Lakeland Injury Attorneys

When you are injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligent behavior, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your injuries. Whether you were hurt in a collision with a driver who was under the influence or experienced a slip and fall at a retail store, our experienced Lakeland injury attorneys can help you understand your rights after an accident.

For more than 50 years, Howell & Thornhill, P.A. has advocated for injured individuals against negligent people and companies in Central Florida. Our team will negotiate for the maximum compensation possible, fighting for a successful recovery, physically and financially. Let our injury lawyers help you pursue justice.

Personal Injury Cases in Lakeland, FL

Personal injury cases include a wide breadth of situations, but all end with one party being injured or killed due to the other party’s negligence. At Howell & Thornhill, P.A., our Lakeland injury lawyers are committed to helping you recover the compensation you need to make a full recovery. We will help you understand your rights and make sure that you get your story heard. Our injury attorneys have represented clients successfully in many areas of personal injury law, including:

• Car Accident Lawsuits: When a driver acts negligently and causes an accident that causes injuries, they should be held responsible. We pursue claims against distracted drivers, people driving under the influence, and other forms of negligence behind the wheel.
• Truck Accident Lawsuits: Accidents with semi-trucks often result in severe injuries. With truck accidents, the trucker, cargo loaders, and freight companies could be held liable depending on the type of negligence that caused your accident.
• Motorcycle Accident Lawsuits: With very little protection on the roads, motorcyclists often experience catastrophic accidents, resulting in lifelong injuries and possibly even permanent disability.
• Pedestrian Accident Lawsuits: Those walking alongside roadways are often very vulnerable to injuries, especially from distracted drivers. We help pedestrians hurt in accidents recover their maximum compensation.
• Boating Accident Lawsuits: Our injury attorney will help accident victims throughout Lakeland pursue a claim against negligent boaters and operators of other water vessels.
• Bicycle Accident Lawsuits: Accidents involving bicyclists overlap with our experience with car, truck, and motorcycle collisions. We understand the local laws that exist to protect cyclists from negligent drivers.  One of our lawyers is an avid cyclist.
• Dog Bite Lawsuits: Dog bites and other injuries due to owner negligence can turn into bigger issues, especially in vulnerable populations like children and the elderly. Under Florida Law, victims of dog bites can pursue justice against negligent owners to repay their expenses.
• Slip and Fall Accident Lawsuits: Accidents caused by hazards on other people’s property are often referred to as a slip and fall or premises liability case.
• Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuits: We advocate for survivors and families of nursing home neglect and abuse that has occurred in an assisted living facility or other long-term care home.
• Product Liability Lawsuits: We hold manufacturers and sellers accountable for injuries caused by products that are improperly labeled or defective.
• Wrongful Death Lawsuits: Any of the above types of personal injury claims could result in a death, which would fall under the category of wrongful death. Our injury lawyer will pursue justice on behalf of the family and dependents who are left behind.

Under Florida Law, people who have been injured due to the negligence of others have certain rights to pursue compensation. Our injury lawyers work to build a strong case that the other person was responsible and to prove the direct connection between their negligence and your injuries. 

Types of Catastrophic Injuries

Our injury attorneys are well-versed in pursuing justice for victims of catastrophic injuries. The severity of a catastrophic injury is defined as a life-altering, long-term, or permanent disability or fatality. These injuries turn a person’s life upside down and dramatically change their ability to function normally, pursue hobbies and enjoyment, and support their family. 

Long-term rehabilitation, medical care, and extensive hospital bills are often associated with these types of injuries. If you or a loved one is dealing with a catastrophic personal injury, working with a personal injury lawyer can help you pursue the compensation you need to recover and deserve as a repayment for the lifelong changes and suffering you have gone through. Some of the catastrophic injury cases our Lakeland lawyers have successfully pursued include:

• • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Cases: These injuries cause damage to the head and brain, often leading to long-term consequences such as comas, paralysis, confusion, frustration, poor short term memory,  and cognitive decline. Head trauma often happens in high-speed car accidents, rollovers, and falls from heights.

• Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Cases: These injuries cause damage to the spinal cord, cutting off the signals between the brain and different parts of the body. Full or partial paralysis, chronic pain, respiratory and circulatory problems, spasms, and loss of bowel and bladder control can occur, often requiring specialized medical devices or in-home care.

• Severe Burn Injury Cases: Whether caused by defective products, boating accidents, or vehicle crashes, burns can limit mobility, cause chronic pain, infections, and severe disfigurement. Burns rated as third-degree and above are considered catastrophic, requiring skin grafts and potentially lifelong treatment.

• Cases Involving Damage to Internal Organs: Damage to internal organs can lead to numerous issues, including life-threatening situations. Organ damage may not be immediately noticed, due to internal bleeding and trauma from the accident, so be sure to get seen by a medical professional immediately after your accident.

• Loss of Limb Cases: Traumatic amputation, due to an injury or accident, accounts for roughly 45% of amputations, according to Hopkins Medicine. Those who experience traumatic amputation due to a catastrophic injury may be entitled to significant noneconomic damages for pain and suffering, in addition to economic damages that pay for medical bills and other expenses.

