Were you hurt in a car accident by a distracted driver in Orlando, FL? If so, you might be entitled to compensation from the negligent driver. This compensation can help you pay for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
An Orlando car accident lawyer at Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law will explain your rights and fight to enforce them. We have over 100 years of combined experience and have won tens of millions of dollars for our clients.
Contact our office at (470) 801-3000 to discuss your Orlando, FL, distracted driving accident during a free consultation with our Orlando distracted driving accident attorney.
How Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law Can Help After a Distracted Driving Accident In Orlando
After a distracted driving accident in Orlando, FL, Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law can help you fight against insurance companies and unfair blame. It’s helpful to have an experienced advocate on your case when you start the process of holding someone accountable for their negligence.
When you hire us, our Orlando car accident attorneys will:
- Explain the law
- Calculate your damages
- Investigate the crash
- Find out who is responsible
- Collect evidence
- File insurance claims
- Negotiate with insurance adjusters
- File a personal injury lawsuit, when necessary
Our goal is to get you paid outside the hassle of court. However, our Orlando injury lawyers aren’t afraid to stand up for you in the courtroom to get what you deserve.
Call us to learn more about our law firm during a free consultation with our Orlando distracted driving accident attorney.
What Is My Distracted Driving Case Worth in Orlando?
Your distracted driving case is worth the total of your damages. If you have suffered a serious and life-altering injury, your case will probably be worth more than if you have minor injuries. That’s because your damages will probably be greater.
Some factors that will influence the value of your case include:
- The type of injury and length of medical treatment
- The need for ongoing treatment, rehabilitation, or other types of care
- Emotional trauma caused by the accident
- The impact of the injury on your enjoyment of life
- The impact of the injury on your ability to work or earn income
- Cost of property damage
- The value of your insurance policy, and the other driver’s insurance policy
Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law can help you understand how these factors may impact the value of your case.
What Kinds of Damages Are Available To Distracted Driving Victims?
All people injured in distracted driving accidents may be entitled to economic and noneconomic damages. In some cases, you might get punitive damages.
Economic damages are financial losses like:
- Medical bills
- Cost of physical therapy or rehabilitation
- Lost wages (past and future)
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages are emotional losses like:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Mental illness caused by the accident
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship
Punitive damages are rare. That’s because the purpose is to punish a defendant for their bad behavior. However, the purpose of economic and non-economic damages is to make the plaintiff whole again.
Punitive damages are available when the defendant is guilty of intentional misconduct or gross negligence. This behavior goes above and beyond a mistake or your typical negligence case. A lawyer can explore whether you might be entitled to punitive damages and help you make a compelling case.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for A Distracted Driving Accident In Florida?
Not every distracted driving accident case is cut and dry. Sometimes, the plaintiff is blamed for causing or contributing to a distracted driving accident. The good news is that it doesn’t automatically bar you from recovering compensation.
Florida No-Fault & PIP Insurance
Florida drivers must carry PIP (personal injury protection) insurance. When you get into a car accident, the first step is to file a claim with your insurance company, regardless of who is at fault for causing the accident. Your insurance company will pay you per the terms of the policy even if you are 100% responsible.
If you have remaining losses, you will then file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance or a personal injury lawsuit. That’s when fault comes into play.
Comparative Fault In Florida
Florida applies modified comparative fault law. If you are 50% or less responsible for causing the accident, then you can recover proportionate damages. That means damages that are proportionate to the defendant’s share of responsibility. So, if you are 30% responsible, you can recover 70% of your damages.
If you are 51% or more responsible for the distracted driving crash, then you cannot recover anything beyond your insurance policy. You are completely barred from collecting damages through the courts.
We’ll Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Distracted Driving Accident Injuries
Distracted driving accidents can cause serious injuries.
Our Orlando car accident lawyers can help you get compensation for the most common types of injuries, including:
- Brain injuries
- Head injuries
- Spinal cord damage and paralysis
- Burns
- Amputations
- Broken or fractured bones
- Whiplash
- Neck and back injuries
In the most serious cases, we also help families pursue a wrongful death action after losing a loved one.
What Causes Most Distracted Driving Accidents In Orlando?
Distracted driving is an epidemic around the United States, including in Orlando, Florida. Many people do not focus on driving like they should.
The most common causes of distracted driving accidents are:
- Texting
- Talking on the phone
- Changing the music
- Looking at or programming the GPS
- Eating while driving
- Talking to passengers in the car
- Searching for something in the car (taking hands off the wheel)
- Taking eyes off the road
Unfortunately, these behaviors are incredibly common and normalized, and they cause accidents like head-on crashes, highway crashes, intersection crashes, rear-end crashes, lane change crashes, left turn accidents, multi-vehicle crashes, red and yellow light accidents, rollover accidents, single vehicle accidents, speeding accidents, and even hit-and-run accidents. We can help you find out what distraction caused the accident and collect evidence to support your request for damages.
Contact Our Orlando Car Crash Lawyer for a Free Consultation
You only have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit for a distracted driving accident in Orlando, FL. This time goes by fast, and there is a lot of work to be done to prepare.
Contact our Orlando distracted driving accident lawyers at Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law to get started on your case today by calling 470-801-3000. Our consultation is 100% free with no strings attached.