DELAND CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

The city of DeLand has been called the “Athens of Florida.” It is home to Florida’s oldest university. This quaint community is home to more than 33,000 Floridians. Even though the traffic is lighter than in nearby large cities like Orlando, traffic collisions happen in DeLand regularly. 

Car accidents are a pain to have to deal with. It’s not just the physical pain—whether immediately known or only noticed some time after a crash—and the medical bills that pile up as a result. There’s also the fact that you have to deal with insurance companies that often throw up every roadblock possible to avoid paying the injured the compensation to which they’re entitled. 

With a damaged car and injuries to you and possibly even your passengers, in a circumstance that wasn’t even your fault, the last thing you need is to be trying to fight inflexibly gigantic insurance companies. That’s where our attorneys at Morgan & Morgan’s DeLand office come in. We help the injured navigate the unfathomably complex red tape and even will go to court to fight to get the compensation these injured parties are owed. 

We do this all of the time. We fight for people to get compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses their motor vehicle insurance companies should be paying out to their dutiful customers who pay their premiums.

If you’ve been in an accident and are stuck trying to battle a Goliath, use our contact form to schedule a free, no-risk case review today. We’re Goliaths, too, but unlike the other big guys, we fight for the people, not the powerful.

Common Injuries Resulting From Crashes

When you have been involved in a DeLand car accident, it is critical to contact an attorney. An accomplished legal professional at Morgan & Morgan can handle any type of car accident case. 

Even minor collisions can result in severe and long-lasting injuries for victims. Although every injury is distinct, car crashes result in some common types of physical damage for victims.  

Common injuries resulting from DeLand car accidents include:

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, car accidents are one of the leading causes of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). This type of injury typically results from a swift bump, impact, or blow to the victim’s head. 

When a traumatic brain injury occurs due to a car accident, it may either be a closed-head injury or an open-head injury. The impact created by a crash can result in the brain forcefully colliding with the interior bone of the skull. 

This type of injury can damage the soft tissue of the brain. Because the brain operates using delicate electrical impulses and chemical processes, this type of TBI is incredibly dangerous. 

Even minor TBIs, known as “concussions,” can lead to long-lasting and devastating symptoms. Concussions and severe TBI can result from the victim’s head forcefully impacting the steering wheel, door, or dashboard. 

Concussions can result in a wide range of signs and symptoms, such as: 

• Persistent headaches
• A feeling of pressure in the head
• Vomiting and nausea
• Difficulty balancing
• Dizziness
• Double vision or blurred visual field
• Fatigue or tiredness
• Difficulty concentrating or confusion
• And more 

Another type of TBI is called a “contusion.” A contusion is a bruise on the soft tissue of the brain. This type of injury can be severe if the bruise on the brain is large. 

This kind of TBI requires immediate medical attention. In some cases, contusions require surgery. 

In contrast to closed-head injuries, some TBIs result from puncturing or fracturing the skull. These are called open-head injuries. 

This can happen when glass, metal, or other objects pierce the skull during a collision. Open-head injuries can result in lost motor function, decreased communication skills, and other debilitating conditions. 

In the aftermath of a DeLand car accident, it is important to speak with a medical professional. Even if you do not believe you are injured, seek a medical assessment. 

Traumatic brain injuries often do not present symptoms until days or weeks after the initial incident. You should not accept a settlement for the damages in your case without seeking medical care. 

If TBI symptoms appear after you have accepted a lowball amount of compensation, you may be left without the money that you need. Following a DeLand car accident, reach out to the accomplished team at Morgan & Morgan. Our attorneys will ensure that you do not settle for less than the full value of your car accident claim.

Back and Spinal Cord Injuries

Most car crashes involve an enormous amount of force. Because of this, passengers’ bodies can become twisted and bent in unnatural positions.

Even if this happens briefly, serious damage can occur. The spinal cord is comprised of a band of nerves. These nerves allow communication between the brain and the rest of the body. 

When the nerves of the spinal cord suffer damage, the brain and body may have difficulty communicating. This can result in either partial or total paralysis.  

Even if paralysis does not happen, victims of spinal cord injuries can still experience significant and life-changing symptoms. These include: 

• Stiffness and pain in the neck
• Confusion and dizziness
• Persistent headaches radiating from the base of the skull 
• Ongoing muscle spasms
• Tingling and numbness in the extremities
• Pain that radiates through the arms and legs
• Loss of sensation
• Decreased range of motion
• And more 

If you believe that you have sustained a spinal cord injury following a DeLand car accident, seek medical help immediately. When possible, contact one of the skilled DeLand attorneys at Morgan & Morgan. 

Spinal cord injuries can result in massive amounts of medical debt. Victims should not be held responsible for the medical bills resulting from an injury that another person caused.

Burns

Severe motor vehicle collisions may result in fires or the expulsion of hot liquids from the cars. When this happens, drivers and passengers face the risk of burns. 

Even the most minor burn injuries are very serious and require immediate medical care. Those involved in DeLand car accidents face the potential of burn injuries from the following sources: 

• Airbag deployment
• Fires or explosions from vehicles
• Leaking chemicals from the collision
• Coming into contact with an electrical current
• Touching scalding debris
• And more 

In some instances, defective or faulty vehicle parts may result in fires or hot surfaces. Victims of burn injuries should speak with a knowledgeable legal specialist at the firm of Morgan & Morgan. 

