Common Causes of Catastrophic Injury Accidents in Florida
Catastrophic injuries can have a lasting effect on a person’s life, leading to permanent disabilities and complications that impact their health, quality of life, and ability to earn a living. A catastrophic injury can arise from a variety of situations. When someone else’s negligence is the cause, Florida law allows victims to seek compensation for their losses.
Understanding the causes of catastrophic injuries is a vital step in any legal claim. A detailed investigation can help your attorney determine liability, gather evidence to strengthen your personal injury claim, and shape their strategy to pursue maximum compensation. If you need legal help after sustaining devastating injuries in Daytona Beach, contact Zimmet & Zimmet for a free consultation with an experienced catastrophic injury accident lawyer.
How Our Daytona Beach Catastrophic Injury Attorney Can Help You
Catastrophic injury cases are complex. Recovering from such severe injuries takes a physical and mental toll that can last long after the initial crisis passes. Adding a legal battle on top of that can feel overwhelming, but a successful claim could provide valuable personal and financial relief as you move forward. That’s where our lawyers step in.
The Daytona Beach catastrophic injury attorneys at Zimmet & Zimmet can manage your case from start to finish. When you work with us, you gain a law firm dedicated to delivering assertive yet compassionate legal representation at every step.
Our services include:
- Investigating the incident to identify the at-fault party(s)
- Collecting evidence to build a persuasive catastrophic injury claim
- Calculating your damages and sending a demand letter to the at-fault party and their insurance company
- Negotiating with the insurer for a full and fair settlement
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit and taking your case to trial if the insurance company refuses to negotiate in good faith
Our personal injury lawyers have a 50-year history of handling a wide variety of cases in Daytona Beach. Our diligent approach and dedication are reflected in testimonials from clients like Alexis M., who writes:
“The accident was awful but the support and direction I received from Ron Zimmet was wonderful. Jolene, the office administrator, was a pleasure to talk to and very caring. They completely took care of all of my concerns and communicated with me throughout the entire process. I would highly recommend their services if you are in need of an accident attorney.”
Car Accidents: A Leading Cause of Catastrophic Injuries in Florida
Car accidents are among the top causes of catastrophic injuries in Florida. The forces unleashed by a collision can have a devastating effect on the human body, causing injuries ranging from traumatic brain injuries and internal bleeding to complex fractures and amputated limbs.
Some of the most common causes of catastrophic car accidents are:
- High-speed collisions – The faster a vehicle travels, the more violent the impact.
- Drunk driving accidents – An intoxicated driver loses the ability to operate their vehicle safely
- Distracted driving accidents – Drivers looking at their phones, eating, or talking to passengers can cause catastrophic crashes and severe injuries.
- Head-on collisions – The force of impact combines the speed of both cars involved.
- Multi-vehicle pileups – Poor weather conditions, inattention, or driving erratically can disrupt traffic and lead to dangerous chain-reaction crashes.
Other Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries in Florida
Other catastrophic injury causes include:
- Motorcycle accidents – Motorcycle riders often suffer serious injuries in accidents because they don’t have the same protection of steel frames, crumple zones, airbags, or seat belts that cars provide. Road rash from sliding across the pavement can result in scarring and disfigurement. Even with a helmet, victims can sustain catastrophic traumatic brain injuries.
- Truck accidents – The size and weight of commercial trucks mean they impart far greater force in a collision, enough to cause a victim catastrophic trauma like internal organ damage, spinal cord injuries, cuts, and severe burns. Multiple parties may be liable for truck accident injuries, including the truck driver, trucking company, and cargo loaders.
- Construction site accidents – Employees in industries such as construction, manufacturing, warehousing, and other physically demanding jobs are at a heightened risk of catastrophic accidents. Injured employees are generally covered by their employers’ workers’ compensation insurance, but sometimes have third-party liability claims against outside parties.
- Slip and fall/premises liability accidents – Slipping and falling on others’ property can result in catastrophic injuries to the head, brain, and spine. These accidents may also cause broken bones, including broken hips in older adults.
Understanding Your Rights After a Catastrophic Accident
After a catastrophic injury accident in Florida, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your financial and personal losses from the person responsible for the accident. Compensation can include money for losses like:
- Past and future medical bills
- Long-term rehabilitation, such as physical therapy and occupational therapy
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning potential
- Costs for nursing services, home health assistance, medical equipment, and home renovations to accommodate a new disability
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Scarring and disfigurement
Catastrophic injury claims tend to have a high value due to the severity of the injuries, the cost of medical treatment, and the devastating impact they have on a victim’s life. Unfortunately, that means the insurance company is more likely to dispute your claim to minimize your payout. An experienced catastrophic injury lawyer can calculate a fair value for your claim and advocate for fair compensation.
One of the laws insurance companies rely on to fight claims is Florida’s modified comparative negligence law. The statute states that a victim can only recover compensation at trial only if they are 50 percent or less at fault for the accident that harmed them. Any award is reduced by the victim’s assigned percentage of fault.
If insurers raise the comparative negligence defense, an experienced attorney can seek to reduce your degree of fault by gathering strong evidence showing the other party caused the accident and your injuries, helping you pursue maximum compensation.
Legal Options for Catastrophic Injury Victims in Florida
Your legal options after a catastrophic injury in Florida depend on the cause of the accident.
Motor vehicle accidents
If your injuries resulted from a motor vehicle accident, your first option for seeking compensation is to file a no-fault auto insurance claim with your insurance provider. However, if your injuries are severe, you can also file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver to seek additional compensation, including for pain and suffering.
Florida law defines a serious injury as one that results in:
- Significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function
- Permanent disability within a reasonable degree of medical probability
- Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Death
Workplace accidents
Victims injured on the job may be eligible for Florida workers’ compensation benefits. While state law does not allow you to sue your employer in most cases, you might be able to file a third-party personal injury lawsuit if an outside party’s negligence caused your catastrophic injuries.
Other accidents
Anyone injured due to another party’s negligence (slip-and-fall, product liability, premises liability, etc.) can file a personal injury claim against the at-fault party or their liability insurer.
Contact Our Florida Catastrophic Injury Lawyers
The long-term consequences of a catastrophic injury make pursuing compensation essential for your health and well-being. If you were seriously hurt in a Florida accident, contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Zimmet & Zimmet for a free consultation. Our law firm has over five decades of experience helping Daytona Beach residents rebuild their lives after a catastrophic injury. Contact us today for a complimentary case review.