Summerfield Personal Injury Lawyer
If another party’s carelessness caused your injuries, you may be wondering how you are ever going to move past it.
A Summerfield personal injury attorney can explain your legal options in Florida and help you prove your claim for compensation to cover your accident-related costs.
At Meldon Law, we fight the insurance companies to protect the rights of injured Floridians. Our legal team lives for the battle, and we will do whatever it takes to see justice served on your behalf. Let us take the pressure off of you by handling your claim. Call us today: (352) 373-8000.
Seeking Justice Through a Personal Injury Claim in Summerfield, FL
Personal injury laws help hold careless people and companies responsible for the harm they cause. These laws give you the right to sue for compensation if you or a loved one is injured in an accident that never should have happened. In these claims, you can be repaid for medical bills, lost wages, and other costs that are associated with the accident. You can also recover for things without a tangible cost, such as pain and suffering.
The laws define what counts as negligence in a Florida personal injury case, like reckless driving, poor security, lack of safety warnings, etc. You or your Summerfield personal injury lawyer must legally prove the other party’s negligent actions directly led to the accident and injuries.
When injury victims win their cases, the financial penalties make negligent parties change their ways, whether this is a driver who will be more careful in the future or a trucking company that will be forced to stop cutting corners that put other people at risk. A settlement will make the responsible party cover your costs so you won’t be stuck with the bills.
Cases Our Summerfield Personal Injury Lawyers Handle
Our skilled Florida personal injury lawyers provide representation for negligence cases, including:
- Car Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- Premises Liability
- Dog Bites
- Slip and Falls
- Wrongful Death
How Much Is My Personal Injury Claim in Summerfield, FL, Worth?
Determining the full value of a Florida personal injury claim takes an in-depth legal assessment of the unique circumstances behind the accident, the extent of the measurable damages, and other contributing factors. Our Summerfield personal injury attorneys develop a customized valuation through careful examination of:
- Details behind the incident – Were there clear safety lapses, code or law violations, a lack of precautions taken, or other negligence that caused the injury-producing event?
- Evidence supporting your losses – This can be documented present and estimated future medical bills, property losses, lost income streams, and other monetary needs tied to lasting impacts.
- Insurance coverage limitations – Do the negligent parties’ insurance policies adequately cover your injuries, losses, and long-term damages?
Don’t let the at-fault party’s insurance company trick you into accepting a lowball offer. Have a personal injury lawyer in Summerfield examine your evidence to give you an accurate estimate of your claim’s value.
How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Florida?
In 2023, Florida passed a law that shortens the deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit. This is known as the “statute of limitations,” which is a cutoff time limit to take legal action after you’ve been hurt in an accident.
The new Florida law shortens the statute of limitations for injury cases from four years down to two years. Now, According to the new Florida statute of limitations laws, most victims have only two years after the accident date to file a lawsuit or lose the right to sue, though there are some exceptions.
It is now extremely important to contact a personal injury attorney right away after any accident causing harm. The sooner you reach out to us, the sooner we can begin building a strong case for your compensation.
How Shared Liability Works in Florida Personal Injury Claims
As a comparative negligence state, Florida allows injury victims to pursue financial damages, even if you share partial fault for the accident that caused your injuries. However, the amount of any settlement or award will be impacted by your percentage of fault.
Here is an overview of Florida’s shared liability laws:
- Modified comparative negligence – If multiple parties share blame for an incident, Florida injury law still grants victims the right to sue other negligent entities and individuals, in certain cases.
- Reduced compensation – Any determined percentage of victim fault proportionally decreases collectable damages against injurers. So a victim deemed 20% responsible would see potential awards reduced by that same 20% level.
- 51% bar threshold – Plaintiffs cannot successfully bring injury compensation lawsuits if found predominantly responsible – meaning 51% or more at fault.
Florida’s negligence laws can be complex. Your Summerfield personal injury attorney will explain how these laws apply to your claim.
How Negligence Causes Accidents in Summerfield, Florida
For being a small city, Summerfield, Florida sees more than its share of accidents. As is the case with the rest of Florida and the United States, one of the main reasons people are hurt and killed in accidents is driver negligence.
These are just a handful of the many tragic accidents that took place in Summerfield in 2022 and 2023:
- A cyclist was hit and killed in front of Del Webb Spruce Creek on U.S. Highway 441.
- A Summerfield man was arrested after a multi-vehicle crash at U.S. Hwy. 441 and County Road 42.
- Six children were injured in a Summerfield crash that injured 10 and killed one.
Florida has one of the highest rates of traffic accidents in the United States, and Summerfield is no exception. These accidents can result in devastating injuries, fatalities, and lives that will never be the same. Victims can lose the ability to work, and families can lose primary earners—all because a driver made the choice to speed, text while driving, or otherwise break the law.
How Your Summerfield Personal Injury Lawyer Proves Liability in a Claim
Proving the negligent actions or failures to act that directly caused your injury damages is essential in a Florida personal injury claim. Our injury law firm performs a meticulous investigation and crafts well-supported arguments that outline liability and rightful compensation on your behalf. Common steps we may take include:
- Collecting evidence – Police reports, medical records, accident site footage/data, witness statements, equipment logs, and more can demonstrate dangerous conditions, safety lapses, policy violations, or hazardous conduct behind accidents.
- Consulting experts – Reconstruction specialists, engineers, medical experts, and others often provide impactful perspectives on how injuries occurred and who might be responsible.
- Researching laws & standards – Our team will determine which laws apply in your case.
- Recreating negligent choices & conduct – Our lawyers will work with investigators and accident reconstructionists to establish how negligence caused your accident.
Our end goal is always securing your fair, full, and prompt case resolutions without the need for trials. But our proven trial experience enables us to aggressively litigate negligence claims when suitable settlements cannot be reached. Read our client testimonials to learn more about how we have helped other people just like you.
Resources for Victims of Car Accidents in Summerfield, Florida
What you do in the minutes, hours, and days after an accident can protect the value of your Summerfield personal injury claim. Here are some resources for accident victims that can help you do that:
File an Accident Report in Summerfield
It’s important to create an official report of your accident by filing a claim with the appropriate authorities. In Summerfield, you can file an accident report in Summerfield with the Marion County Sheriff. If you are injured in a place of business, be sure to file an injury report with the manager or owner. Your injury lawyer will use this report as evidence to prove the facts of the accident that caused your injuries. This is important because it establishes liability.
Visit a Summerfield ER After an Accident
It’s important to seek medical treatment after an accident, even if you think you’re not seriously injured. Sometimes it can take time for the full impact of an accident to become apparent. A doctor or hospital visit will create a medical record of your injuries and their severity. Visit HCA Florida Summerfield Emergency or another medical facility to have your injuries assessed.
File a Lawsuit at the Courthouse
If you want to pursue damages after an accident, you can file a lawsuit at the Marion County Courthouse. You can also have your personal injury lawyer take care of filing the suit on your behalf so you can focus on rest, recovery, and trying to get back to life as you knew it before your injuries.
Get a Free Consultation With a Summerfield, FL, Personal Injury Attorney
Getting hurt in a preventable accident is devastating, and the aftermath can feel overwhelming. But our Summerfield personal injury lawyers can take the pressure off of you by handling the details of your case.
The team at Meldon Law is ready to guide you through the legal process with knowledge and compassion. Call today to schedule a free consultation.
We will review your situation, options, and the best path to pursue the compensation you deserve. Don’t navigate the complex legal system alone. Having personal injury help on your side makes a big difference.
