Personal Injury Lawyer
If the careless actions of another left you with a serious injury, medical bills, and lost wages, you deserve to be compensated. When another party—whether they are a driver or property owner—causes you harm due to negligence, you have the right to file a personal injury claim against them. In virtually all cases, the compensation comes from that party’s insurance company, not the individual themselves. In order to take on these multi-billion dollar insurance carriers, you need an experienced attorney at your side. The best way to win your case, and be compensated fairly for your injuries, is by enlisting the professional help of a personal injury lawyer, and here at Douglas & Douglas, our attorneys will aggressively pursue every dollar that you are owed.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle
- Aviation Accidents;
- Bicycle & Pedestrian Accidents;
- Boat Accidents;
- Car Accidents;
- Catastrophic Injuries;
- Defective Products;
- Dog Bites;
- Motorcycle Accidents;
- Nursing Home Abuse;
- Premises Liability;
- Pool & Swimming Accidents;
- Slip & Falls;
- Truck Accidents;
- Watercraft Accidents; and
- Wrongful Death.
How We Prove Liability in Personal Injury Cases
Even in personal injury cases in which fault is obvious, it is common for the other party to deny wrongdoing, or at least to put partial blame on you, the injured party. Insurance companies are highly profitable, with some reporting net profit margins of 10 percent or more annually, according to Investopedia. In order to create these high profit margins for their shareholders, they employ cutthroat tactics, and routinely blame the victim for causing the crash, slip and fall, or other accident. As such, it is important that we establish liability, or fault, and that may require using police reports, eye witness accounts, video surveillance footage, crash scene re-creation experts in motor vehicle collisions, and other experts.
The Legal Doctrine of Comparative Negligence
Comparative negligence can have a big impact on the value of your claim. Comparative negligence works as such: the victim’s degree of fault is subtracted from their overall damages. This means that if you were hit by a speeding driver who slammed into the back of you, but your tail lights were out and it was dusk, your claim could be devalued based on your degree of fault. If you are found to be 20 percent at fault, you could only collect 80 percent of your total damages. Decreasing your level of fault is vital in all types of personal injury claims.
What is My Personal Injury Claim Worth?
The value of your claim is based on your damages. And, because Florida has the fourth highest hospital rates in the nation, according to Governing, it is likely that if you were seriously injured, your claim is highly valuable. Damages stemming from your injuries can include:
- Medical bills;
- Lost wages and earning capacity;
- Pain and suffering;
- Property damage;
- Emotional distress; and
- More.
Reach Out to Our Personal Injury Attorneys
Before you discuss your case with the other party or their insurance company, we urge you to talk to an attorney first. Here at Douglas & Douglas, our Ft. White personal injury attorneys can help you receive what your case is really worth. Call us today at 904-201-8226 to schedule your free consultation.