Gainesville is a college town. This means young drivers who may be unfamiliar with the roads, inexperienced behind the wheel, and possibly distracted or even intoxicated. This can be a recipe for disaster.
If you were injured in a car accident by another driver’s negligence in Gainesville, you could be entitled to compensation. A Gainesville personal injury lawyer at Bogin, Munns & Munns believes if another party caused your accident, they should pay for your losses.
When you hire one of our lawyers to represent you, we can examine the full range of your losses. Your lawyer will gather evidence to pursue a fair settlement offer or court award on your behalf. Call us today for a free consultation. We have been representing Floridians since 1979.
Why Work With Bogin, Munns & Munns
Attorneys in Florida are a dime a dozen. However, you want to work with the right legal team after an accident. Bogin, Munns & Munns stands out for our commitment to treating clients like family. This philosophy translates into open, easy, and fast communication with your attorney, ensuring you are always informed and supported throughout your case.
Founded on principles of respect, dignity, and fairness, our firm serves a diverse clientele, always prioritizing our clients’ needs. This dedication is evident in our most compelling goal: providing innovative and comprehensive representation at a fair price. Clients can rest assured that their case will receive the attention it deserves without facing astronomical fees.
You also get an attorney who is dedicated to injuries, not a jack of all trades who handles any case thrown their way. Unlike firms where lawyers might juggle various types of law, here you receive focused and knowledgeable representation tailored to the specifics of your car accident case. This ensures that our attorneys and staff are well-versed in the nuances of personal injury law, providing you with a strategic advantage.
By choosing Bogin, Munns & Munns, you gain a team dedicated to advocating for your rights and securing the best possible outcome for your situation, reflecting their unwavering commitment to their clients’ well-being.
To consult with an experienced car accident lawyer serving Gainesville, call 855-780-9986
Compensable Losses Following a Car Accident in Gainesville
Right now, you could be facing high medical bills, missing time from work, and suffering from emotional distress. We will calculate the full value of your losses based on the facts of your situation. Our personal injury attorneys can pursue both economic and non-economic losses in your case.
Examples of Recoverable Economic Damages
Economic damages are financial expenses brought on by the accident. You may already have records or receipts detailing your economic losses, which may include:
- Medical expenses
- Physical therapy
- Childcare costs
- Transportation expenses
- Medical equipment, like crutches
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning potential
Our team will identify all your losses so you don’t leave money on the table.
Types of Compensable Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages differ from economic damages in that they are more subjective and harder to quantify. Some of the non-economic damages that can be awarded in a personal injury lawsuit include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish
- Loss of a sense, such as eyesight
- Loss of a limb or limbs
- Disability
- Disfigurement
Wrongful Death Damages
If you lost a loved one in a car accident, you may be eligible for compensation. Our team can help you determine what damages you can recover. They could include:
- Medical bills
- Lost support and services
- Pain and suffering
- Lost companionship
- Lost parental companionship, instruction, and guidance
- Funeral and burial expenses
Bogin, Munns & Munns may hire medical or vocational experts to testify regarding the cost of your non-economic damages. You could recover compensation for losses not included here.
Gainesville Car Accident Lawyer Near Me 855-780-9986
We Can Calculate Your Case’s Prospective Value
We can use the following information to determine the overall value of your case:
The Severity of Your Injuries
The nature of your condition will have a direct correlation to the value of your case. For instance, you could have suffered a traumatic brain injury, broken bone, or spinal cord injury in the crash. If so, you could likely recover more than someone who suffered minor injuries.
We will take into account the length of your recovery period, cost of your medical bills, and degree of care when calculating your case.
Your Quality of Life
The following details could increase the overall value of your case:
- You are unable to walk independently after the crash.
- You require in-home help.
- You cannot live independently or require residency at a long-term care facility.
- You can no longer work or partake in hobbies you once enjoyed.
- You can no longer care for minor children or require help doing so.
- You can no longer hold your children or grandchildren.
If your car accident affected your quality of life in some way, we will take that into consideration when calculating your case’s value.
The Cost of Your Medical Bills
Just like the severity of your condition, we can also take into account your healthcare expenses when determining what you are owed. Compensation in your case could include:
- Medications
- Treatment
- Hospitalization
- Transportation to and from appointments
- Surgeries
- Assistive devices
- Prosthetics
- Doctors’ copays
Click to contact our Gainesville Car Accident Lawyers today
File Your Car Accident Lawsuit Within Two Years of Your Accident
When it comes to personal injury lawsuits, make sure you act as soon as possible. The state statute of limitations will restrict how long you have to take legal action. You typically have two years from the date of your car accident in Gainesville to file a lawsuit under Florida Statutes § 95.11.
If you allow this period to pass before taking legal action, it could prevent you from recovering compensation. Our firm can evaluate all legal deadlines surrounding your case and explain how long you have to file.
Submit a Consultation Request form today
How Much does It Cost to Hire One of Our Car Accident Lawyers in Gainesville?
