When you’re injured, it can be tempting to try and navigate the aftermath of your injuries without hiring an attorney. Maybe an insurance company has already offered you a settlement, and maybe it seems like a lot of money. But if you accept their first offer without speaking to an attorney, you might regret it.

It’s common for these initial settlement offers to be just a tiny fraction of what the injured party would recover through a personal injury lawsuit.

Keep in mind that, generally speaking, insurance companies care much more about profits than people. That’s why you need an experienced advocate who will fight to protect your rights.

A personal injury attorney can review your case, gather evidence, and determine the full, lifelong cost of your injuries. Before you sign anything or agree to any offers of compensation, contact a Morgan & Morgan attorney. You have nothing to lose and potentially a lot to gain.

Calculating the total cost of serious injuries is difficult. When you hire a personal injury attorney, they can investigate your case and gather the necessary documentation to determine the full extent of your past and future losses. 

Personal injury lawsuits typically seek to recover some or all of the following types of damages:

• Medical costs, including hospital bills
• Lost wages
• Property damage
• Loss of earning capacity (if you’re unable to return to work or have decreased earning potential)
• Pain and suffering
• Funeral expenses (in cases of wrongful death)

The answer is simple: Yes. Hiring a Morgan & Morgan attorney costs you nothing up front and nothing out-of-pocket. Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that we receive a percentage of the compensation you win at trial or in a settlement. If we don’t win, you don’t pay.

Personal injury law generally allows you to pursue compensation if you were injured in an avoidable accident caused by another, whether an individual, business, or government entity. Injury claims can arise in various situations, with some of the most common including:

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Motor vehicle accidents that we handle in our St. Augustine practice include, among others:

• Car crashes
• Truck collisions
• Rideshare accidents
• Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
• Motorcycle crashes
• Rental car collisions

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), most accidents are driver-related and caused by three main factors:

• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Improper lookout

If your car crash occurred due to another driver’s negligence, you could qualify for compensation from their insurance company or the driver personally.

Premises Liability Claims

While there can be various types of premises liability claims, the most common cases we see involve:

• Slips and falls from hazardous conditions
• Dog bites and attacks due to unrestrained dogs
• Criminal activity due to lack of security

Slips and Falls

Fall injuries, when severe, can be painful and expensive. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), individuals aged 65 and over can sustain significant and life-limiting injuries in falls, such as complex fractures and head injuries.

If a property or business owner failed to make their premises safe, causing your fall, our personal injury attorneys in St. Augustine could help you seek damages.

Dog Bites

Dog bites and attacks can be traumatizing and painful, especially when a large and powerful animal is involved. Moreover, dog bites are prone to infections and may require considerable medical intervention and expenses.

Under Florida’s premises liability laws, dog owners are generally liable for damages occurring to another person while lawfully on a property. You may be able to recover compensation for financial losses, wage losses, emotional trauma, physical injuries, and permanent scarring, among other damages.

Negligent Security

A negligent security claim can arise when individuals get hurt in an assault or attack due to a business or property owner failing to install adequate security measures. Depending on the type of property, security measures can include:

• Locks on doors and gates
• Adequate lighting in and outside the property
• Security cameras
• Adequately qualified and trained security guards

Negligent security claims can be complex. Therefore, if you were injured in a crime on another’s property in St Augustine, seek advice from a personal injury attorney as soon as possible to protect your legal rights.

Medical Malpractice

According to Johns Hopkins University, medical errors are now among the leading causes of death in the country. Medical malpractice can occur in many circumstances, including:

• Surgery
• Anesthesia
• Birth injuries
• Late diagnosis or misdiagnosis
• Medication mistakes

Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse

Nursing home abuse and neglect can result in a personal injury lawsuit against the facility or other liable parties. Examples of abuse and neglect include, among others:

• Verbal and emotional abuse
• Physical abuse
• Sexual exploitation
• Financial abuse
• Neglect

If you believe your loved one is suffering abuse and neglect, report your suspicions immediately to law enforcement or Adult Protective Services. Your next best step is to consult with one of our injury attorneys to determine your legal options.

Boating Accidents

Recreational boating and fishing are popular pastimes in St. Augustine. Most boaters safely enjoy the area’s rivers, inlets, and ocean. However, occasionally accidents occur due to boat operators’ negligence, such as operating the boat under the influence of alcohol. If you or a loved one got hurt in a boating accident due to someone else’s carelessness, you could seek compensation with a personal injury claim.

Dangerous Product Claims

Defective products can cause catastrophic injuries, such as burns, fractures, and others. Dangerous product claims frequently involve items we use daily, such as cars, electric machinery and appliances, children’s toys, and medications. Our personal injury attorneys in St. Augustine could help you pursue a compensation claim if you or a loved one suffered harm from a defective product.

If you are hurt due to the negligence of another, you could be entitled to compensation. However, what you could recover will depend on the facts of your specific case, the scope of your injuries, and the extent of your financial losses. Examples of the compensation you could receive include:

Healthcare Expenses

If you win your claim or lawsuit, you should receive all medical and rehabilitation expenses in connection with the injury, such as:

• Prescription and over-the-counter medications
• Hospital stays
• Medical devices
• Diagnostic tests
• Medical transportation costs
• Future expected medical treatment expenses

You could also be entitled to funds for modifying your home and car to your requirements.

