Lake Wales, Florida
Lake Wales Personal Injury Lawyers
Lake Wales: 2 S 1st St Suite 211, Lake Wales, FL 33853
Were you seriously injured in an accident that was caused by the negligent or irresponsible actions of another? Are you having trouble dealing with the aftermath of the accident, including huge expenses, severe physical injuries, and significant emotional distress? If so, our Lake Wales personal injury lawyers at Howell & Thornhill may be able to help you demand justice.
An experienced injury lawyer at our firm is here to guide you through the claims process. We will work tirelessly to determine who is at fault for your injuries so we can hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
You will be able to devote your time and energy towards recuperating while our team works behind the scenes to build a compelling case against the at-fault party. Contact our personal injury firm for a 100% free consultation today to learn more about whether you have grounds for a claim, how much you could be awarded, and which legal options are most suitable for your case.
Grounds For a Personal Injury Claim
It is not at all uncommon for injury victims to be unsure whether they have met the grounds needed to file a claim. Far more lawsuits and insurance claims would be filed if victims understood what it takes for a claim to be successful.
The best way to find out is to speak with your personal injury lawyer about the specific circumstances of your case. Otherwise, consider how your injuries impact your life, future, and whether someone else is to blame. If another party’s negligence was the cause of your injuries, and your injuries or the accident itself has significantly affected you, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages.
The elements of negligence must be met for a payout to be awarded. These elements include:
● Duty of care
● Breach of duty
● Causation
● Damages
Common Types of Injuries to Sue for in Lake Wales
Above, we previously discussed the grounds needed to file a personal injury lawsuit in Florida. As can be seen, suffering life-threatening or catastrophic injuries is not a requirement. As long as your injuries affect your activities, you may be entitled to reimbursement for your suffering. Some of the most common types of injuries our Lake Wales clients have reported include:
● Hip injuries
● Shoulder injuries
● Neck injuries
● Herniated discs
● Concussion
● Broken bones
● Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
● Whiplash
● Traumatic brain injuries
● Back injuries
● Amputation
● Spinal cord injuries
● Soft tissue injuries
● Internal bleeding
● Paralysis
● Puncture wounds
● Septic shock
● Organ failure
● Dental injuries
● Facial trauma
Our injury lawyers will carefully examine your medical records and prognosis to determine whether your injuries meet the eligibility requirements for a personal injury lawsuit. It will be important to consider the future impact of your injuries when we calculate the value of your claim so you are fairly compensated for your damages and suffering.
Accidents Our Personal Injury Law Firm Can Help With
You need an established personal injury attorney at Howell & Thornhill to help you get through these difficult times in your life. Our firm is prepared to aid injury victims dealing with a wide variety of accidents. Some of the most common types of cases we handle include:
● Motor vehicle accidents
● Slips and falls
● Product liability cases
● Wrongful death
● Dog bites
Motor Vehicle Accidents
One of the most common types of cases our personal injury lawyers take on are those involving motor vehicle accidents. This can include:
● Buses
● Delivery trucks
● Ride shares, including Uber and Lyft
● Construction trucks
● Taxis
● Public transportation
In many car accident cases, negligent drivers are the cause of the victim’s injuries. This may be because they were drunk, distracted, drowsy, aggressive, reckless, or violating Florida traffic laws and regulations. However, motor vehicle wrecks have also been caused by dangerous road conditions and defective auto parts.
An in-depth investigation into the cause of your car accident will determine whether negligent drivers, government agencies, including the Florida Department of Transportation or the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, vehicle parts manufacturers and distributors, or other third parties are at fault.
Slips and Falls
Injury attorneys at our firm also regularly take on slip-and-fall accident cases. Slips and falls can happen because of:
● Wet floors
● Debris in walkways
● Slippery surfaces
● Unsecured carpeting
● Loose maps
● Absence of railings
● Broken stairs or railings
● Falling merchandise
● Roof leaks
Generally, property owners are found liable for slip and fall accident injuries. However, depending on how the accident happened, restaurants, supermarkets, hotels, railing installers, general contractors, and other parties could share liability.
Product Liability Cases
A product liability case is any type of accident caused by a defective product. Consumers should be able to trust that when they use purchased items as intended, they are not going to cause severe injury or death. However, when there are manufacturing defects, design defects, or lack of sufficient warning labels, victims can suffer catastrophic or fatal injuries.
What makes product liability cases unique is that nearly anyone involved in the chain of distribution can be held accountable. Our injury attorneys will scrutinize the evidence to determine which parties should be compelled to compensate you for your damages accordingly.
Wrongful Death
If you are the surviving family member of someone who has passed away from a fatal injury, you may have the right to take legal action against the at fault party by filing a wrongful death claim.
According to Florida wrongful death laws, which can be found under Florida Statutes Chapter 768.21 , only the decedent’s personal representative can file a wrongful death action. Damages may be available for the decedent’s surviving spouse, adult children, minor children, or parents.
