4 Personal Injury Basics Everyone Should Know

When you have been injured due to another person’s negligence or fault, you may be eligible for compensation for your losses. If you do not know the basics of personal injury, you could miss out on your opportunity to recover payment for time and wages lost due to the injury. Here are four basic things everyone should know about personal injury.

Personal Injury is All About You

The legal definition for injury to the body is personal injury. It has nothing to do with another person’s injuries or property. In this sense, injury to the body is not only physical, but mental and emotional as well. People who have experienced traumatic events may not only be scarred physically, but often they suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Some people are forever changed in their ability to do things, not because of their physical injuries, but because of the fear that the traumatic event may happen again. For example, a person may not be able to drive a car anymore because they were broadsided by a distracted driver.

Be Aware of Time Limits

If you are injured in an accident, you must file your claim or lawsuit within the time limit set by Florida law. The statute of limitations for personal injury is set at four years from the date of the injury. If you do not file your claim within this time, you forfeit your right to sue for damages.

Without time limits, people would be able to sue years down the road from when the accident happened. Time limits also help maintain the integrity of evidence. People forget things and memory changes the experience of events over time.

Gather All Pertinent Information

It is very important to keep track of everything pertaining to the accident. Not only does this include information about the accident itself, it also means everything you go through as a result of the accident. Keep track of mileage to doctors’ visits, physical therapy, medical expenses – anything that you must do because of the accident.

Florida Has a Comparative Negligence Law

Comparative negligence may come into effect when everyone involved in the accident is partially to blame. When the parties involved in an accident enter litigation, sometimes the case can be made that the person suing was partially at fault for causing the accident. If this is found to be the case, then the court determines by what percent that person is at fault. That percentage is deducted from the compensation amount. So, if you are considered ten percent at fault for the accident, your compensation would be reduced by that amount.

When you are involved in an accident, it can be challenging to try to concern yourself with legal matters on top of everything else. When you turn to Tison Law Group for representation, we take care of the details for you. We are known for our honesty, integrity, and excellence in representation of clients. Call our office located in Tampa, FL, to schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our well-qualified attorneys.