What situations can constitute a personal injury?

Generally, a personal injury case involves an injury to your person (or your body) that results from someone else breaching a duty of care they owed to you. In a personal injury claim, you can hold an individual, a company, or a government entity accountable, depending on the facts of your situation. Common examples of personal injury cases include motor vehicle accident claims, premises liability claims, product liability claims, and medical malpractice claims.

What are my rights as a victim injured by someone else’s negligence in Florida?

When you have been injured because of another person’s or party’s careless conduct, you have the right to pursue financial compensation for your losses through an insurance claim or a lawsuit. You’re able to pursue compensation for a variety of losses, from medical costs and other out-of-pocket expenses to wage loss, decline in earning potential, and pain and suffering—a type of non-economic loss that still has a serious impact on your life.

How do I know if I have a personal injury claim?

Generally, you have grounds for a personal injury claim if you suffered bodily injury and related damages that can be documented through another party’s negligence, and that negligence can be established through evidence. While this may sound simple in theory, it can be more complicated in real-life situations. You may not know exactly what led to the accident or how to acquire the evidence you would need to prove negligence, for example. The only way to be sure whether your situation presents grounds for a personal injury claim that’s likely to be successful is to discuss the specifics of your unique circumstances with an experienced attorney.

How long does the personal injury claims process take?

The length of the personal injury claims process varies from one case to the next. The most straightforward claims—ones with undisputed liability, clear (and usually less extensive) damages, and a relatively cooperative insurance representative—may resolve in a matter of months. However, if your injuries are extensive, liability is under dispute, or your case enters litigation, it could take considerably longer, potentially amounting to one or more years.

Santa Rosa County Personal Injury Lawyer | Injury Attorney Santa Rosa County, FL

Injury Attorney in Santa Rosa County, FL, Seeking Maximum Compensation for Victims of Negligence

Dealing with a serious injury is never easy, but the situation can be particularly frustrating when you’ve been injured because of someone else’s carelessness. Whether your injuries resulted from the mistakes of a reckless driver, property owner, or healthcare provider, your path forward requires the resources to achieve the most complete physical and financial recovery possible. For that, you need the guidance of a Santa Rosa County personal injury lawyer at Dan Stewart Law Firm.

Our legal team is known throughout Northwest Florida for our excellence in practicing personal injury law and our longstanding and extensive contributions to our local community. Contact us today and find out how our firm gets maximum results for the injured while providing peace of mind. We offer a free initial consultation that allows you to explore your options and get your questions answered.

Wondering If You Have a Case? Get Answers in a Free Consultation.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Speak With Our Legal Team

850-972-8002

The Most Important Steps to Take After an Injury

An accident or injury can have long-lasting consequences, so it’s important to take the right steps now to protect your legal right to pursue a claim if necessary. The actions that will help you build the foundation for a successful claim include:

Getting to safety: If the accident has left you in a dangerous position where you’re at risk of further harm, your first move needs to be reaching a safe place—ideally, without making your injuries worse.
Reporting the accident: You need an official report of some kind to establish that the accident actually happened. Depending on the circumstances, you might call the police (as in a car accident) or notify a commercial property owner (in a slip and fall claim).
Documenting the scene: Take photos, videos, or notes of any visible safety hazards, property damage, and injuries, as well as the exact site where the accident occurred. Ask any witnesses for their contact information and, if possible, their statements.
Seeking medical care: Prompt medical care not only allows for the best possible prognosis for recovery but also establishes a clear link between the accident and your injuries. Even if you’ve been evaluated at the scene by emergency medical personnel, see a doctor for a more thorough exam.
Getting legal advice: While early medical care protects your physical health and recovery, prompt legal guidance can put you on the path to the most successful financial recovery. It’s never too soon after an accident to consult an attorney about your rights and how to protect yourself throughout the next steps.

As an experienced injury attorney in Santa Rosa County, FL, Dan Stewart has seen how big an impact taking the right actions after an accident can have. Don’t wait any longer to report the accident, gather documentation, see a doctor, or speak to a lawyer. Your future recovery—physical and financial—could be at stake.

Personal Injury Claims in Santa Rosa County and Throughout Northwest Florida

Only after the accident does the full reality of the situation become clear: the extent of your injuries, the ways in which the other party’s careless conduct caused your accident, and the irreversible impact of this incident on your life. Victims injured because of someone else’s actions in Florida have the right to recover financial compensation through an insurance claim or a civil lawsuit.

Proving Negligence

Because your right to recover compensation depends on who is at fault for the accident, proving negligence is an essential part of the claims process. You need to identify every person or party that owed you a duty of care—for example, to drive safely, maintain a property in safe condition, or practice medicine in adherence to the established standard of care—and breached that duty in some way. You need to provide evidence of this breach of duty and how this action caused the accident.

In some personal injury claims, there’s one defendant clearly at fault. In other cases, liability for an accident is more complicated, with factors such as:

More than one potential defendant
Different sources of insurance coverage to consider
Shared fault, which still permits you to seek compensation under Florida’s modified comparative negligence law (Section 768.81 of Florida Statutes) as long as you’re not more than 50% at fault

Having an attorney on your side provides the support you need to identify all possible defendants, gather evidence against them, and begin building a successful claim.

Calculating Damages

Before you can demand the compensation you’re entitled to, you need to identify all of the damages you suffered because of your injury. Generally, victims injured in Florida may pursue compensation for medical expenses, income loss, and other economic damages. They may also be able to recover compensation that addresses their non-economic losses, like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and permanent scarring.

