Do You Have Grounds For A Personal Injury Suit?

Because this topic varies by state, we will limit this to grounds for a personal injury lawsuit in Florida. Personal injury law differs from most other types of law because there is a large amount of confusion about the legal process. To begin, it is important to note that personal injury law is handled via a civil case as opposed to a criminal case. When someone opens a civil suit, they are seeking compensation through money as opposed to time behind bars.

Since civil lawsuits are brought up by a private party, the burden of proof is less than in criminal cases. Because of this, most civil cases are settled before actually going to court. To have grounds for a personal injury case, you must have experienced damages due to another party’s negligence, action, or mistake. You must also be able to prove that these actions incurred damages on you, which are represented monetarily. This is the general principal behind a personal injury case.

The good news about personal injury cases is that it is much easier to prove your case. This is because the proof is usually well documented by police records, medical reports, and financial statements. By simply having a police report and a medical statement, you can prove that an accident caused you to go to the hospital. If the police report states that it is the other driver’s fault, you have grounds for a personal injury suit. Because someone else’s action caused you to experience physical injury as well as financial injury (medical bills), the other person is held liable for these costs.

It all comes down to the situation you experienced and how well it is documented. If you experienced an injury because of someone else, you may be entitled to compensation. It is best to consult a personal injury attorney for this type of situation as soon as possible. They can advise you to gather certain documents and start the process of filing a suit before it is too late. Lopez & Humphries P.A. in Sebring FL is an experienced personal injury lawyer that will fight to defend your rights.

As the victim of a Highlands County Florida personal injury accident, or any Florida personal injury accident, you could be entitled to compensation for both your economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are out-of-pocket expenses such as hospital bills, car repairs, and lost wages. Non-economic damages are what most people know as “pain and suffering.” Contact the Florida personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Lopez & Humpries, P.A today by calling 863-709-1800 or by filling out our online contact form to schedule a consultation with the team. Not only should you be compensated for your injuries, but the responsible party should also be held accountable for causing those injuries.

What To Do When You Are In An Auto Accident

Being in a car accident is scary and can shake you up. To make matters worse, you now have to get out of your car and deal with responsibilities that are very serious. If you are in your first accident, it can be easy to forget what steps to take in order to protect yourself. When this happens you risk your finances because many people take advantage of this situation. Follow the steps below when you are in an accident and make sure you are legally protected.

Call the Police

This one is a given. You may be tempted to handle it without a police officer, but this is risky. You will want an official police report of your side of the story because this will make your defense much stronger. On top of this, the cop will be able to speak with witnesses and record any evidence you may forget to get.

Exchange Information with the Other Driver

You will always want to get the other drivers information after an accident. To do this you should get their phone number, address, name, insurance card (photo), and driver’s license (photo). If they don’t want you taking a photo of their license and insurance then you should copy all information with a pen and paper. Take a photo of this once you’re finished so that you don’t risk losing the info. 

Use Caution When Speaking with the Other Driver and Witnesses

Never discuss fault with the other driver after an accident. If they want to talk about it, tell them your insurance company instructed you to not discuss this at the incident. This will protect you from any hearsay that could be used against you. With witnesses you should use the same caution. Do not ask them who they think is at fault. You can ask them what they saw happen, but nothing more. Get their information and record their story. 

Call Your Insurance Company

Your insurance company will be your best friend during an accident. They genuinely want to help you and will give you the best advice to protect your legal liability. Provide them with any and all information, photos, and reports that they can use. This will be your best bet in covering your liability during an accident.

Contact an Attorney

This is highly suggested in a situation where any of these steps haven’t been followed, or the other driver has contacted an attorney as well. You will deal with many situations during the entire process that are confusing and you can be taken advantage of. Your other driver’s insurance company may offer you a quick settlement offer, and it can be tempting to accept. Once you accept this you are dropping your ability to get a better settlement and the other insurance company has likely tried to take advantage of the fact that you don’t have an experienced auto accident attorney.

When injured in an auto accident, you should first seek medical attention, and then seek the legal advice and representation of an experienced Sebring Florida auto accident attorney or lawyer as soon as possible. The longer you wait to obtain legal representation, it may directly affect your ability to achieve a successful outcome. Contact Lopez & Humphries, P.A., by calling (863) 709-1800. In the event that a death has resulted from an auto accident, immediate family members of the victim may seek justice in the form of a wrongful death liability law suit.