Category: Personal Injury

Rollover crashes are some of the most severe you can experience. They typically involve high speeds, large vehicles like trucks or SUVs, or both of these factors. Because Florida is a no-fault state for traffic accidents, suffering minor injuries typically requires filing a claim against your personal injury protection insurance. 

But what if your injuries are severe after a truck accident? Here’s what you need to know about the types of injuries you can experience in these kinds of crashes and what they could mean for your claim. 

Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissue injuries involve damage to the non-bony parts of your body, including ligaments, tendons, and muscles. You can suffer sprains and strains, including whiplash, that cause pain and stiffness. 

Whether you can file a personal injury claim depends on the severity of your injury. With more minor injuries like whiplash, your insurance could cover your related losses, so you might not be able to step outside of Florida’s no-fault laws. Knee ligament injuries, however, could require surgery, the cost of which might allow you to begin a personal injury claim. 

Broken Bones

Rollover accidents with vehicles like SUVs and trucks can cause significant impact to your bones, resulting in fractures of all types. In many cases, you would be able to step outside of Florida’s no-fault laws, especially if you require surgery. You may also need to take a substantial amount of time off to heal, which your insurance won’t be able to cover. 

Internal Damage

Internal damage involves injuries to your organs, blood vessels, and other structures that aren’t visible. Most of the time, people don’t immediately realize they’ve suffered this type of injury. 

For example, internal bleeding is a serious concern that could lead to life-threatening drops in blood pressure and shock. Generally, you’ll be able to sue for these types of injuries because of their severity. 

Spinal Cord Injuries

Because your body may be tossed in all directions in an accident with a truck or SUV, your spine can experience twisting motions, which can lead to spinal fractures and nerve damage. You can suffer from loss of sensation up to complete paralysis from spinal injuries. 

As a result, these are typically considered catastrophic losses for which you can begin a personal injury claim against the liable parties. 

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) involve a force that causes damage to the brain. They can be blunt injuries, which occur if you hit your head and your brain shifts in the skull. It’s also possible to sustain penetrating brain injuries, which involve an object cutting into the skull and brain. 

One of the most serious TBIs you can suffer in a rollover crash with a truck or SUV is a diffuse axonal injury. This occurs if your brain twists, damaging nerve fibers, and it often results in widespread damage that can cause cognitive issues. 

If you sustain a minor traumatic brain injury, such as a concussion, you may only be able to file a claim against your insurance. However, you’ll likely be able to file a lawsuit for more serious injuries. 

Psychological Injuries

Being in a rollover accident is a traumatic experience. You may develop depression, anxiety, and even post-traumatic stress disorder afterward. All of these conditions lower your quality of life. Depending on the extent of that impact, it may be possible to file a personal injury claim to address your losses.

Protecting Your Future with Help from an Attorney

The severe injuries frequently associated with truck and SUV accidents in Florida can mean that a standard insurance claim will not be enough to fully address your losses. In these cases, you might need to file a lawsuit against the responsible party. The best way to find out what type of claim is right for you is to seek the guidance of an experienced car accident attorney.

Personal injury claims take many forms. The right lawyer often determines whether you receive fair compensation or leave without the resources you need. Injuries occur in many situations, and you have legal rights that allow you to hold others accountable. Keep reading to learn about the most common types of personal injury claims and how the process works.

Motor Vehicle Accident Claims

When you think of personal injury cases, car accidents are likely the first thing to pop into your mind. That’s because they are a leading cause of personal injury cases. There are many vehicle accidents every day, leading victims to take legal action to cover vehicle damage, medical costs, and other expenses related to their accident. 

Slip and Fall Injury Claims

When a facility is not safe to be in and you are injured as a result, that is a slip and fall injury. They have a responsibility to ensure everyone is safe when they visit. The fact that you were injured may mean you are entitled to compensation. Problems like uncleaned spills, floor damage, and messy areas commonly lead to injuries.

Medical Malpractice Claims

Medical malpractice occurs when the care you receive falls short of what is considered standard in the medical industry. Examples include surgical errors, incorrect diagnoses, or medication mistakes. When malpractice occurs, act quickly to secure your medical records, treatment history, and any correspondence with the provider or facility..

Workplace Accident Claims

Workplace accidents occur in every type of job, from construction sites to office environments. Unsafe machinery, poorly maintained equipment, and inadequate safety measures often cause serious injuries. If you suffer harm on the job, notify your employer immediately and get medical care. Reporting the accident promptly helps protect your right to workers’ compensation benefits.