Our law firm works on a contingency-fee basis, so we don’t charge retainers, upfront fees, or hourly rates. We take our payment from your case’s final settlement or court award. What’s more, we finance all of your case’s consulting, filing fees, and other costs until it’s over. You could begin working with our Gainesville car accident attorneys right now at no direct cost to you.
We Can Determine Negligence in Your Car Accident Case
Per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), car accidents are frequently the result of drivers failing to safely operate their vehicles. Your Gainesville car accident lawyer will look at the police report, eyewitness statements, and accident reconstruction data.
We may find that your collision was a result of the following:
- Speeding
- Failure to yield
- An illegal turn
- Rear-ending the car in front of you
- Not stopping at a red light or stop sign
- Not adjusting to inclement weather
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy driving
- Driving while intoxicated
We Can Pursue Damages If You Were Hurt By Reckless Driving
Reckless driving is a serious offense that Florida Statutes § 316.192 defines as a “willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.” A reckless driver might drive twice the posted speed limit, for example. Such a person might also race other cars on the highway without any regard for others’ lives and safety.
A Gainesville car accident lawyer can help you seek damages if the other party was charged or convicted of a traffic violation. If they’re a repeat offender, we can use this information to prove you were harmed due to negligence. Your civil case is a different matter than the other driver’s criminal case. Do not let this factor discourage you from seeking damages.
We Can Fight for Compensation Even If You Contributed to the Accident
In Florida, the doctrine of modified comparative negligence plays a crucial role in determining fault and awarding damages in car accidents, including those involving Gainesville drivers. Under this system, a driver can recover damages only if they are found to be no more than 50% at fault for the accident. This modification, effective from March 24, 2023, replaced the previous pure comparative negligence rule, which allowed recovery regardless of the percentage of fault.
For instance, if a Gainesville driver is involved in a car accident and is deemed 40% responsible, they can still recover damages, but the total amount awarded will be reduced by their percentage of fault. Therefore, if the total damage award is $100,000, the driver would receive $60,000, reflecting a 40% reduction. However, if the same driver is found to be 51% or more at fault, they would be barred from recovering any damages.
What Should You Do After Being Involved in a Car Accident in Gainesville?
Here are some considerations after getting hurt in a Gainesville-area car accident:
Refrain From Giving Recorded Statements
Don’t give the claims adjuster a recorded statement. Each of their questions is tailor-made to get you to admit fault – even if you obviously didn’t cause the crash. Your Gainesville car accident lawyer can give the insurance company all the information they need.
Avoid Posting to Social Media
You don’t necessarily have to delete your accounts after getting hurt, but we advise against the following while your case evolves:
- “Friending” people you don’t know
- Posting anything about the accident or your condition
- Sharing statuses from other people
- Tagging the insurance company or the other party in your posts
- Uploading pictures—even if they were taken before the collision
Our team can provide other recommendations regarding social media use when you give us a call.
Complete Treatment
Stopping treatment can give the other party fuel to deny your case. So, take your medications as prescribed. Undergo surgery if that could benefit you. Don’t let concerns about affording medical care prevent you from making a full recovery, as these costs could be included as part of your claim or lawsuit.
What Parties Might Be Liable for My Gainesville Car Accident?
Who you can hold liable for an injury depends on the specifics of your crash. Potentially liable parties might include:
- The other driver: This is most common as they are typically the one who caused the accident.
- The other driver’s employer: This is common with truck accidents. Trucking companies are often vicariously liable for accidents their employees cause.
- A maintenance company: In some cases, poor maintenance causes or contributes to an accident. You can hold the company that performed the maintenance liable.
- A manufacturer: A defective part can cause or contribute to an accident. If this was the case with your car wreck, we can help you hold the manufacturer liable.
Our team will investigate your accident to determine who might share liability. Once we have done so, we will build a robust case to get every dollar you deserve.
What do I Need to Prove to Recover Compensation?
Unfortunately, you can’t just say, “This person caused my accident,” and recover compensation. You need to prove they caused your accident. To do so, you need to establish the following:
- The other driver had a duty to drive safely and protect other road users from injury.
- The other driver breached that duty by acting negligently, e.g., distracted driving, intoxicated driving, speeding, or disobeying traffic signals.
- The other driver’s negligence caused your accident and injury. For example, the other driver ran a red light and T-boned your car. You suffered a traumatic brain injury and lacerations.
- You suffered damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Our team will establish how the other party’s negligence caused your accident.
Get Help from Our Gainesville Car Accident Attorneys
If your life has been turned upside down by a car accident, you have options when it comes to seeking compensation. Our car accident lawyers in Gainesville can manage your case while you focus on your recovery.
When you hire us, an injury lawyer from our firm can gather evidence in your defense and negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf. If the insurance company refuses a reasonable and fair settlement offer, we can take your case to trial. Call our firm today to begin your free consultation with our staff.
Call or text 855-780-9986 or submit our Consultation Request form today
