How To File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Florida

With so many steps in the process, seeking legal help is best

If you or a loved one has suffered a personal injury accident in Florida, pursuing a lawsuit can be one of the most effective ways to obtain the compensation you deserve for your injury-related expenses. While the idea may seem straightforward, it's essential to recognize that the legal process can be highly complex. A single mistake at any stage of the process could result in the dismissal or failure of your personal injury lawsuit.

With so much at stake, taking chances with your personal injury lawsuit is not an option. It is critical to have legal representation from an attorney who possesses a thorough understanding of how the legal system operates in Florida.

At Armando Personal Injury Law, our attorneys are well-versed in the complexities of personal injury cases and know precisely how to navigate the legal landscape after a serious accident. With our legal team by your side, you can rest assured that we will explore every possible legal avenue, including filing a lawsuit on your behalf if necessary.

What is a personal injury lawsuit?

Let's start with understanding what a personal injury is—a type of injury accident resulting from someone else's reckless behavior or negligent actions. In a personal injury lawsuit, an individual (known as the plaintiff) takes formal legal action against another party (the defendant) in a civil court of law.

The plaintiff initiates the lawsuit seeking compensation for the damages caused by the defendant's actions. If the plaintiff's lawsuit is successful, the defendant is typically held responsible for paying damages, which is the legal term for financial compensation.

In simpler terms, if you sustain injuries in an accident caused by someone else's actions, you have the option to file a lawsuit against them. If your legal case is successful, the person responsible for causing your injury would be required to provide you with financial compensation as a result.

The personal injury lawsuit process involves gathering evidence, presenting the case in court, and demonstrating how the defendant's actions directly led to your injuries. A successful personal injury lawsuit can help cover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages resulting from the accident.

Common types of personal injury lawsuits

Here are some examples of whom you may be able to file a lawsuit against, depending on the circumstances of your injury accident:

An at-fault driver who caused your car accident.
The property owner where your premises liability accident occurred.
A business owner, especially if you were injured in a slip and fall accident on their property.
A hospital or doctor who caused your injury or illness due to medical malpractice.
A company that manufactured a dangerous product that caused your injury, which falls under product liability

It's important to note that each personal injury case is unique, and the parties against whom you can take legal action will vary from one case to another.

How do I know if I have a legal case?

To initiate a personal injury lawsuit successfully, you must establish the presence of four crucial elements at the time of your injury accident. These elements are essential to build a strong legal case against the defendant:

Duty of Care: The defendant had a legal responsibility, known as a "Duty of Care," to ensure they did not cause harm to others. This means they had an obligation to act reasonably and take necessary precautions to prevent any potential harm.
Breach of Duty: To proceed with the lawsuit, you need to demonstrate that the defendant breached their Duty of Care. This implies that they failed to fulfill their obligation to act reasonably, and their actions or negligence resulted in your injury.
Causation: It is essential to establish a direct link, known as "Causation," between the defendant's breach of duty and your injury. In other words, you must show that the defendant's actions or negligence were the direct cause of your injuries.
Damages: Finally, you need to prove that the defendant's breach of duty and causation led to financial losses or damages for the plaintiff. These damages could include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related costs resulting from the injury.

Once these four elements are established, your attorney can effectively gather evidence, assess the elements of your case, and advocate for your rights throughout the legal process.

In Florida, injury victims have two (2) years from the date of their injury to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. This deadline is known as the statute of limitations. Previously, the deadline was four (4) years. However, state officials recently lowered the statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit to 2 years, according to Florida Statute 95.031.

Personal injury lawsuit settlement amounts

Outcomes of different legal cases can vary significantly, meaning some injury lawsuits might be worth less, while similar cases could yield substantially higher amounts. A payout from a personal injury lawsuit will depend on the specific details of your case.

The determining factors behind the settlement amount can be diverse. In some instances, it may be a matter of assessing the overall financial impact of the injury accident. In other cases, a multitude of factors come into play to determine the potential compensation if the personal injury lawsuit is successful.

Given the complexity of this matter, the best way to find out the value of your personal injury lawsuit is to consult with an attorney who has experience handling such legal cases in Florida.

Personal injury lawsuit process

Let's explore the step-by-step process for filing a personal injury lawsuit in Florida, which involves several essential stages:

Gather Evidence: Begin by collecting evidence to support your legal case. The more evidence you have, the stronger your case may become.
Obtain Medical Records: Seek a medical examination to establish a documented record of your injury and its extent.
Send a Demand Letter: Draft a demand letter addressed to the at-fault party, explaining how they caused your injury and your intent to take legal action if your demands are not met. Typically, the demand includes a request for compensation to cover injury-related expenses.
Set a Deadline: Ensure that your demand letter specifies a deadline for the at-fault party to respond to your demands.
File a Petition: If the at-fault party fails to respond by the deadline, submit a written petition to the appropriate court, stating that your demands have not been met, and you wish to file a lawsuit.
Defendant's Response: The court provides the defendant with time to respond to your petition.
Settlement or Trial: If the defendant agrees to your demands, the case is settled. If not, the lawsuit proceeds to trial.
Discovery Stage: Before the trial begins, both parties must share relevant information with each other in the discovery stage.
Trial Date: The judge sets a trial date for the case to proceed.
Jury Selection: The judge and lawyers from both sides select the jury members.
Trial Proceedings: The lawsuit goes to trial, during which both sides present opening statements, evidence, and closing arguments.
Jury Verdict: If the jury rules in favor of the plaintiff, they may order the defendant to pay damages.

In short, the process of filing a personal injury lawsuit involves numerous steps, leaving room for potential errors. That’s why it is crucial to have a lawyer who can guide you throughout the process, protect your rights, and advocate on your behalf.

How long does a personal injury lawsuit take?

In most cases, the personal injury lawsuit timeline from the initial date of your injury to the final resolution, including the awarding and payment of damages, can span several weeks to even years. The duration of this process can be influenced by a myriad of factors.

However, it is worth noting that having an attorney on your side can significantly impact the pace of the proceedings. Attorneys and insurance companies representing the at-fault party often show greater willingness to expedite the settlement process when they recognize that you have a legal representation.

What is the average cost to file a personal injury lawsuit?

The court fees in a personal injury lawsuit can vary based on the amount of compensation you are seeking if your case is successful. These fees typically range from $55 for claims seeking less than $1,000 in damages to $400 for lawsuits pursuing more than $15,001 in damages.

When it comes to hiring a personal injury lawyer, most attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis. This arrangement means that you only need to pay your lawyer if you receive a financial settlement or verdict as a result of your lawsuit. If you do not win your case, you do not owe any payment to your attorney under this fee structure.

A personal injury lawyer can walk you through the steps of the lawsuit process

In the aftermath of a serious accident, securing the financial compensation you need to cover a lifetime's worth of expenses is critical. To increase the chances of a successful outcome, it's crucial to make the right choice for your legal representation. By hiring an experienced personal injury attorney, you can give your legal case the best opportunity for success. Your focus should be on healing and moving forward, not on shouldering the burden of someone else's mistakes.

At our Tampa-based law firm, we understand the gravity of the situation and the impact it can have on your life. That's why we are committed to demanding the maximum financial compensation on your behalf.

Contact us now to schedule your free case evaluation and take the first step toward obtaining the compensation you deserve. Let us handle the legal complexities while you focus on your recovery and rebuilding your life after the injury.