In a car crash, a driver may strike the steering wheel, a passenger may hit the dashboard, or a seatbelt may constrict the chest of the person wearing it. In any case, the person may experience chest pain. Chest injuries can be serious, and the recovery process may be long and difficult.
If you were involved in a motor vehicle accident and suffered a chest injury, you may have already been out of work for weeks or months, and you may not be able to return to your job any time soon. The medical bills may be piling up at an alarming rate, and you and your spouse may have exhausted your emergency fund. You may be feeling overwhelmed and trying to figure out how to make ends meet.
A West Palm Beach car accident lawyer may be able to help. The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine may be able to file a West Palm Beach personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation for your losses. Call our office today at (561) 721-0080 to speak with a member of our staff about how we may be able to assist you.
Kinds of Chest Injuries That Can Occur in a Car Crash
Chest pain can have a variety of causes. The pain may be due to muscle strain, or it may be caused by something much more serious, such as ruptured veins or arteries. One or more ribs may be cracked or broken. The impact itself or a broken rib may cause organ damage.
A traumatic experience, such as a car crash, can trigger a heart attack. It may occur immediately following the accident or later. People who are having a heart attack often downplay their symptoms and do not seek medical care right away, which can lead to more severe and long-lasting harm.
Liability for the Collision That Caused Your Injuries
Sometimes establishing liability for a car accident is straightforward, but other times, it requires a lengthy investigation. Our team can review the police report to understand the basic facts and to learn whether anyone was given a ticket for violating a traffic law.
We can also review statements that you, other people who were riding in your car, the driver, passengers in the other vehicle, and eyewitnesses gave to police. If any surveillance or cellphone video of the collision exists, we may be able to gain additional insights from that footage.
If we note discrepancies in statements from people involved in the accident or witnesses, or if the evidence available raises doubt or creates confusion, we can investigate further. We may learn that the other motorist was speeding or was driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Phone records may show that the individual was texting while driving. This information may help us establish that the other driver was liable for the crash.
You may also be partly liable for the accident. For instance, you may have been distracted because you were talking on your phone, or you may have reached for something in the backseat and taken your eyes off the road. In that case, both you and the other driver may be found liable for the collision, and each person may be assigned a percentage of fault.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You Seek Justice
Florida is a no-fault state. That means that all drivers are required to buy personal injury protection (PIP) coverage through their own auto insurance company. When someone is injured in a car accident, that person is required to seek compensation from his or her PIP coverage, no matter who was liable for the collision. Personal injury protection can cover medical bills and other financial losses stemming from a car crash, but not pain and suffering. The amount of coverage available depends on the individual driver’s policy limits.
In cases involving “significant” injuries, as defined by Florida Statutes § 627.737, victims may be able to sue for additional compensation. If your injuries meet those criteria, a chest injury caused by a car accident lawyer may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver who was liable for the collision and seek an award that will cover your medical bills and other financial losses that exceed your PIP coverage limits, as well as pain and suffering.
If you share some liability for the accident, you may still be able to recover a financial award because of Florida’s comparative negligence law. Under Florida Statutes § 768.81, you may be entitled to compensation regardless of your amount of fault. An award can be reduced in accordance with your percentage of liability for the collision.
A member of our staff can discuss these issues in more detail. Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine at (561) 721-0080 to discuss your case.
Hire a Personal Injury Attorney
A car accident can cause debilitating injuries. If you suffered a chest injury, you might have missed a significant amount of time from work, and you may have no idea when or if you will be able to return. You may be facing a growing stack of bills for medical treatment, on top of your mortgage, utilities, auto loan, credit cards, and other expenses. A West Palm Beach chest injury caused by a car accident lawyer may be able to help.
You may want to file a lawsuit, but you may be hesitating due to worry about legal fees. That is a common concern, but it should not stop you from pursuing justice. The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine operates on contingency. If you ask us to represent you, you will not have to pay us anything unless we recover a financial award on your behalf.
The law limits the amount of time you have to sue. According to Florida Statutes § 95.11(3), the statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit is four years. Investigating the accident, figuring out who was liable, and filing a lawsuit may be a time-consuming process.
Until then, the medical bills may continue to accumulate, and your family may continue to suffer under the financial strain. Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today at (561) 721-0080 so we can begin working on your case as soon as possible.
We Can Help.