• Loss of Vision Cases: Vision loss, whether partial or total, can be caused by head trauma or damage to the eye itself. Vision is unlikely to be recovered if the injury is severe, dramatically impacting an individual’s quality of life and ability to go back to life as it used to be.

• Loss of Hearing Cases: Loss of one of the five senses, such as hearing, can dramatically impact an injury victim’s life and ability to communicate in normal everyday life. This also affects their professional life. Hearing loss tends to be permanent and can occur due to head trauma, whiplash, air bag explosions, and loud noises caused by an accident.

• Scarring and Permanent Disfigurement Cases: Severe burns, amputations, and other injuries can cause scarring and disfigurement, restricting movement, causing chronic pain, and impacting the injured person psychologically. Visible scarring and disfigurement could negatively impact a person’s self-esteem and cause social isolation, depression, and anxiety.

Due to the high stakes and intense losses of catastrophic injuries, working with an experienced Lakeland injury lawyer is recommended. Howell & Thornhill, P.A. offers the compassionate advocacy you need to pursue the compensation you deserve.

Calculating the Cost of Catastrophic Injuries

Catastrophic injuries impact a victim’s life in many ways and demand a high comprehensive claim value to cover economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include expenses and monetary losses such as past and future medical care, assistive devices, and lost earning capacity. Non-economic damages focus on the losses that are not directly tied to a monetary amount, such as mental anguish, chronic pain, disfigurement, suffering, and other psychological losses.

Our team builds a strong case to back up your losses, relying on expert testimony to provide detailed information regarding your injuries and how they will impact you long term. We may call in medical professionals, economists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation specialists, and life care planners. Speak with an injury lawyer today to discuss your specific situation and get started building your case to seek justice.

How Our Lakeland Injury Attorneys Can Help You

Any accident or injury that you suffer due to someone else’s negligence is sure to be a major source of frustration. After all, you were just going about your day when suddenly you are in pain, potentially unable to work, and not because of any fault of your own. At Howell & Thornhill, P.A., we strive to reestablish our clients’ lives to where they were before. When you trust our injury attorneys with your case, you can rest assured we are working hard, because we got this.

Since 1975, we have represented our surrounding community in Central Florida and Polk County, bringing to every case the knowledge only an experienced local can. Howell & Thornhill has represented more than 10,000 people throughout Florida, and our team is constantly adding more satisfied clients to that list. If you are unable to travel to one of our locations, we can come to you for your consultation. 

We work with private investigators to track down evidence and build a strong foundation of proof that will hold up in court. We keep things straightforward and do not mess with legalese. Our goal is to help you understand what is happening throughout the process of your personal injury claim or case at every step.

Comparative Negligence and Shared Fault

For instances of shared liability in a personal injury, Florida law uses a system of shared fault called modified comparative fault. This allows you to share partial responsibility for your injuries while still recovering compensation from the party that was most at fault. Some states do not allow for recovery of any compensation if you are found to be even the slightest bit at fault. Florida’s legal system understands that some errors on the part of the injured person may be taken into account without completely barring them from receiving compensation.

How Modified Comparative Fault Works

A crucial aspect of this system is that you cannot be found to be more than 50% at fault. If you are found to be more than 50% at fault, you generally will be prohibited from receiving any compensation for your injuries or losses. If you are less than 50% at fault, your financial award will simply be reduced proportionally based on that percentage. That means that if you are deemed to be 15% at fault for your car accident, due to a faulty taillight, your awarded compensation will be reduced by 15%.

Seemingly minor issues like faulty lights in a car accident can be used by the defendant to argue that your compensation should be reduced dramatically. An experienced injury lawyer may be able to help significantly in cases of shared fault, as demonstrating proof and evidence of the defendant’s negligence will bolster your case. Be sure to consult with an injury attorney if you are pursuing a personal injury case, which could include the issue of shared fault. Their guidance and support may be crucial in helping you receive the compensation you deserve.

Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury in Florida

A deadline exists to file your personal injury case, and missing it could mean missing out on the ability to seek any compensation for your injuries.  Primarily, you have 14 days to see a medical provider after a car crash or  you lose up to $10,000 in medical coverage.  Additionally, under Florida Statute 95.11(3)(a), the deadline for seeking compensation for your injuries is generally two years from the day your injury occurs or is discovered. Wrongful death claims are under a separate statute of limitations, which is two years from the date of the injured person’s death.

There are many benefits to starting your case as soon as possible. For instance, the sooner you get started on your personal injury case, the better chance you will have of gathering fresh evidence and eyewitness testimony. Your injury lawyer from Howell & Thornhill will also have more time to collect and build a strong case against the negligent party. Contact our Lakeland personal injury attorney today to get started on the legal process of filing your personal injury claim.

Contact Our Lakeland Injury Attorneys About Your Case

While you focus on recovering from your injuries, we can help you recover the compensation you deserve. We deal directly with the insurance company for you, negotiating for the highest possible amount you deserve, and we will navigate the legal system on your behalf if necessary. At Howell & Thornhill, our injury attorneys listen and provide compassionate advocacy on your behalf during this stressful time.

Contact our Lakeland injury attorneys online for a free case evaluation. We will discuss your case, answer any questions you have, and review your available legal options. There is a limited time to file your personal injury claim, so do not delay.