Product Liability Claims

Manufacturers and companies that sell products have a duty to ensure they are safe. When a defect causes an injury, they may be held liable. You can file a personal injury case to help you recover compensation. 

Product liability cases are complex since multiple companies are involved, and your lawyer has to prove fault. Working with a personal injury lawyer who handles product liability cases can help. A lawyer with experience in this area knows the right way to build a case that will stick while being able to fight back against corporate lawyers. 

Wrongful Death Claims

Wrongful death claims arise when negligence or misconduct causes the death of a loved one. These cases bring emotional pain and financial hardship to families. If you suspect negligence caused the death, a personal injury lawyer can take immediate steps to protect your family’s interests and begin the legal process.

How a Lawyer Strengthens Your Personal Injury Case

Having an attorney involved in a personal injury claim can provide valuable legal knowledge, investigative resources, and case management experience. An attorney can review the facts, gather physical evidence, analyze medical records, and speak with witnesses to build a well-documented claim. This thorough preparation can help position a case for a favorable settlement or a strong showing in court.

Insurance companies often aim to reduce the amount paid to claimants. A lawyer can handle communications with these companies and assess the full value of a claim, considering medical expenses, lost wages, and non-economic losses such as pain and reduced quality of life. Through careful negotiation and, if necessary, litigation, an attorney works to present a detailed and persuasive case.

Schedule a Consultation with a Personal Injury Attorney for Legal Help

Injuries caused by other people often lead to legal action as a way of dealing with the problems that those injuries cause. Hospital bills, missing work, and other problems can make it difficult to make ends meet. Fortunately, a personal injury lawsuit can help by giving you access to compensation to help deal with these problems.

Suppose that you’ve just been injured in a car wreck, slip and fall, or other personal injury accident. One of the most effective steps you can take in your quest for compensation is to hire a qualified personal injury attorneys to help you with your case. Nonetheless, you and others might hesitate to take this initial step if you feel you already have a strong compensation claim.

Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee that your claim will succeed or you’ll receive the compensation you seek. That said, there are certain characteristics that all strong personal injury cases share. If your situation displays one or more of these characteristics, it’s a good idea to consult a personal injury lawyer for professional assistance.

Not Much Time Has Passed Since Your Accident

Each state has its own deadline for filing a lawsuit called the statute of limitations. For example, West Virginia allows you to file an injury claim up to two years from the date you’re hurt. However, the sooner you file your personal injury claim, the more robust it will be.

As time passes after an accident, memories can fade, witnesses can become difficult to locate, and evidence needed to substantiate various assertions can become lost. Prompt action is therefore the best course.

One or More Witnesses Saw Your Accident Happen

If anyone observed your accident unfolding, soliciting their statement will give your claim considerable weight. The best witnesses are those who saw the entire accident from beginning to end, have no personal relationship to you, and have no impairments affecting their ability to observe and recall events.

Even if your memory of the accident is crystal clear, witnesses can play a vital role in corroborating your version of events. Their testimony can lend credibility to your statements and improve your chances of recovering fair compensation.

Corroborating Evidence Is Available to Support Your Claim

In the same way that witnesses can back up the facts of your case, objective evidence like videos, photographs, emails, business records, and other documents and data can also support your case.

Not only can such evidence verify details about your case that you already know, but it can also provide additional information that you may not have known, such as:

• The mental state and prior conduct of the responsible parties
• The identities of other entities that may also be liable for your injuries
• The existence of other evidence that can be collected and used to build your case

Gathering evidence that establishes the other party’s fault is perhaps the best way to strengthen your claim and ensure you’re fully compensated.

You Kept All Relevant Receipts

You’re entitled to seek damages for all expenses, financial losses, and other harm you’ve suffered because of your injuries. However, it can be difficult to prove how much you’re owed if you don’t have copies of invoices, billing statements, and receipts documenting those losses.

For this reason, constructing a solid personal injury claim necessitates keeping all documents relating to your accident and potential recovery in a safe location.

Never Assume You Have a Weak Case

The best way to know whether you have a compelling personal injury claim is to speak with a qualified and experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible after the fact. An attorney can review how your injury occurred, assess the evidence available to support your version of events, and give you an honest opinion of your claim’s worth.

Armed with this knowledge, you can make an informed decision about how best to exercise your rights.