Our Florida personal injury attorneys know how to recover the compensation that Deland car accident victims deserve. We will not rest until we have secured maximum compensation in your burn injury case.

Broken Bones and Fractures

Broken bones are one of the most common injuries following a car crash. The severity of a break or fracture will depend on which bone is affected. 

Some of the common bones that are affected in collisions include: 

• Arms
• Legs
• Ankles
• Wrists
• Ribs
• And more 

When victims suffer severe, serious, or compound breaks, they often experience long-term consequences. Some broken bones require months of recovery and extensive medical treatments. 

While some victims believe that broken bones are too minor to justify a lawsuit, this view is mistaken. If you have experienced a broken bone, make sure to speak with an attorney about seeking the compensation that you need.

Whiplash and Other Neck Injuries

Many car accident victims experience a neck injury called “whiplash.” This type of physical damage occurs when the person’s head moves violently in a back-and-forth motion.  

This type of extreme motion damages the muscles and other soft tissue in the neck. Whiplash is incredibly common, even in low-speed automobile crashes. 

Whiplash injuries can occur whether the driver or passengers use a seat belt. It is important to speak with a physician after a DeLand car accident.  

In many cases, whiplash victims do not experience pain, discomfort, or other symptoms until some time has passed. A knowledgeable medical professional will provide you with an accurate diagnosis. This will help you in the event of a resulting legal claim. 

These are only a few examples of the types of injuries that can result from motor vehicle collisions. Other common injuries include: 

• Crushing injuries
• Lacerations and bruising
• Road rash
• Shoulder injuries
• Ankle and foot damage
• Knee injuries
• Loss of limb and amputation
• Facial injuries, disfigurement, and scarring
• And more 

No matter what type of physical harm you have suffered from a crash, one of the knowledgeable attorneys at Morgan & Morgan can help. You should not have to bear the consequences of your car accident alone. 

When you hire our firm, we will work tirelessly to recover financial compensation for your medical expenses, property damage, and other losses. Contact us today to discuss the facts of your case.

Typical Types of Damages in DeLand Car Accident Cases

Even when a person knows they have a strong traffic accident claim, they may be unsure about the types of financial recovery that they are due. Fortunately, the legal team at Morgan & Morgan has decades of experience calculating the value of Florida car accident claims. 

Following a collision, review the circumstances of your case with a knowledgeable litigator. Most people do not have experience determining the value of a civil legal claim. 

Tightfisted insurance companies know this and use it to their financial advantage. In fact, most insurance providers will offer victims a quick and inadequate settlement following a DeLand car accident.  

You should never accept payment from an insurer without consulting a personal injury attorney. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize the payout on any claim that is filed.  

A seasoned car accident lawyer will understand how to negotiate forcefully on your behalf. This will give you the highest likelihood of getting the money you deserve. 

In most DeLand car accident cases, injury victims are entitled to two categories of financial recovery. These are known as “special” and “general” damages.  

These categories are also sometimes referred to as “economic” and “non-economic” damages. Below, we will explain each category of damages in detail.

Special Damages

This type of legally-mandated payment is compensatory. In other words, special damages are intended to make up for some of the victim’s losses. 

Specifically, special damages are meant to compensate for direct financial expenses that result from the car accident in question. No matter the severity of your car crash, you will likely have sustained many financial losses. 

Some examples of the expenses that special damages are meant to compensate for include: 

• Medical costs and bills
• Expected expenses from future medical treatments
• Medical travel, such as ambulance rides
• Hospitalization
• Lost income and missed wages
• Decreased ability to earn income long-term
• Property damage
• Vehicular repair and replacement
• Other associated expenses 

Following a car accident, most people underestimate the amount of money that they spend as a result. A skilled traffic collision attorney will review the receipts, invoices, bills, and other financial documents related to your crash.  

You should not pay for the losses that another person’s negligence caused. Fortunately, the team at Morgan & Morgan has decades of experience calculating economic damages in car accident cases.

General Damages

This type of financial payment is also called “non-economic” damages. This is because general damages are intended to compensate for the intangible, personal, and emotional toll that accidents take on victims. 

Some of the most challenging consequences of car accidents are psychological and emotional. Even though these outcomes do not result in the loss of money, victims deserve compensation for this type of loss. 

General damages in car accident claims are intended to cover the following losses: 

• Emotional anguish and trauma
• Anxiety, depression, and panic attacks
• Physical pain and suffering caused by injuries
• Difficulty engaging in recreational activities
• Decreased ability to enjoy life
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 

In some cases, DeLand car accidents result in loss of life for the victim. When a tragedy of that type occurs, the decedent’s surviving family may have the option to pursue compensation on behalf of the victim. 

Through a wrongful death claim, the victim’s estate holder can recover losses associated with the fatal crash. This may include: 

• Loss of relationship or consortium
• Compensation for the loss of the decedent’s income
• The victim’s outstanding medical debts
• Funeral and burial expenses
• And more 

If you have lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident, contact the firm of Morgan & Morgan as soon as possible. Typically, the survivors of wrongful death victims must file a claim within two years of the inciting incident. Do not hesitate to contact a skilled legal professional.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are legally-mandated payments that are intended to punish the negligent party. These damages are very rare in Florida car accident claims. 

A judge or jury awards punitive damages only in instances involving extreme negligence or recklessness. This is because they are considered to be a form of financial civil punishment. 

Speaking with a legal professional will ensure that you pursue an appropriate amount of financial recovery in your case.