Florida law allows you to hold the at-fault party liable for the costs and losses associated with your accident and neck injuries.
At the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, our Florida personal injury lawyers can review your accident and help you understand if you have a valid case against the person or company who caused your injury. If we believe you have a viable neck injury claim, we will handle your case on a contingency-fee-basis.
Damages Available Through a Successful Fort Lauderdale Neck Injury Claim
If you have a strong case against the liable party, you may be able to receive a variety of damages that cover your economic and non-economic damages. We can help you prove your damages, including the value of your pain and suffering, as well.
Some types of Fort Lauderdale personal injury damages we recover for our clients with neck injuries include:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation
- Required therapies
- Ongoing care costs
- Nursing home, in-home care, or respite care costs
- Lost wages
- Costs related to home renovations, such as ramps or broader doorways
- Other out-of-pocket costs
- Property damage that occurred in the accident
- Pain and suffering
Neck Injuries May Also Cause Future Losses
Severe neck injuries can lead to medical complications and disabilities, especially if they affect the victim’s spine. Even neck injuries that do not affect the spinal cord can cause severe issues for the victim.
One example of a serious neck injury is whiplash. According to the Mayo Clinic, whiplash is a soft tissue injury that can leave you suffering from pain and limited range of motion for weeks. Some people develop a chronic pain condition after a whiplash injury, as well. We will consider the following future losses when calculating your damages.
Reduced Earning Capacity
When we calculate your damages, we will make sure to take your losses into account. For example, if you suffered a permanent disability and cannot return to work, we will go after compensation for reduced earning capacity.
Similarly, if you suffered a temporary disability that affects how you can work, we can seek compensation for this difference, as well.
Loss of Quality of Life
Your injuries may also prevent you from engaging in the activities you love. In this case, we can seek a reward for losing quality of life. This type of damage is similar to pain and suffering because it does not come with an exact dollar value.
This does not mean you cannot seek compensation for it, though. We can use a couple of methods to estimate its worth.
Wrongful Death Damages
If you lost a loved one due to a neck injury in Fort Lauderdale, you might suffer immediate losses, such as burial and funeral costs and future losses. If your family member contributed income to the household, we can go after damages for this future loss.
We can also account for loss of consortium if you lost your spouse to a neck injury. Additionally, we can seek the costs of your loved one’s injury-related medical bills they accrued before their passing and their pain and suffering.
Negligence and Liability in a Fort Lauderdale Neck Injury Case
The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) reports that about 17,500 people sustain spinal cord injuries each year. Many of these are neck injuries, and most of them occur because of negligence. Car accidents, falls, violent acts and recreational accidents are among the top causes.
Florida law generally limits you from holding the at-fault party liable in a car accident unless you suffer serious injuries. In some cases, your insurance company will pay your medical bills. On the other hand, you can file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party no matter the severity of your injuries in other types of accidents.
Potentially Liable Parties for Neck Injuries
A neck injury can stem from a variety of accidents. We can identify the liable party and fight to hold them accountable. Even if the neck injury is minor, you may have a case for financial recovery.
Accidents, where you may hold someone accountable, include:
- Falls
- Swimming or diving accidents
- Fort Lauderdale truck accidents
- Boating accidents
- Many other types of injury accidents
Once we identify the liable party in your accident, we can file a claim with their automotive, homeowner’s, or business insurance company. We will need to investigate and collect evidence to prove they acted negligently.
The Four Elements of Negligence
When we take on your case, our law firm must prove:
- The other party was legally obliged to follow specific rules or act reasonably to keep you safe.
- They should have upheld this obligation, serving unreasonably or carelessly.
- The carelessness directly led to the accident and your injuries.
- You suffered financial losses in addition to your neck injury.
For example, if a property owner failed to maintain their premises and you hurt yourself on a loose floorboard, they may bear fault for your losses. If a motorist hits you after running a red light, their negligent driving may make them liable.
The Role of a Neck Injury Lawyer in a Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Case
After an accident, you will likely want to focus on your health and physical recovery after an accident, especially if your injuries are severe. You may want to pursue fair compensation without shouldering the burden of the legal process. This is where we can help.
Our injury attorneys can go to work for you, providing legal services and handling all aspects of your case. This will allow you to rest and spend time with your family. We can also:
Handle Your Case on a Contingency-Fee-Basis
If you have a valid case against the party that caused your Florida neck injury, we will likely offer to handle your claim on a contingency basis.
“Contingency basis” means we will conduct an investigation and fight for the compensation you deserve without asking for money upfront. You will owe us no attorney’s fees unless we recover money to cover your injury-related losses and expenses.
Investigate Your Accident
When you enlist our help to get the compensation you deserve for your neck injury, we will launch an investigation into how you suffered your injury and the role the at-fault party played. We thoroughly investigate every case we handle. An in-depth analysis allows us to collect evidence to prove negligence and liability, as well as prove the value of your damages.
In some cases, we even call in experts to help us understand what happened, such as:
- Accident reconstruction specialists
- Survey teams
- Medical experts who can explain your prognosis
- Engineers, especially if the case involves a defective product
Negotiate with Insurers
Once we have a solid case that shows the defendant acted negligently and is liable for your injuries, we will contact their insurance company and demand a fair payout based on your damages.
Depending on how you suffered injuries, this could include their:
- Auto insurance provider
- Homeowners insurer
- Business liability insurance company
Most insurance providers will negotiate with us, and we can frequently reach a settlement that covers your losses at this point in the process. If they refuse fair compensation or deny your claim outright, we can file a lawsuit and ask the judge to award you the money you deserve.
Ensure You File within the Statute of Limitations
It is essential to take action as soon as possible after you suffer a Fort Lauderdale neck injury. Under Florida Statutes §95.11(3)(a), we only have four years to file a lawsuit against the liable party and hold them responsible.
If you need to file a wrongful death lawsuit, you will only have two years to do so, per Florida Statutes §95.11(4)(d).
If we do not act during this period, it may be difficult or impossible to recover the compensation you deserve. Do not let a negligent driver, property owner, or another party get away with causing your injuries without a fight. The sooner you reach out to us, the sooner we can begin working on your case.
Work with a Neck Injury Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, FL
The neck injury attorneys from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can review your case and help you recover the money you need and deserve.
Our case evaluations and consultations are always free, and we handle these cases on a contingent basis. Call us today to talk about working with a Fort Lauderdale lawyer.
We Can Help.
