If you were a driver or passenger in a car accident, you might have suffered catastrophic bodily injuries, including your arms and legs. These areas likely sustained minor cuts, scrapes, surface burns, or severe wounds, including broken bones, major burns, nerve damage, and internal bleeding.
In addition, paying for medical treatment for these injuries can lead to stress and escalating financial troubles. However, a Tampa, FL, arm and leg injury lawyer from our law firm can help you recover damages for accident-related costs.
Arm and Leg Injuries Can Hamper Everyday Mobility
Many people suffer arm and leg injuries when force or pressure is exerted on a body part during an accident. The vehicle can tip or flip onto your body, causing arm or leg crush injuries.
Additionally, an arm or leg trapped and crushed by the car door, steering wheel, or dashboard can lead to a dangerous condition called compartment syndrome.
A forceful impact on the arms and legs can also injure other body parts attached to those areas, including the hands, elbows, knees, ankles, and feet. Soft-tissue damage and other minor injuries are also possible. These injuries can also be hard to see as they can occur below the surface, such as swelling, sprains, and torn muscles or ligaments.
Establishing Liability in Your Car Accident Case
Accidents happen on the road for many reasons, but driver negligence often plays a significant role. A driver could be operating a vehicle while distracted, tired, or under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or another substance.
They could be speeding and breaking other traffic laws, or their vehicle may fail because of a faulty part, resulting in a traffic crash.
Regardless of the reason, it is critical to establish who the at-fault driver is. You or your attorney can set out to prove who is responsible for the crash and who should pay for your leg and arm injuries and losses.
How an Attorney Can Investigate Your Motor Vehicle Accident
An attorney can investigate your accident to determine who is liable. They can review evidence that supports your claim for financial recovery. Such documents include:
- Photos and videos of the accident scene
- A police officer’s traffic report
- Photos of your injuries
- Medical records detailing your injuries, medical treatments, medications, medical appointments, and other expenses
- Eyewitness statements
- Invoices for vehicle repairs or vehicle replacement
- Timesheets documenting time missed from work
- Travel and other accident-related expenses
All of the above can help your attorney build a solid case for you. Your lawyer could also check if there is footage from traffic cameras that recorded the accident or visit the scene themselves for more information.
We Can Provide Valuable Expert Witnesses for Your Case to Prove Liability
We could also consult with expert witnesses, such as medical specialists and accident reconstructionists, who can weigh in with expert advice to support your case. Other parties besides the at-fault driver may also be responsible for your pain, and you can collect damages from them too.
Having an expert witness on your case provides another perspective and a professional perspective. After we review your case, we’ll determine if we need to work with expert witnesses to prove your case.
The Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Cases Is Four Years in Florida
Personal injury cases in Florida are on a deadline, so time is an important consideration. If you are considering pursuing legal action in your car accident, remember that Florida Statutes §95.11(3)(a) gives you up to four years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit.
After the deadline expires, you will likely lose your chance to file a personal injury claim to seek financial awards. When you choose our firm, you don’t have to worry about missing the deadline; we’ll ensure that you file your claim on time.
Recovering Compensation for Your Injuries
Once your personal injury attorney has concluded their investigation and established liability in your accident, they can consider how much your case is worth and determine what financial award is fair.
They will review the medical bills you received to treat your arm and leg injuries and other documents before arriving at the compensation you should seek. Your financial compensation would likely include expenses related to your medical care, such as:
- Medical costs
- Emergency room treatment
- Extended hospital stays (for testing, surgeries, skin grafts, medical treatments, physical or occupational therapies)
- Assistive devices, such as a wheelchair, cane, walker, or crutches
- Medical equipment
- Home health aide or nurse services
- Reduced income or income loss
- Hired household help (if you hired someone to help with daily activities)
- Transportation or other services needed to help with mobility
Non-Economic Damages
Your attorney may also advise you to seek reimbursement for vehicle repairs and maintenance or if you had to replace your vehicle altogether. In addition to these damages, your attorney can determine if you can pursue non-economic damages, such as:
- Mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional suffering and distress
- Disability (total or partial) or disfigurement
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of life enjoyment
Suppose you lost a loved one in a Tampa-area car accident. In that case, your attorney could help you pursue a wrongful death lawsuit to recover the costs, such as funeral and burial expenses and loss of household income if the decedent contributed to the household. An attorney will know the laws about your situation, which is just one way an attorney can help you.
How a Lawyer Can Help You Pursue Recovery After Your Accident
Our personal injury lawyers know recovering from an accident can be overwhelming. Adding a legal case to your list of responsibilities could bring some stress to it. We want to ease that burden for you.
A Tampa car accident lawyer is your advocate. We can handle all negotiations with the liable driver’s insurance company or legal representatives on your behalf.
We will handle all important paperwork and communications with all parties involved and keep you informed of all progress and developments in your case. If negotiations with the opposing side do not lead to awards for you, we could take your case to court and fight for a settlement there.
Our Team of Arm and Leg Injury Lawyers Is Here for You
You likely have not had much time to consider whether you want to pursue legal action in your accident because you have been busy recovering from it. However, we believe you should not have to suffer further by paying medical bills and other expenses stemming from a car accident you did not cause.
The driver who hit you should pay for the expenses for your recovery. If you are interested in seeking legal recourse, our team of Tampa, FL, arm and leg injury accident lawyers at Anidjar & Levine is ready to help you rebuild your life and win the settlement you deserve.
Call us or fill out the contact form on our website to schedule a free consultation.
We Can Help.
