If you are involved in a car crash while traveling in Florida, you may experience significant injuries. In addition, your vehicle may experience extensive damage that could cost thousands of dollars to repair. It’s also possible that items inside your car will need to be repaired or replaced. Fortunately, you may be entitled to compensation for any losses incurred because of another party’s reckless behavior. You may also be entitled to compensation for future costs related to a car accident caused by another person or entity.
Common Types of Indian River County Car Accident Injuries
There are many different types of injuries that you may experience in the aftermath of a motor vehicle accident. Depending on the circumstances of your wreck, you may suffer injuries to multiple parts of your body, and it’s also possible that a wreck will result in internal bleeding or damage to organs such as the kidney or liver.
Whiplash is among the most commonly cited car crash injuries, and it occurs when the head or neck is forced to move in an unnatural fashion when your vehicle collides with another vehicle or object. Signs of whiplash include a sore neck or an inability to move your head without difficulty.
Broken bones are also commonly reported after a car accident. In some cases, this occurs because your arm or leg bounced off a hard surface in the vehicle after impact. Broken bones may also result from poor posture causing your feet, legs, or other body parts to snap or dislocate as a collision occurs.
Internal injuries may occur for a variety of reasons. For example, you could be impaled by a piece of glass that goes through your stomach or a vital organ. It’s also possible that your safety belt was too tight to your body and cut through the skin. It’s worth noting that you should always wear your safety belt as it can prevent you from being ejected from your car or truck. It can also help keep your neck, shoulders, and head from moving too much after a crash.
Liability For Car Accidents in Indian River County
There are many factors to consider when determining who may be liable for an accident. First, you must determine that the defendant owed you a duty of care to minimize the crash risk. Generally speaking, all motorists are required to do so. This typically means driving at a safe rate of speed, maintaining an adequate following distance, and refraining from traveling while impaired by drugs or alcohol or while distracted.
You must then show that the defendant breached its duty of care by taking actions that may have led to the accident. For instance, if the other driver was using a cell phone while his or her car was in motion, that would likely be a breach of that duty. The same might be true if the other driver ran a red light, fell asleep at the wheel, or looked at a passenger when the wreck occurred.
Finally, you must be able to show that a defendant’s breach of his or her duty of care toward your results in a financial loss. If you had to go to the hospital for treatment, medical bills from that service provider would likely prove this element.
It’s possible that multiple parties may be liable for damages in your case. For instance, if you made an unsafe lane change before being struck by a drunk driver, you may be responsible for what happened to you. If the other vehicle had defective brakes, the company that installed those brakes could be named as a defendant because it caused a condition that resulted in a crash.
Indian River County Auto Accident Case Value
There is no way to say how much your case is worth until an Indian River County car accident lawyer has a chance to learn more about it. However, as a general rule, you are typically entitled to reimbursement for damages such as medical bills, lost wages, and the cost of repairing or replacing a vehicle or other items. You may also be entitled to future damages such as the cost of medical treatment and lost future earnings related to a defendant’s negligent actions.
It’s not uncommon for car accident victims to be apprehensive about getting into a vehicle day, weeks, or months after being involved in a wreck. Car accident victims may also have trouble driving past the spot of their accidents or may have nightmares about what happened to them. If you are experiencing any type of mental anguish, you may receive compensation that can be used to pay for therapy or other treatment to help you overcome it.
You may also obtain compensation for miscellaneous costs such as hiring someone to do your grocery shopping or mowing your lawn because you’re unable to. A financial award might also cover the loss of consortium with a spouse or the loss of a relationship with a child, sibling, or friend. A relationship may be damaged because you have long-term memory issues, problems communicating or trouble exerting yourself long enough to engage in activities.
Car Accident Case Settlements in Indian River County
It’s not unusual for car accident cases to be resolved outside of court. This is because it generally takes less time and money to reach a settlement as opposed to taking a case to trial. Furthermore, all parties involved generally have more control over the outcome of the matter when they come to a resolution on their own as opposed to a judge’s help.
A judge may order the plaintiff and defendant to engage in settlement talks before setting a trial date. It’s also worth noting that a settlement can be reached after a trial date has been set or after litigation begins. There is also a chance for negotiations to intensify after a jury has reached its verdict in the matter.
There may be many good reasons why you should try to settle a case after a jury has spoken. First, the defendant may decide to appeal the ruling, and the appeals process may take many months or years to complete. It’s also possible that a jury might award you more than what is allowed by state law. In such a scenario, engaging in settlement talks may be the best way to maximize the size of your award.
Finally, it’s possible that the judge in your case decides that the award is unfair and takes steps to reduce or invalidate it completely. This may occur even if the award fits under any cap set by state or federal law.
Filing a Lawsuit For An Indian River County Car Accident
In Florida, you typically have two years from the date of an accident to file a lawsuit. This doesn’t mean that the case has to be resolved within two years. Instead, it simply means you have to state your intention of engaging in litigation within that time. If you don’t, you could severely undermine your ability to obtain compensation in your case because you won’t have any leverage if settlement talks don’t yield a favorable outcome.
It’s worth noting that there are several reasons why the statute of limitations clock may extend past two years. For example, if you were under 18 when you were hurt, you’ll have 96 months after your 18th birthday to file a lawsuit against the defendant or defendants in your case. If you were in a coma, suffered extreme mental distress, or were otherwise not of sound mind after the accident, the limitations clock will toll until you overcome your mental health issues.
In the event that you are incarcerated, the statute of limitations clock will stop running until you are out of jail or prison. Finally, you may have extra time to take legal action if you don’t connect your injuries to the accident. After a car accident, it might take hours, days, or weeks to experience symptoms of whiplash, broken bones or internal injuries.
You may not immediately realize that your stomach pain results from internal injuries suffered weeks ago in a car wreck. Ideally, you will seek medical treatment immediately, even if you feel fine, as it can make obtaining an accurate and timely assessment of your condition easier. Furthermore, seeking treatment can help to create a paper trail linking a defendant’s actions with your injuries. This can make it easier to obtain a favorable outcome in your case in less time.
Speak With An Indian River County Car Accident Lawyer Today
Hiring an Indian River County car accident attorney may make it easier to understand your rights as a plaintiff and responsibilities as a client after a car wreck. A car accident lawyer may review any settlement offers you have received and explain how long it may take to obtain an outcome in your matter. Finally, your attorney will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that your wishes are respected throughout the legal process. This is true even if your attorney doesn’t necessarily agree with them.
