Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Attorneys

Board-certified Florida injury lawyer helps accident victims get compensation

When you least expect it, an accident can cause injuries that profoundly change your life and the lives of the family members who care about you. All too often, accident-related injuries could have been avoided if other individuals had observed a reasonable degree of care. The Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys at Fazio, DiSalvo & Abers, P.A. understand the frustration you experience when an injury caused by someone else’s negligence forces you to deal with legal issues at the same time you should be focusing on your medical care. Regardless of the severity or type of injury you sustain, a call to our firm is an important first step in pursuing the compensation you deserve.

Types of claims our Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers handle

We understand the specific considerations that must be addressed for a wide array of accidental injury cases, including matters related to the following:

• Catastrophic injuries — A catastrophic injury is so severe that it can result in long-term medical problems, and possibly a permanent disability. If you or a loved one sustains severe brain damage, a debilitating spinal injury or even third-degree burns due to the negligence of other individuals, you need to take effective legal action. We will develop a strong case designed to obtain the compensation you need now, and potentially for the rest of your life.
• Auto accidents — Your own no-fault insurance policy can handle certain expenses related to many motor vehicle accidents, regardless of who was liable for the collision. However, many automobile accidents result in serious injuries where expenses exceed the limits of the victim’s coverage. In these cases, you have the right to pursue appropriate payment through other legal means.
• Premises liability — Under Florida premises liability law, you have the right to expect the owner or manager of any public or private property to take reasonable measures to keep you safe from accidental injury. If you slip and fall on a business or residential property due to an unsafe walking surface, the law requires you to prove the responsible party knew, or should have known, of the danger and failed to address it in a timely manner. These cases can be challenging to prove, but our attorneys will conduct thorough investigations to support your case.
• Wrongful death — When someone’s negligence or willful act causes a fatality, immediate family members have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim to recover the expenses stemming from their loss. The Florida Wrongful Death Act focuses on shifting the financial burden from the survivors to the wrongdoer. Our attorneys have the compassion to address the details of these emotionally charged cases so the family has the time to grieve their tragic loss.

Whatever your claim entails, we have the skill and experience to maximize your financial recovery through a verdict or settlement.

Seeking compensation after an injury

The award in a Florida personal injury lawsuit can include compensation for the following types of economic damages:

• Medical bills, including medication costs
• Income lost due to the injury
• Loss in future earning potential
• Expenses for rehabilitation, occupational therapy and transportation to healthcare appointments

Along with these economic costs, plaintiffs may also receive compensation for non-economic harm stemming from their injuries, such as:

• Physical pain
• Mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Disfigurement, such as scarring or the loss of a limb

When you work with our firm, you will have a legal team on your side that is committed to holding liable parties accountable for the harm they caused you.

Determining liability for a Fort Lauderdale accident

In some personal injury cases, such as those stemming from car accidents, the liable party might be very clear. However, there are situations where responsibility for the incident is in doubt. After someone is hurt in a slip and fall at a store, the property owner, tenant business and maintenance company might all point fingers at each other. Our firm has the skill, experience and expert contacts to get to the truth and push back hard when potential defendants attempt to avoid liability by blaming the victim.

Steps to take after an accident

Don’t wait after an accident to get professional help for your medical condition or legal needs. If you’ve been hurt, make sure you see a doctor as soon as possible and call our firm to guide you through the steps needed to obtain compensation from the liable party or parties. If no one at the scene requires urgent medical assistance, you can improve your legal position by taking photos and gathering information that helps to show what happened to cause your injury. Be careful not to speak with an insurance adjuster or someone else who is working against your best interests.

How a Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney can help

Having the right attorney by your side can make an enormous difference in the outcome of your personal injury matter. We pride ourselves on our open communication with our clients so that they understand their rights and options. While building a strong foundation for your case, we also negotiate with defendants in pursuit of a fair settlement that spares you the time, stress and uncertainty associated with a trial.

When should you consider a personal injury lawyer?

If someone else contributed to your injury, finding an experienced attorney should be your top priority after addressing your medical needs. In the hours or days following an accident, a defense lawyer or insurance adjuster might try to trap you into an inadequate settlement or a statement against your interests. Once you retain our firm, we’ll handle the communications and make sure that you are not pressured into accepting a compensation amount that does not reflect the true extent of your damages.

How long do you have to file a personal injury claim in Florida?

Florida has a two-year statute of limitations for most personal injury actions, but delaying could prevent you from securing the justice you seek. Conditions can change and evidence can disappear over time. Even key witnesses might move away if you wait too long. The sooner you get started, the easier it will be to prove your case so you can collect the compensation you’re entitled to.

Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers answer common questions

What is the process for filing a personal injury claim in Florida?

The type of personal injury claim you seek to file will have a major effect on the specific legal process. In most injury cases, the defense is handled by an insurance company, but there are significant differences between an auto insurance claim and a medical malpractice action involving professional liability coverage. Slip and fall cases might involve homeowner’s insurance or a commercial general liability policy. Whatever process applies in your case, our firm guides you through each step and keeps you fully informed on all developments.

What happens if I am partially at fault in an accident?

A recent change to Florida’s comparative negligence law prohibits plaintiffs from collecting a damage award if they bear the majority of fault for an accident. You can receive payment if you are partly to blame for a crash, but your share of the fault must be 50 percent or less.

Who pays for medical bills after an injury?

Following a car accident, the Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage from your policy pays for a majority of your medical bills up to the policy limit, but you might need to seek the balance from the driver liable for the crash or their insurer, along with your health insurance carrier. In non-vehicle accident cases, the defendant can be held liable for all of your out-of-pocket medical costs.

How long does it typically take to reach a settlement in a Fort Lauderdale personal injury case?

There are a variety of factors that affect the timeframe of a personal injury case, many of which cannot be known until the defendants respond to the complaint. Regardless of the particular circumstances, we always press for the best settlement possible in the shortest amount of time.

Will I need to go to court?

Most cases are settled out of court, which gives victims the chance to collect their payment more quickly and without the time and hassle associated with a trial. However, there are instances where going to court gives victims the best chance to obtain the compensation they deserve.

Contact a South Florida personal injury lawyer for a free consultation

At the Fort Lauderdale personal injury law firm of Fazio, DiSalvo & Abers, P.A., our individualized approach helps ensure we address every detail of your case. Our firm offers a free initial consultation and does not charge fees unless you obtain payment through a verdict or settlement. For an appointment, please call 954-463-0585 or email us at [email protected].