Dog Bites
Our injury law firm has substantial experience handling dog bite cases. Florida is a strict liability state for dog bites, meaning dog owners are held accountable for the actions of their pets, whether the dog has previously bitten or demonstrated a propensity for aggression or violence.
However, the dog’s owner is likely to accuse you of provoking the animal or trespassing on their property in order to avoid financial liability. Our team understands dog owner defense tactics and will be prepared to challenge them so you can access the financial compensation you deserve.
How Personal Injury Victims in Lake Wales Are Compensated
Our personal injury attorneys are here to ensure you receive maximum compensation for your suffering and damages. According to Florida tort laws, you have the right to be made whole. This “legalese” means victims should receive compensation for every single loss, including medical bills, wage loss, as well as pain and suffering. Lawyers divide these damages into “economic damages” and “non-economic damages.”
Economic Damages
Economic damages include every out-of-pocket expense or financial cost related to your injuries and the accident you were involved in. Some of the most commonly awarded economic damages in personal injury lawsuits include:
● Lost income when you have to take time off work
● Loss of employer-provided health insurance paid time off, and other employee benefits
● Costs of household maintenance help and childcare
● Healthcare costs, including medical devices, ambulance bills, medications, surgeries, and ongoing or future medical treatment
● Personal property damages, including vehicle repair costs
Non-Economic Damages
Insurance companies claim to a jury that non-economic damages “are far more difficult to evaluate.” We at Howell & Thornhill know, however, that the impact on your life is substantial. Some examples of recoverable non-economic damages include:
● Excruciating physical pain
● Emotional trauma and turmoil
● Embarrassing skin scars
● Permanent disability
● Disfigurement
● Loss of enjoyment of life
● Inability to participate in intimate spousal relations
● Loss of companionship, advice, support, services, love, and guidance
● Anticipation, apprehension, and fear
● Indignity
● Diminished quality of life
Punitive Damages
Florida personal injury laws under Florida Statutes § 768.72 allow for punitive damages to be awarded to injury victims when the defendant’s actions are reprehensible, malicious, or grossly negligent. This means not every injury victim will receive a punitive damages award. However, if the Florida civil courts find it appropriate to punish the liable party for their actions, they may impose significant punitive damages, which can dramatically increase your settlement.
Statute of Limitations for Lake Wales Personal Injury Lawsuits
Personal injury lawsuits and insurance claims must be filed in a timely manner. In fact, insurance companies have been known to limit the amount of time victims have to file claims to as few as 48 hours. If you are filing a personal injury lawsuit in Florida civil courts, the amount of time you have to file is limited to two years from the accident date.
This is a significant change from prior statute of limitations laws which allowed Florida injury victims up to four years to file a lawsuit. Legislation changed in 2023. Now, if the accident occurred after these new laws were enacted, you will have two years to file your lawsuit.
However, if the accident happened before these laws changed, many lawyers argue that you will be “grandfathered in” and have up to four years from the accident date to get your claim filed. If you are unsure how much longer you have to take action on your Lake Wales personal injury claim, do not hesitate to discuss your concerns with your injury attorney.
What to Do if the Liable Party Blames You for the Accident
Do not be surprised or intimidated if the liable party blames you for causing the accident or your subsequent injuries. Injury law firms should have extensive experience fighting back against unjust allegations of shared blame.
Under pure comparative negligence laws, even if you were partially at fault for the accident, you could still be awarded money for the fault of the person who caused the injury. For instance, if the driver that hit you was 25% at fault, then they were responsible for 25% of the damages. However, in 2023, the laws changed. Now, Florida personal injury laws follow a modified comparative fault system.
Here, if your portion of blame exceeds the 50% bar threshold, you will no longer be able to recover any compensation for your losses. So, the driver who is 25% at fault escapes responsibility completely for any damages.
Having a dedicated personal injury law firm advocate for your rights will be essential. Liable parties are likely to blame you in the hopes of reducing or eliminating their fair financial obligations. When you have your personal injury attorney in Lake Wales handle these accusations, you can rest easier knowing liability will be evaluated correctly and you will not be taken advantage of by self-serving parties.
Get Help From Our Personal Injury Lawyers in Lake Wales Today
No two personal injury law firms are alike. When you choose our legal team at Howell & Thornhill, you are choosing proven and experienced legal representation. Our attorneys are prepared to handle every aspect of your case so you can heal without the burdens of a complex legal battle.
You can fight back against the at-fault party and recover the compensation that is rightfully yours instead of being forced to absorb the impact of another party’s negligence. When you are ready to take back control of your life, do not hesitate. Reach out to our dedicated Lake Wales personal injury attorneys at Howell & Thornhill for a no-cost, risk-free consultation. Reach us through our quick contact form or by phone to get started as soon as today.
