Auto accidents happen all the time. Thankfully, most collisions only involve damage to property and perhaps minor injuries. However, a serious crash can cause devastating injuries and even death.
If you were seriously injured or a loved one was killed in a vehicle accident, you will need the help of a Kissimmee auto accident lawyer to navigate the legal system. Our personal injury attorneys at Colling Gilbert Wright have been representing people like you for years, with excellent results. Many of our clients are referred by other lawyers, and people familiar with our work hire us to represent them when they need legal help.
How the No-Fault System Works
Florida has a no-fault system for managing vehicle accident claims. You must purchase personal injury protection insurance to cover your medical expenses and lost wages, and your insurance company pays these expenses regardless of who is at fault for the crash.
Coverage limits for these policies are relatively low, and when you suffer serious injuries, your personal injury protection coverage may not be adequate. You can bring a legal claim to cover the shortfall. You may also initiate a lawsuit if you or your loved one has a serious injury, which Florida Statutes § 627.737 defines as an injury that:
- Causes the permanent loss of a bodily function
- Results in significant, permanent disfigurement or scarring
- Leaves you with a permanent injury
- Is fatal
Our Kissimmee auto collision attorneys could review your medical condition and determine whether your injuries qualify as serious under Florida’s legal definition. If so, we can help you bring a lawsuit for compensation.
Proving Negligence in an Auto Crash
When you bring a legal claim for compensation after a car accident, you must demonstrate that someone else’s negligence caused the crash. The word negligence has a specific legal meaning. In the context of a vehicle accident, it means failing to use reasonable caution to avoid causing injury to someone else.
The negligent party is often the other driver, but it could be a vehicle manufacturer, a local government, or another party whose actions or failure to act contributed to the wreck. If the police issued a citation to the other driver, the ticket is evidence of negligence.
Even if the police did not issue a citation, our motor vehicle wreck lawyers in Kissimmee could investigate to find proof of the other party’s negligence. Depending on the circumstances, they may examine dash cam and surveillance video, inspect cell phone records, review witness statements, and analyze the damage to the vehicles to determine whose careless or reckless conduct caused the wreck.
Calculating Your Compensation
The negligent party is responsible for paying your costs, also called economic damages. These include the costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation, lost income, and other injury-related expenses. Serious injuries often require ongoing treatment and may prevent you from returning to work, and your economic damages should cover those future losses.
You may also be entitled to reparation for your non-economic losses, which are often called pain and suffering damages. In such cases, the negligent parties must pay you for your diminished quality of life since the accident, which can include damages for emotional and physical pain, disability, changes in your family relationships, and the lost ability to participate in activities you used to enjoy.
If you are considering bringing a lawsuit after a car accident, you are probably wondering how much you can expect to get paid for your claim. It is impossible to say with certainty, but our skilled and diligent Kissimmee attorneys could work to obtain maximum compensation for your auto accident claim. For example, recently we obtained more than $5 million in a settlement for a client who suffered severe burns in a car accident.
Rely on Our Attorneys After an Auto Accident in Kissimmee
For years, our attorneys at The Florida Firm have been obtaining generous verdicts and settlements for people injured in wrecks. We bring our widely recognized skills, knowledge, and professionalism to every case and do our best for every client. When a crash causes you or a loved one serious injuries, contact a Kissimmee auto accident lawyer at our firm. We offer a free consultation to discuss your legal options. Call now.