Did someone injure you in an accident? Are your injuries the result of a company’s or an individual’s negligence? You may be eligible to be compensated for your injuries. Contact the West Bay personal injury lawyers of The Bruner Law Firm at (850) 243-2222 for a free consultation. We can discuss your situation and see whether we can go to work for you.
Our Practice Areas
At The Bruner Law Firm, we handle the following personal injury cases:
- Workplace Accidents – Typically, you would be entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits from your employer’s insurance company for a work-related injury. In some cases, other parties, including manufacturers of any tools or machinery you were using that may have caused your injuries or the owner(s) of the property where you were working, could be liable for compensating you for your injuries.
- Construction Accidents – If you were injured at your construction job site, or simply a visitor or passerby at a construction site and were injured, the construction company, property owner, or contractor may owe you compensation.
- Slip and Fall Accidents – Maintaining safe grounds is the property owner’s responsibility. If you’re injured by hazardous conditions on someone else’s property, you may be entitled to compensation due to their negligence.
- Pedestrian Accidents – When you’re hit by a car while walking or running, you can suffer severe injuries. The person who hit you may be liable for compensating you for your injuries.
- Jet Ski and Boat Accidents – Although jet skis and boats are fun vessels to ride on, jet ski and boat operators have to be well trained and cautious while driving them. Negligent jet ski and boat drivers could be held responsible for injuring you in an accident on the water.
- Car Accidents – Because Florida is a no-fault state, you can file a claim with your insurance company for your losses if you were injured in a car accident caused by a negligent driver. If your PIP insurance isn’t sufficient to cover your losses, and if you meet certain conditions, you may be able to file a lawsuit for compensation against the at-fault driver.
- Motorcycle Accidents – Motorcyclists are at increased risk for severe injury when involved in an accident because they are extremely exposed. If another motorist injured you in a motorcycle accident, you may have a right to be compensated.
- Dog Bite and Animal Attacks – If you were bitten by the pet of a friend at their home, their homeowner’s insurance may cover your injuries. If you were bitten elsewhere or injured in an animal attack in a public place, you may be able to sue for the compensation you need to cover your medical expenses.
- Truck Accidents – Passenger vehicle motorists face serious injuries in truck accidents due to the massive size of tractor-trailers and the weight they bring to the impact. The trucking company may be liable for compensating you for your truck accident injuries.
- Bicycle Accidents – Like motorcyclists, bicyclists have very little protection if they’re hit by a negligent driver. The at-fault driver could be liable for your severe injuries.
- Wrongful Death – You can file a lawsuit against the party responsible for your loved one’s wrongful death. You could be compensated for the expenses related to their death and your emotional suffering.
- Defective Medical Devices – Companies are obligated to make sure their devices are safe and working properly for medical use on consumers. Their negligence can lead to consumers suffering from serious injuries after these devices are placed in their bodies.
Additionally, we can represent you in your case if someone or a company caused you to sustain the following injuries:
The Bruner Law Firm can take on your personal injury case if you were injured in any of the above types of accidents. If you’re unsure about your legal options and whether you can pursue compensation for your injuries, don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss the details of your case.
How Much Compensation Can I Get for My Injuries?
This is a complicated question because the amount of damages (the legal term for compensation) you may be owed depends on several factors, including the calculated and estimated costs of your losses.
Your injuries may have caused you to incur several types of losses. You could recover money for your financial, or economic losses. You could obtain economic damages to cover the following:
- Cost of medical treatment
- Income or wages lost from missing work
- Future medical expenses
- Property damage
If you file a wrongful death lawsuit for the death of your spouse, child, or parent, you could also recover economic damages for your financial losses related to the death of your loved one.
You may also be able to recover money for more personal and subjective losses, based on the impact your injuries have had on your life and on you mentally and emotionally. These are known as non-economic damages. These damages can compensate you for:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Scarring, disability, or disfigurements
- Loss of quality of life
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium (or loss of personal relationship with a spouse, parent, or child in wrongful death lawsuits)
If you can prove that the negligent party’s misconduct was intentional or that their negligence was particularly egregious, you may be entitled to an award of punitive damages by the judge or jury presiding over your trial. This is a rare award, however. Punitive damages are not awarded to compensate you for your injuries. They are a punishment for the negligent party.
A determining factor in the amount of compensation you could be entitled to is your percentage of fault for your injuries. In Florida, this is known as comparative fault. Under Florida law, you’re permitted to obtain compensation for your injuries no matter how much you were at fault for the accident that caused your injuries. But the maximum amount of compensation you may be entitled to would be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you’re entitled to a maximum of $100,000 in compensation and were 30 percent responsible for the accident, the party that was 70 percent at fault for causing your injuries would only be liable for compensating you $70,000.
Process of Pursuing Compensation
When you hire a West Bay personal injury lawyer from The Bruner Law Firm, we’ll get right to work on your claim or lawsuit. We’ll file a personal injury insurance claim to pursue compensation for your injuries from the at-fault party’s insurance company if it’s appropriate. If you’re offered a satisfactory settlement, your case will be complete. If the insurance company won’t provide an appropriate settlement or if the party that injured you has no insurance company, we may need to file a personal injury lawsuit. In that case, a determination about whether you’re entitled to compensation for your injuries will be made by a court.
Contact Us Now
The person who caused you to be seriously injured should be held accountable for their actions. Call the West Bay personal injury lawyers of The Bruner Law Firm today at (850) 243-2222 to pursue the compensation you deserve.
