What Exactly Is Considered A Serious Injury?

Have you or someone you love suffered an injury in an accident? Was it severe? Do you think that the injury will require significant medical care (and egregious hospital bills) to ensure complete recovery? Since Florida is a no-fault state, you must go through your own insurance provider to seek help to become financially whole again.

But what if your insurance is not sufficient to cover all the medical expenses and lost wages resulting from the injury? You might be wondering whether your case qualifies to be taken outside Florida’s no-fault system, allowing you to file a third-party claim to recover the financial damages you have incurred.

Regardless of whether your injuries seem severe, it is always recommended that you seek immediate medical attention. A proper examination by a qualified medical professional can help you determine the severity of your injuries, even if you don’t experience any symptoms right away. You should also speak to qualified West Palm Beach personal injury lawyers about the incident that caused the injury, especially if it happened due to the negligence of another individual or entity. Speaking to a personal injury attorney can help you figure out whether there are any legal avenues you can explore to seek reparations for the damages you have suffered.

There are a few exceptions to the no-fault law, and suffering from a severe injury is one of those conditions. Read on to learn what exactly is considered a serious injury in Florida to identify whether your situation merits seeking compensation through a third-party claim.

What Counts as a Serious Injury in Florida’s Personal Injury Law?

The first thing to understand when reviewing whether your case can warrant seeking compensatory reparations against another party is that the injury has to have been caused by another party.

Florida’s comparative negligence statute says that even if you share partial blame for causing the accident, you could receive a lower amount in compensation, depending on how much you were at fault for causing the accident.

Suppose that you suffered a serious injury in a car accident in which you were found to be 40% at fault, and the compensation award was determined to be $100,000. In that case, the damages you would receive would be $60,000.

For a personal injury case to be considered outside Florida’s no-fault system, it has to meet one of three conditions, including:

• The injury you suffered was determined to be a permanent one
• You were permanently disfigured or scarred due to the injury
• You suffered significant and permanent loss of any bodily function

It is important to remember that these laws are not specific because no two injury cases can be exactly the same. Since these are open to interpretation, it falls on you and your attorney to prove how the injury resulted in a negative impact on your life quality in terms of performing your day-to-day activities.

Common Examples of Serious Injuries You Should Know

Having a qualified medical professional examine your injuries is critical, even if you feel like you did not suffer serious injuries. A proper medical evaluation can ensure that you can catch any serious injuries before they become worse and treat them accordingly. Many personal injuries can appear to be insignificant immediately after an accident but can deteriorate quickly if left untreated and lead to life-long health problems and medical bills for you to deal with.

Some of the most common injuries that could be considered serious injuries in Florida include, but are not limited to:

• Broken bones
• Spinal cord damage
• Trauma to the brain
• Partial or complete paralysis
• Loss of limbs
• Whiplash

Whiplash is an important one to remember, especially if you were involved in a car accident. Any unexpected and rapid movement in your neck can result in severe nerve damage, muscle damage, or neck sprains. This kind of injury is often called whiplash.

It is one of the most common injuries people suffer after being involved in car accidents. Depending on the severity of the accident, whiplash can be bad enough to cause temporary or permanent health issues, ranging from excruciating pain and suffering to loss of function and paralysis.

Why Working with a Qualified Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

Serious injury law is not easy to navigate, and it can easily become overwhelming for you to determine the merits of your case. If you don’t know the right course of action to take after suffering a serious injury, you could risk losing the opportunity to be rewarded adequate compensation for the damages you have suffered.

Having the help of a qualified personal injury lawyer can make a world of difference in your chances of holding the at-fault party responsible and winning reparations that you rightfully deserve. An experienced attorney knows the ins and outs of Florida’s personal injury law, understands the exact evidence necessary to build a strong case, and can navigate the complex legal waters to ensure that you get a desirable outcome from your case.

Consider contacting an Injury Lawyer to get in touch with the West Palm Beach personal injury lawyers in the firm. The legal team boasts a strong track record of representing their clients in personal injury lawsuits and helping them become financially whole again.