Car Accident Pre-Litigation Lawyer in Lakeland

Fighting to Help Our Clients Secure Maximum Compensation

The average person has a ton of stressors throughout their daily lives. The last thing we need is more stress laid at our feet. Unfortunately, the negligent or wrongful acts of others can quickly turn this into a reality. Even a simple action by an unsafe driver can upend your life and leave you injured and financially devastated. If you or a loved one have been injured in such an incident, a car accident litigation lawyer may be able to assist.

At DeMichael Law, you’ll work with a Lakeland car accident injury attorney who’s committed to securing a favorable outcome on your behalf. We fight to ensure our clients get every penny they deserve. This can include compensation for medical bills, lost wages, future therapy costs, and more. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that an insurance company has your best interests in mind. Contact our Lakeland car accident attorney today to schedule your free consultation.

Are You Entitled to Financial Compensation After a Car Wreck?

When a person is involved in a car accident, they’ll typically suffer a variety of losses. However, it’s not always the case that they’re entitled to compensation. For instance, a person who injures themselves by texting and driving will likely have little recourse to recover damages from any other party. However, compensation may be possible if you were harmed due to the negligence or wrongful acts of others.

In such a situation, three elements will need to be proven:

Duty of care: It must be established that a duty of care exists. This is not very difficult in car accident cases. Every driver on the road has a duty to act safely behind the wheel.
Violation of duty: For an injury victim to be entitled to compensation, a violation of duty must occur. For instance, a driver running a red light has violated their duty of care.
Damages: Violations of duty happen every day with minimal consequences. However, compensation is possible when a violation results in physical harm or other losses.

The important thing to remember is that these elements only need to be established if you go to court. Your Lakeland car accident litigation attorney can work to do this. However, your lawyer can also negotiate a fair settlement with the liable party’s insurer by showing that these elements are likely to be proven at trial. This is one of the many reasons that it’s so important for personal injury victims to seek legal representation.

What Damages Could You Receive?

When someone is injured due to the negligent or wrongful acts of another party, they may be entitled to varying types of compensation. This typically depends on the types of damages they suffered related to the incident. Keep in mind that not everyone will be entitled to all these forms of compensation — particularly punitive damages. However, knowing your options is important:

Economic damages: These are related to real monetary harm. For instance, the cost of your medical treatment and lost wages are real financial losses. You can be compensated for this dollar-to-dollar.
Non-economic damages: This type of compensation relates to non-financial losses. Pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment in life are just a few examples of potential damages.
Punitive damages: These court awards are meant to punish liable parties rather than reimburse personal injury victims. In Florida, these damages are capped at the higher of $500,000 or three times the amount of the compensatory award.

Whether a person is entitled to these damages will depend entirely upon the circumstances of their case. However, it’s important that we talk about the comparative negligence law in Florida. This states that an injury victim can still receive compensation even if they contributed to their own accident. However, their damages will be reduced by the percentage of fault they share in the case. If they’re more than 50% at fault, they’re entitled to nothing.

The critical thing is to not make assumptions regarding fault. Let a legal professional review your case and help you understand how to move forward best.

Contact our car accident litigation lawyer at DeMichael Law today to learn more.

Is There a Statute of Limitations on Car Crashes in Florida?

If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Florida, it’s important that you act fast. There are deadlines for filing a claim. In most instances, the statute of limitations for car accidents in Florida is four years. If you fail to file within this timeframe, you’ll lose your right to do so. At this point, insurance companies have no incentive to compensate you fairly.

There are some exceptions to Florida’s statute of limitations. For instance, you’ll have two years from the death of a loved one to file a wrongful death lawsuit in relation to an accident. Additionally, you’ll only have three years to file if you were injured due to government negligence. This means you have less time to file if unmaintained roads or similar issues caused your injury.

While it may sound like you have a long time, months go by fast when you’re injured. Additionally, insurers will try to drag out settlement negotiations. At DeMichael Law, we can get started on your case right away and ensure your claims are filed in a timely manner. Reach out today to schedule a free consultation.

Contact Our Car Accident Litigation Lawyer in Lakeland Today

No one starts the day expecting to experience a serious accident. Unfortunately, the negligence and wrongful acts of others can destroy this expectation. If you or a loved one were injured in a car accident, there’s a chance you may be entitled to substantial financial compensation. However, liability laws have recently changed in Florida. This is just one of the many reasons you should seek legal assistance before doing anything else.

At DeMichael Law, we understand what you’re going through. Even a relatively minor injury can cause significant hardships for accident victims. After all, a single broken bone in the foot can keep you stuck at home and unable to work or do anything else. Sadly, the consequences of serious crashes are often much more severe. Regardless of your exact situation, our car accident litigation lawyer in Lakeland may be able to help.