Hire a Personal Injury Attorney Through 1-800-Injured Today
1-800-Injured is an attorney and medical referral service. Instead of worrying about whether or not you should hire an attorney, and then going through the process of finding one who can take your case, let us do the work for you. Contact us as soon as possible to be connected with a personal injury attorney in your area who can fight for the money that you deserve while you focus on your recovery, your family, and getting your life back on track. You do not deserve the added stress of a legal process that someone else caused, and your lawyer will help shield you from much of it.
Take a look below to get a better idea of how a Sarasota personal injury attorney can help you get the money that you deserve, and contact us as soon as possible for a free consultation and be connected with legal representation today.
What Constitutes a Personal Injury?
A personal injury is simply an injury to the body, as opposed to property damage. However, there are specific requirements for a personal injury to be considered a tort, which compensates the victim from the responsible party. There are a variety of common personal injuries in Sarasota, some of which are listed in the next section, but the reality is that a personal injury can happen anywhere.
The following are the criteria necessary for a personal injury to be covered under American tort law, and to entitle you, the victim, to compensation from the responsible party:
- The defendant had a “duty of care” owed to the plaintiff
- The defendant failed to uphold their duty of care
- This failure led to an accident
- The plaintiff suffered measurable injuries in the accident
For example: If someone was sending a text message while driving, they have failed their duty of care by disregarding the rules of the road, as well as the safety of those around them. If they cause an accident while they are engaging in this distracted driving, and someone is injured in the crash, then the victim has a right to seek additional compensation beyond the repair or replacement costs of their vehicle and personal property, and instead seek compensation for their physical and emotional damages.
This compensation is comprised of economic and non-economic damages, each of which seeks a specific type of compensation for a specific type of impact on the victim and their life. These are discussed at the bottom of the page.
Common Causes of Personal Injuries
The following are a few of the most common causes of personal injuries in Sarasota, but this list is nowhere near comprehensive. If you are uncertain of whether or not your own situation is considered a personal injury, or if you want to know more about what the legal process would look like your injuries, consult with an attorney as soon as possible. Contact 1-800-Injured now to connect with a Sarasota personal injury lawyer and learn about your rights during a free initial consultation.
Drunk Driving
Drunk driving is shockingly common, and is an extremely dangerous decision that puts everyone on the road at risk because of one selfish driver. In 2017, there were a total of 5,125 crashes with alcohol involved, and 350 fatal accidents, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), which was an improvement from 2016, but unacceptable nonetheless. Getting into an accident with a drunk driver can be an emotional experience, and the frustration of knowing that you were injured because of such an easily avoidable act can cause emotional suffering that you deserve compensation for.
Speeding and other Reckless Driving
Speed limits are set out by law, but too often people use a speed limit as a suggestion. Speeding and recklessness are acts that drivers of all ages and experience engage in but can be especially dangerous when an inexperienced driver is doing it because they may not understand the limitations of their vehicle or how to safely maneuver in a dangerous situation. Speeding can also increase the risk of serious injury in an accident since higher speeds result in greater impacts. The force of the impact does not necessarily guarantee greater injuries, but it is a major factor in determining the severity of the injuries in a crash.
Motorcycle Accidents
Florida is routinely found to be one of, if not the, most dangerous state in the country for motorcycle accidents. While there are a variety of factors that may contribute to this alarming statistic, the reality is that each time someone pulls out onto a public roadway on a motorcycle they are putting themselves at risk of an accident. Paired with the fact that Florida has a lax helmet law, the possibility of fatal injuries is significant. Even the most experienced and alert motorcycle driver is not immune to an accident, especially when sharing the road with distracted, intoxicated, or inexperienced drivers.
Slip and Fall Accidents
When you enter someone else’s property—private, public, government—legally, you have every right to expect that the owner has taken all appropriate steps to provide you with a safe visit by fixing all hazards and warning you of any hazards that they are unable to address during your visit. This is known as premise liability, and property owners (or, in some cases, the party responsible for managing the property) are legally required to take responsibility for all who enter their property. A “slip and fall” accident is as it sounds: a slip, trip, or fall over a hazard such as a wet floor, broken stair tread, or slippery surface that causes an injury.
Calculating Damages After a Personal Injury in Sarasota
The issue of compensation is central to your personal injury case and will be the main determining factor of whether you are able to reach a settlement agreement out of court, or if you and your attorney decide to file a lawsuit with the Florida courts to get the money that you truly deserve. Compensatory damages are broken into two distinct categories, economic and non-economic, which are explained below.
Connect With an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Now
The sooner you contact us at 1-800-Injured, the sooner you will be connected with an attorney in Sarasota who can help you fight for the money that you deserve, NOT just the money that the insurance company wants to pay you. The legal process is stressful and overwhelming, but when you have an attorney who is representing your case, you will be able to focus on your personal needs and making a recovery without the burden of your legal issues.