Car Wreck Attorney in Pensacola

When you are pursuing compensation for a Pensacola car crash, determining who is responsible for the collision can be very complex. The seasoned legal experts at Morgan & Morgan will assess your situation and help you determine who is legally liable.  

Most car accident cases revolve around the legal notion of “negligence.” To successfully recover compensation, collision victims need to prove the following four elements of negligence:

Duty of Care

The plaintiff must show that the at-fault party owed them a duty of care in the context of the accident. For instance, Florida motorists owe a duty of care to others on or near public roadways.

Fulfilling the duty of care involves operating a motor vehicle in a legal and reasonably safe manner. Drivers should follow the speed limit and other traffic laws.

Breach of Duty

The claimant in a car accident lawsuit must also show that the other party failed to fulfill their duty of care. For instance, motorists may be held legally responsible if they cause an accident because they are: 

• Driving while distracted
• Fatigued or overly tired
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Engaging in reckless maneuvers
• Speeding 

These are only a few ways in which Florida drivers can breach their duty of care. A trained tort lawyer will use the evidence in your case to prove that the liable party breached their duty of care toward you.

Causation

The relationship between the defendant’s actions and the plaintiff’s damage must be causal. If the harm that the claimant suffered was caused by something other than the defendant’s behavior, the plaintiff would be unable to recover damages for the losses. 

For example, suppose that you are in a car crash resulting in no injuries. Imagine that the next day, you become life-threateningly sick and experience skyrocketing medical bills. 

Because the collision did not cause your illness, you would be unable to claim damages for the cost of your medical care.

Actual Harm

The final element involved in proving negligence is actual harm. The claimant must prove that the at-fault party’s behavior caused them to sustain actual damage. 

Negligence can be proven if the action in question resulted in physical, financial, or psychological harm. Speaking with an accomplished Pensacola car accident attorney will ensure that you have the best chance possible of proving negligence in your case.

Even victims who are certain that they have a valid traffic accident claim are often unsure about the types of financial recovery they can hope to procure. Most accident and injury cases involve two distinct categories of financial damages. 

The two most common categories of financial damages are “economic” and “non-economic.” Economic damages are meant to pay the victim back for the monetary expenses and losses that resulted from the incident. 

Most people are unaware of how many expenses result from a traffic collision until they experience one. Some of the most common examples of economic damages in Pensacola auto accident claims are: 

• Vehicular replacement or repair
• Other associated property damage
• The costs of current medical care and treatment
• Expected future medical costs for long-term care
• Loss of wages and income due to missed work
• Long-term or permanent loss of earning ability

Other types of harm from a car accident take the form of personal, physical, or emotional damage. Legally required payments for these losses are called “non-economic” damages. Examples include: 

• Physical pain and suffering
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Loss of consortium or relationship – if the victim was killed
• Psychological turmoil – such as depression, anxiety, and panic
• Temporary or permanent disability
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of quality of life

While economic damages can be calculated using receipts, invoices, and other documentation, non-economic damage is difficult to calculate. For this reason, it is critical to contact a trustworthy legal specialist to determine the value of your Pensacola car accident claim.

Law lawyers are compensated through contingency fees at reputable law firms like Morgan & Morgan. This means that the financial recovery from the case covers attorneys’ fees. 

Clients never have to pay upfront costs to pursue a legal claim at Morgan & Morgan. Contingency fees ensure that your legal representative always works in your best interests.

When you have been involved in a traffic accident, you may be owed significant compensation for your losses. If you need legal representation, contact America’s premier tort law firm – Morgan & Morgan. 

Arrange a free consultation today by filling out the simple contact form on our firm’s website. We are ready to fight for you.