Any car accident may cause serious injuries, but when vehicles travel at highway speeds, the likelihood of fatalities and catastrophic injuries increases. You should work with an experienced attorney to pursue accountability and fair compensation.
Our attorneys at The Florida Firm often assist survivors of highway car accidents in Orlando as well as families of those killed in such crashes. We are well-known in the legal community for our ethics, skill, and exemplary client care. Many attorneys refer their clients to us at Colling Gilbert Wright.
Highway Crashes Could Produce Catastrophic Harm
Several common factors may cause freeway auto crashes in Orlando. Vehicles could collide at high speeds because of reckless driving, mechanical failure, or obstacles in the road. A single vehicle could lose control and crash on the shoulder or median. A car traveling on the highway could hit a stopped vehicle on the shoulder or a person on the side of the road.
Any of these situations could lead to serious injury. Our attorneys could represent you if you have sustained severe trauma, such as:
- Complex fractures
- Damage to internal organs
- Disfiguring and blinding facial injuries
- Traumatic amputations
- Extensive burns
- Severe head and brain injuries
- Paralyzing spinal cord trauma
These wrecks may also cause significant psychological distress, which could be as debilitating as the physical injuries.
Obtaining fair compensation after life-altering injuries may take time. We could assist you during your recovery to ensure you receive the medical and rehabilitative care you need. We could also negotiate payment arrangements with health care providers and other creditors and help you apply for disability and other available benefits.
What Is the Claims Process for Severe Injuries?
Orlando uses a no-fault system to manage freeway vehicle accident claims. When you are hurt in a wreck, you must first file a claim with your personal injury protection (PIP) insurer. If you were a passenger when the accident occurred and nobody in your household has PIP coverage, the driver’s PIP will cover you.
PIP covers 80 percent of medical costs, a partial wage, and some other expenses, up to the coverage limits. If you are seriously injured, you will exhaust your PIP quicklynd face significant losses and expenses. A car accident attorney from our firm could review your medical records to determine whether you are eligible to pursue a compensation claim in court.
Florida Statutes § 627.737 allows you to sue when your injuries are irreversible or cause a lifelong, significant impairment to an important bodily function. You could sue if your injuries left you permanently and significantly disfigured. If a loved one dies from injuries, your family could seek compensation through the courts.
Proving Liability in a Highway Accident
When you bring a legal claim for compensation, you must prove that another party’s negligence caused your injuries. Our Orlando lawyers could review the police report, witness statements, any available video footage, and other relevant information to determine fault for your highway auto wreck.
If the other party is at fault, they must pay for your damages. Damages are often substantial after a highway crash. Our experienced attorneys have achieved verdicts and settlements exceeding $1 million in numerous car accident cases.
When your injuries qualify you to bring a legal claim, you could obtain full compensation for your losses. Damages may include pain and suffering, unreimbursed medical expenses, lost income, and future losses.
If you were partially responsible for the wreck, your damages will be reduced by a percentage equal to your degree of responsibility. For example, if your damages are $1 million but you were 20 percent responsible for the accident, you may collect only $800,000 of your damages.
Punitive Damages
When clear evidence shows that the responsible party acted intentionally or with gross negligence, you could claim punitive damages. Punitive damages are additional compensation a court awards to penalize the defendant. Courts rarely award punitive damages in personal injury cases, but judges sometimes grant them when a driver causes significant harm by acting recklessly or driving under the influence.
Speak With Our Orlando Attorneys About Injury Claims After a Highway Auto Crash
At the Florida Firm, we know how to navigate the aftermath of highway car accidents in Orlando. If you have been hurt by someone else’s negligence, we could provide aggressive advocacy to ensure that you receive fair compensation for the harm you have suffered.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a member of our team at no risk. We accept no payment until we achieve a favorable settlement or verdict.