In calculating your damages, you need professional guidance to analyze every detail of your situation, identify the full extent of your legally recognizable losses, and project future effects of the accident that can warrant compensation.

Beyond calculating your damages, you need to document your losses for the opposing side—or, in the case of a trial, for a judge or jury. Our firm handles the challenge of documenting damages by compiling medical bills, wage loss statements, receipts, statements of expert witnesses who can speak to the future impact of your accident, and other evidence.

Securing Compensation

Some relatively straightforward personal injury cases may resolve without ever entering litigation. In this instance, your attorney would submit all claims paperwork, evidence of negligence, and documentation of damages to the insurer and negotiate a settlement without the need for formal legal action.

In many cases, however, the personal injury claims process is more complex. Litigation, or filing a lawsuit, is part of many claims for injury compensation. Once your claim enters litigation, there will be different steps, stages, and procedures, such as the discovery process, through which both parties review the other side’s evidence and arguments.

Even once your case enters litigation, that doesn’t necessarily mean a trial is imminent. Because settling out of court can offer advantages such as a quicker resolution to your claim and reduced legal costs for both sides, your attorney will typically continue trying to negotiate a settlement that fairly compensates you. However, if the settlement offered simply isn’t sufficient to make you whole, Dan Stewart Law Firm is ready to fight for you in court. In fact, we prepare every case for the possibility of a trial.

Types of Cases Our Injury Attorney in Santa Rosa County, FL, Handles

As a Santa Rosa County personal injury lawyer, Dan Stewart assists clients injured in accidents of all kinds, such as:

Car accidents arising out of any form of negligence behind the wheel or manufacturer defects—with a particular focus on drunk driving accidents, as the founder of the local chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
Truck accidents involving commercial trucks of all sizes and purposes, including tractor-trailer accidents
Medical malpractice committed by doctors, nurses, technicians, and other types of healthcare professionals
Premises liability claims arising out of negligent property maintenance, including slip and fall accidents on residential, commercial, or public properties
Salon and spa injury claims resulting from negligence, including slip and falls, chemical burns, lacerations, and exposures to unsanitary conditions due to poor sanitation procedures

Not every case fits neatly into a category like car accidents or premises liability claims. Our firm is prepared to represent the injured in claims of all kinds against negligent individuals, companies, and organizations.

How Dan Stewart Law Firm Can Help

When injured individuals and their families turn to Dan Stewart Law Firm for help, they can put aside the stress of the legal process. We handle all aspects of the claim for our clients, including:

Evaluating the facts of the case during an initial free consultation
Carrying out an investigation into the cause of the accident and potential defendants
Gathering evidence to support claims of liability
Documenting losses (economic and non-economic)
Managing claims paperwork, deadlines, and insurance company interactions
Filing litigation, if necessary, and handling all legal filings
Securing the maximum compensation possible through settlement negotiations or a trial

After a serious injury, life can feel like an overwhelming mess. You shouldn’t have to manage this whole difficult ordeal on your own. We’re here to take on the stress of the legal process for you while pursuing an outcome that will provide the resources you need to move forward.

Why Choose Dan Stewart Law Firm as Your Santa Rosa County Personal Injury Lawyer?

Throughout Northwest Florida, Dan Stewart Law Firm has a reputation as a Santa Rosa County personal injury lawyer with experience handling a wide array of accident claims and removing the barriers that stand in the way of injured victims getting skilled legal help.

An Experienced, Results-Driven Firm

Dan Stewart Law Firm has served injured clients throughout the region since 1981, devoting more than 40 years to legal practice. We’ve helped more than 20,000 clients recover the compensation they deserve after serious injuries have derailed their lives. Overall, we’ve secured more than $100 million in compensation for our clients through strategic settlements and compelling case presentations at trial.

Representation for Personal Injury Claims of All Kinds

Every type of injury claim involves specific nuances and challenges. At Dan Stewart Law Firm, we have a comprehensive record of handling a wide variety of injury claims. Whether your case requires a thorough understanding of Florida’s auto insurance system, the responsibilities of commercial property owners, or the procedures required to hold negligent doctors accountable for errors, we’re equipped with the knowledge and skills you need to succeed.

Convenient, 24/7 Legal Assistance

When personal injuries hinder your mobility, just getting to an attorney’s office for a consultation can seem impossible. We’ll come to you. We don’t just accommodate our clients’ needs with home and hospital visits—we’ve invested in “The 4U mobile,” a dedicated RV complete with all facilities needed to meet in person. We’re here to answer your questions and provide the urgent guidance you need 24/7.

Personal Injury Areas Served

Contact a Santa Rosa County Personal Injury Lawyer at Dan Stewart Law Firm Today for a Free Case Review

The only way to fully understand your legal rights and the path to recovering full compensation is through an in-depth consultation with an attorney who understands your unique circumstances. That’s why we offer free consultations, ensuring you have the chance to talk through your case in detail with a knowledgeable, compassionate injury lawyer. This consultation is a chance to get your questions answered, acquire information to empower you throughout the claims process, and learn what to expect as you pursue the compensation you deserve.

For help from an injury attorney in Santa Rosa County, FL, contact Dan Stewart Law Firm online or call 850-972-8002 today.

Santa Rosa County Personal Injury Lawyer