When it comes to quality of life, the Tampa area is one of the most sought-after locations on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The quality of the area’s schools, its cultural heritage, and its bustling nightlife are among the best to be found in any state or even in Florida itself. But, as with other choice locations, the number of auto accidents and other such incidents has led to an increasing number of accidents leading to personal injuries.
“Personal injuries” includes much more than cuts, bruised, broken bones and other physical injuries. It also refers to the pain an accident victim experiences from injury, disruptions in family life, lost wages or income from a business, and the psychological stresses brought about by worrying about financial and other personal matters brought about by an accident. A personal injury lawyer will take all these factors, and others, into consideration when determining the dollar amount of your personal injury claim.
The exact procedure for beginning the process of filing an injury claim can vary, depending on the circumstances of the accident and the in-house policies of the insurance companies involved. In each case it is best to contact the insurance company by calling its toll-free number or via the company’s web site. A personal injury attorney or accident lawyer can also assist in finding out this information.
How Long After An Injury Can I File A Claim Or Lawsuit?
A “claim” for personal injuries is not the same as a “lawsuit.” A claim for personal injuries is presented to the party responsible for the injuries who, in turn, will refer the matter to his or her insurance company. If the parties cannot reach a settlement, a lawsuit can be filed to ask that a court hear the case and award damages that are directly related to the case. The only restrictions on such lawsuits is that they must be reasonable and filed within the statute of limitations.
The statutes of limitations are civil laws that establish a time limit in which a lawsuit must be filed before it becomes unable to be pursued in the courts. Some of these limitations include:
Personal injury: four years from the date of injury
Damage to personal property: four years from date of damage
Defective consumer product: four years from date the defect was discovered
Medical malpractice: two years from alleged act of malpractice or four years from the alleged act if not discovered until after two-year limit had expired. Special exceptions exist if injury was to an infant or child up to age eight. An accident attorney can advise you regarding cases involving children
The above time limits may change and it is advised that you contact an accident attorney for the current status of these statutes.
We Represent Clients In Cases from Malpractice to Truck Accidents
The Doan Law Firm injury lawyer will represent clients and their families in all types of personal injury cases such as:
Personal transportation accidents including automobiles, motorcycles, and bicycles
Injuries caused by defective airbags
Accidents involving railroads and railroad crossings
Public transportation accidents including taxis and city buses
Charter bus and private limousine accidents
Drowning and near-drowning accidents
Amusement park accidents
Medical malpractice and malpractice resulting in death
Reactions to prescription and over the counter (OTC) medications
Defective products
Catastrophic injuries involving the brain and spine
Wrongful death
The above-listed cases are, of course, not the only types of cases the Doan Law Firm will handle on your behalf. A call to our accident lawyer at (800) 349-0000 is all that it takes to get the answer to any questions regarding your accidental injury claim.
Contact The Tampa Injury Lawyer At The Doan Law Firm
A common, and possibly the worst, mistake in personal injury cases is that someone who has been injured thinks he or she can deal with insurance companies and claims adjustors without any help from anyone. What usually happens is that the injured party will quickly sign a release and receive only a fraction of what he or she would have been legally entitled to.
Before you, or anyone else, signs a claim release, contact the injury attorney at the Doan Law Firm to review the details of your personal injury case and learn if the settlement you are being offered is a fair settlement or a settlement that is fair to everyone but you.
You can contact the Tampa injury lawyer at the Doan Law Firm Tampa by calling (800) 349-0000 at any time, day or night. As is always the case with the Doan Law Firm, your initial consultation is free and you are under no further obligation to our firm. If you ask us to represent you, we will assume responsibility for all expenses necessary for preparing your case and we will recover our expenses after an agreement is reached for your final settlement.