owner allows a potentially dangerous hazard to persist on their premises, many types of accidents can occur, including:

  • Slips, trips, and falls;
  • Falls down stairs or falls from heights;
  • Falling objects;
  • Swimming pool accidents; and
  • Construction site accidents.

Anyone who sustains injuries due to dangerous property conditions can hold a property or business owner liable under the legal principle of premises liability. By filing this type of claim, an injured victim can hold the owner liable for their accident-related injuries.

Dog bites — Dogs can be unpredictable and can bite a person even if they have shown no previous signs of aggressiveness or dangerous behavior. Under Florida law, a dog owner can be held strictly liable for any injuries caused by their animal biting or attacking another person, regardless of whether the dog has never shown signs of potential viciousness. The only exception is when the dog bite victim has acted so blatantly to provoke the dog and may be found responsible for inciting the dog attack. Otherwise, injured victims can file a claim against the dog owner for their injury-related losses. Some common injuries sustained in dog bite incidents can include:

  • Puncture wounds;
  • Lacerations and contusions;
  • Torn muscles, ligaments, or other soft tissue;
  • Infections;
  • Permanent disfigurement and scarring; and
  • Emotional injuries such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Medical malpractice — When a person visits the doctor or emergency room with certain health concerns, medical professionals have the duty to meet a certain standard of care. There are many different ways that doctors can breach this duty of care and can lead to unnecessary complications or additional injuries to the patient. Some examples of medical malpractice include failing to properly diagnose a condition, medication mistakes, failing to provide necessary treatment, improper sterilization of medical equipment leading to infection, surgical errors, not adequately monitoring a patient’s vital signs and condition, birth injuries, and more. Medical malpractice can lead to a patient requiring a significant amount of additional treatment, having additional surgeries, having a longer recovery period, and even suffering from permanent disabilities and impairments due to the preventable injuries. Medical professionals who fail to meet the required standard of care and act in a negligent manner should be held fully liable for their actions and for the losses of their injured patients. Florida has specific laws that relate to medical malpractice cases, however, so it is important for any injured victims of medical negligence to be represented by an personal injury lawyer who understands this type of case.

Workplace accidents — While certain professions are more dangerous than others, accidents and injuries can happen in almost any type of work environment. Whether an individual works in an office building or on a hazardous blasting site, accidents can happen and result in significant losses. In many cases, recovery for workplace accidents will need to be pursued through the workers’ compensation program in Florida, however, there are limited circumstances under which this type of accident can result in a personal injury claim. Some common workplace accidents can include motor vehicle accidents, getting hit by falling objects, falls, accidents involving heavy machinery or equipment, and more.

Intentional acts — Not all personal injury cases arise from accidental injuries, but instead result from intentional acts of violence against another person. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), more than 58,000 individuals were the victims of aggravated assault in 2014 alone, while an additional 10,236 people were the victims of sexual assault that year. Following an intentional harm, an injured individual can file a personal injury claim against the offending party. This case will be separate from any criminal charges that were likely filed against the offender. A criminal case generally does not provide victims with the full and adequate compensation they deserve for all of their losses, so it is important for a victim of violent crime to look into the possibility of a civil court claim. A criminal conviction can serve as important evidence in a personal injury claim arising from an intentional act, however, and an experienced personal injury attorney will understand how to use this evidence to protect the rights of victims of violent crimes.

A Tampa Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help Re-Coop Losses Incurred By Personal Injury Victims

The losses incurred by victims of accidents or intentional acts can vary widely depending on the types of injuries sustained and the long-term effects of those injuries. Unintentional injuries can range from a simple sprain to a catastrophic brain injury that causes a victim to be in a coma for an extended period of time and leaves them with permanent disabilities. Depending upon the treatment needed and the recovery time for the injury, damages can include the following:

  • Costs of emergency trauma care, hospital stays, medical equipment and medication, surgical procedures, home health care, long-term care, and any other relevant medical costs.
  • Lost income for past missed work, as well as future lost earning potential, including benefits, retirement benefits, stock options, promotions, and any other financial compensation lost due to an inability to remain on their current career path.
  • Compensation for physical pain and suffering resulting from their injuries and emotional injuries sustained due to the personal injury.
  • Compensation for permanent impairments, scarring and disfigurement, and disabilities resulting from the accident or intentional act.
  • Compensation for loss of enjoyment of life due to an inability to continue with usual everyday activities or to live independently.
  • Punitive damages in cases involving particularly egregious behavior, such as criminal acts of violence or drunk driving. These damages are not in relation to any particular loss, but instead intended to further punish the party who acted wrongfully.

