What Kind of Compensation Can I Get From an Orlando Car Accident Lawsuit?

The impact of a car accident can be felt for many years after a collision, often causing lifelong physical and emotional scars. A car accident can also have devastating financial repercussions for the victim and his or her family. If you have suffered the negative effects of an Orlando car accident that was caused, in whole or in part, by another party, you could be entitled to financial compensation.

An Orlando car accident attorney at Malik Law can help you understand your legal rights and options following a car accident in which you suffered injuries. We have seen firsthand the destructive ripple effect a car accident can have on a victim and the victim’s family. At Malik Law, we are dedicated to holding those responsible for a car accident accountable and seeking justice for car accident victims. Contact an experienced Orlando car accident attorney at Malik Law today by calling 407-500-1000 to find out how we can help you recover the compensation you are entitled to for all your injuries.
 

When Am I Entitled to Compensation for an Orlando Car Accident?

The term “car accident” is somewhat misleading given that most collisions are not true accidents. When a car crash is caused by the negligent or wrongful conduct of another party, that party can be held legally liable for the resulting injuries. In a car accident, an injured victim must typically show that the potentially liable party’s negligence played a role in the accident. Examples of negligent conduct that often leads to liability in an Orlando car accident include but are not limited to, things such as texting while driving, driving while under the influence, speeding, and falling asleep behind the wheel.

Because Florida is a no-fault insurance state, however, your injuries must exceed the “serious injury” threshold to leave the no-fault system and pursue compensation in a traditional personal injury. The serious injury threshold requires your injuries to qualify as one of the following:

• Significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function.
• Permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability.
• Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement.
• Death.

Am I Entitled to Compensation If I Was Partially at Fault in an Orlando Car Accident?

Sometimes it is easy to see how a car accident happened and, therefore, easy to assign fault; however, a motor vehicle collision can also occur because of a complex series of events that cannot be blamed entirely on one party. In fact, an injured victim may share some of the blame in a car accident. That does not necessarily prevent a victim from recovering compensation.

Florida law follows the doctrine of comparative fault which allows for the apportionment of fault among more than one party. Florida’s comparative fault law allows you to recover compensation for your injuries as long as you were not more than 50 percent at fault. The compensation you receive will be reduced to reflect your own negligence. For example, if you incur damages valued at $100,000, but you are deemed to have been 30 percent at fault in the collision, your compensation would be reduced by 30 percent to $70,000.
 

What Type of Compensation Is Available for Injuries Sustained in an Orlando Car Accident?

As the injured victim in an Orlando car accident, you may be entitled to economic damages, representing the objective costs and expenses attributable to the accident, and non-economic damages, representing the subjective injuries sustained in the car accident. Together, your damages award may include compensation for things such as:

• Doctor and hospital bills
• Rehabilitation and therapy expenses
• Repair or replacement of your vehicle
• Past and future lost income or lost earning capacity
• Physical and emotional pain and suffering
• Diminished quality of life
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Diminished earning capacity

Am I Entitled to Compensation If a Family Member Was Killed in an Orlando Car Accident?

If an Orlando car accident caused the death of a family member or loved one, you could qualify to pursue compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit. The Florida Wrongful Death Act (FWDA) defines wrongful death as “…the death of a person that is caused by the wrongful act, negligence, default, or breach of contract or warranty of any person, including those occurring on navigable waters, and the event would have entitled the person injured to maintain an action and recover damages if death had not ensued…”

The FWDA allows a decedent’s spouse, children, parents, and other blood relatives as well as adoptive siblings and others who were partly or wholly dependent on the decedent for support or services to pursue compensation for things such as:

• Medical or funeral expenses any surviving family member has paid for the deceased person.
• Loss of companionship, guidance, and protection provided by the deceased person.
• The value of support and services the deceased person provided to the surviving family member.
• Mental and emotional pain and suffering due to the loss of a child.

Get Help from an Orlando Car Accident Attorney

If you were injured in an Orlando car accident, or you are the surviving loved one of someone fatally injured in one, an experienced Orlando car accident attorney at Malik Law can help ensure that the at-fault party is held accountable and you are fully and fairly compensated for your injuries or loss. If you were injured in an Orlando car accident, we can help. Call us at 407-500-1000 or submit our online form today. One of our experienced Orlando car accident attorneys will explain your rights to you and discuss your legal options at no cost.