Loss of Income

Depending on your type of injury, you may be unable to work for some time. Severely injured or permanently disabled individuals may never return to their careers. Generally, victims are entitled to compensation for loss of income due to a personal injury, which can include:

• Loss of past and current wages
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Lost benefits, such as healthcare coverage and pension contributions

Income losses, especially future earning capacity, can be tricky to prove. Therefore, having an experienced personal injury lawyer in St. Augustine handling your claim can be essential for getting what you deserve when an injury impacts your capacity to work.

Pain and Suffering

If you suffered severe injuries, you might be entitled to so-called “non-economic” damages in addition to getting your healthcare costs and income losses reimbursed. Non-economic damages can include, among others:

• Pain and anguish
• Loss of life enjoyment
• Emotional distress
• Permanent scarring
• Disability
• Loss of a limb
• Loss of a sense, such as hearing or eyesight

A severe or disabling injury can change your life in one split second. When someone else is responsible, you could have a legal case and recover damages. However, knowing the best steps to take when you are injured can be critical for protecting your rights to compensation.

Get Medical Help Immediately

Many victims walk away from an accident feeling fine, only to discover days or weeks later that they suffered underlying injuries. Seeking medical help as soon as possible can be crucial for your health, as prompt diagnosis and treatment could prevent complications. Moreover, seeing a doctor also provides you with documentation of your injuries which is essential for a compensation claim. Leaving it too late to seek medical advice could result in an insurance company denying or reducing your claim.

Collect Evidence of the Accident

Gathering evidence at the scene of your fall or car crash can be essential for winning a compensation claim later. In a car accident, ensure to call law enforcement so an officer can file an accident report. If you slip and fall at a business, try to complete a report at the scene or draft a document noting precisely what happened and what caused your fall.

Cellphone pictures of the accident scene and your injuries can be excellent evidence. Before you leave, ask any witnesses or employees for their names and contact details, as their statements could be crucial for winning compensation from the responsible party.

Get in Touch With a Personal Injury Attorney in St. Augustine

Contacting an attorney as soon as you get hurt can be advantageous. A personal injury attorney can protect your rights immediately and get started on gathering the crucial and time-sensitive evidence required to prove negligence.

Moreover, Morgan & Morgan can protect you from an insurance company taking advantage of you and pushing you into a lowball settlement offer when your case might be worth much more. Our tenacious attorneys can handle your claim from start to finish while you can concentrate on your recovery.

To win your claim or lawsuit and receive damages, you must show that the defendant, whether another driver or a property owner, caused your accident and injury. The main elements you need to prove, together with relevant evidence, include:

• The at-fault party had a duty of care toward you
• They breached their duty due to carelessness or deliberate actions
• The breach directly caused your accident and injuries  
• You have damages such as income loss, medical expenses, or others

Proving negligence can be tricky. The other side will most likely argue that you had some fault in the accident, trying to reduce the compensation you can claim. Depending on your case, you may require professional investigators and expert witnesses to help you prove that another was responsible for your injuries and financial expenses.  

If you suffered significant injuries and losses, consider hiring one of our personal injury attorneys in St. Augustine who can prove your claim, build your case against the defendant, and fight vigorously for what you deserve.

Since no two personal injury claims are the same, there is no average settlement amount. Various factors can determine your recovery, including:

• Your healthcare expenses
• The severity and permanence of your injuries
• Your loss of wages and future expected loss of income due to the injury
• Your recovery time
• Whether you can work again at full capacity
• The extent of the responsible party’s insurance coverage
• Whether you have some fault in the accident causing your injuries  

Knowing the impact of an injury on your health, work, and home life is critical for recovering a fair settlement. Therefore, consider discussing your case with our injury attorneys, who know how to determine the worth of your case.

Essential steps you can take to maximize your personal injury compensation can include:

• Seek medical advice immediately and follow your treatment plan
• Work with an experienced and motivated personal injury lawyer
• Gather and preserve evidence at the scene of the accident
• Document your recovery and any health setbacks
• Avoid posting your accident or injury details on social media
• Assess the impact of your injuries on your future career
• Don’t accept an insurance company’s first offer without consulting an attorney

Maximizing an insurance settlement can be challenging without legal representation because insurers try to get away as cheaply as possible. Morgan & Morgan’s personal injury attorneys in St. Augustine are strong negotiators and experienced litigators who never accept an insurance company’s last best offer if your case is worth more. We fight hard, giving injured individuals the best chance to get their life, health, and finances back on track.

If you or a loved one recently got hurt in a slip and fall, car accident, or another incident in St. Augustine, we could help. Our fee is free until we recover compensation for you. Contact Morgan & Morgan today for a free case evaluation to find out whether you are entitled to compensation.

Los abogados de lesiones personales de Morgan & Morgan entendemos lo importante que es resolver todas sus preguntas legales en el idioma en el que usted pueda entender mejor. Por eso contamos con una sección de Preguntas Frecuentes en nuestra página de abogados.com. Recuerde que en caso de ser victima de un accidente y necesitar ayuda legal, usted cuenta con los abogados de Morgan & Morgan. Siendo el bufete de abogados de lesiones personales más grande de los Estados Unidos, contamos con los recursos y la experiencia que usted necesita para defender sus derechos. ¡La justicia es derecho de todos!