Depending on the type of severity of the injuries sustained, losses in a personal injury case can range from a few thousand dollars into the millions of dollars. It is important to have an experienced personal injury attorney determine the value of a case because injured victims may not always be aware of the full amount of compensation to which they may be entitled due to their injuries.

Who Is Responsible For A Victim’s Losses?

A Tampa Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help Win Big Injury Setlements.
Tampa Bay Personal Injury Lawyer for Personal Injury Claims

In order to recover for personal injury-related losses, a party must be found to have acted in either a negligent or intentional manner to cause the injury. Proving negligence requires an injured party to prove the following:

  • The party breached a duty of care that was owed to the injured victim; and
  • The victim sustained injuries and actual losses as a result of the breach of duty.

For instance, all drivers have the duty to operate their vehicles in a reasonably safe manner to avoid accidents and injuries. However, if a driver ignores this duty and chooses to drive drunk, text and drive, or similarly dangerous behaviors, they may be found negligent and held liable for the losses of any injured victims. Other parties that can be negligent and, therefore, responsible for injury-related losses can include companies, schools, employers, and government entities. Cases against different types of parties can have different kinds of complex legal issues, however. Claims against government agencies have different procedural rules and timelines than claims against private parties. Additionally, cases involving large corporations such as pharmaceutical manufacturers may be more challenging since these corporations will have extensive legal teams in place who will work to limit liability whenever it is possible. It is imperative to be represented by an attorney with litigation experience and who has the resources to take on such cases.

Time Limits For Filing a Personal Injury Claim In Florida

In Florida, the law sets out a strict statute of limitations for personal injury claims during which an injured victim can file a legal claim in civil court. Specifically, a claim for personal injury arising from negligence or an intentional tort must be filed within four years of the date of the accident or incident. If an injured victim fails to file a claim during this time, their right to seek compensation ceases and the court will dismiss any future claims.

Claims arising out of acts of medical malpractice, however, have a different statute of limitations. Such a claim must be filed in the following time period:

  • Within two years of the date of the injury; or
  • Within two years of the victim discovering the injury (or when the injury should have been discovered by the victim); and
  • Never more than four years after the initial date of the injury.

If the medical malpractice occurred due to fraud or intentional acts on the part of the medical professional, the victim then may have a longer time to file a claim.

Because the statutes of limitations for a personal injury claim can vary depending on the underlying circumstances of the case, it is important not to delay discussing legal rights and options with a qualified personal injury lawyer.

Is A Personal Injury Lawyer Necessary?

One of the most common questions asked by injured victims Tampa Florida is whether or not it is necessary for them to hire a Tampa personal injury attorney to pursue their claim. While the law does not require a victim to be represented, having an experienced lawyer handling a case can greatly improve the victim’s position in the case. Litigation involves many procedural rules, deadlines, and other complex legal issues, and having the assistance of a lawyer with litigation experience in Hillsborough County often improves the chances of recovery and limits the risk of making a costly mistake that could jeopardize a victim’s rights to recovery.

Tampa Bay attorneys should be chosen not just based on their understanding of Tampa Florida law, a good Tampa personal injury lawyer can help make an accident of a complex nature less complex and bring the case to a speedier settlement. A Tampa personal lawyer can provide the victim or an injury peace of mind by interceding for the victim with other attorneys and judges and negotiating a fair settlement. If you have been involved in a Tampa Bay injury, or surrounding areas, contact a Tampa personal injury lawyer without delay. Our Tampa Bay law firms have not only one Tampa personal injury lawyer, our law firm has multiple qualified and specialized injury attorneys that will negotiate top settlements on the most difficult personal injury cases you can imagine.

The Tampa personal injury law firm has some of the best personal injury lawyers that handle accidents in Tampa. Our personal injury lawyers are second to none. The Tampa law firm has highly qualified and experienced Tampa accident and injury lawyers that will handle your case effectively and efficiently. If you become involved in a personal injury lawsuit and you want someone to help you win what you deserve, our lawyers in Florida win big personal injury settlements all the time. For a FREE consultation, contact a Tampa personal injury lawyer today

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