Tampa Personal Injury Lawyer

Suffering a personal injury may leave you wondering who will cover your medical bills and how you will manage daily tasks. Dealing with medical complications from your injury may even make you question if and when you will be able to return to work.

However, you may be able to recover some of your losses from the party that is responsible. A Tampa personal injury lawyer from Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers may be able to help.

Recoverable Personal Injury Damages in Your Case

In personal injury cases, it is possible to recover some of the damages you lost. The damages you may be eligible to recover will depend on the facts of your case.

Some expenses that may be recovered include:

• Emergency medical costs
• Future medical needs
• Household renovations to accommodate a new injury
• Childcare costs
• Property damage repairs
• Diminished earning capacity
• Loss of wages
• Medical insurance deductibles
• Household assistance
• Loss of consortium

We Can Assist You With Your Personal Injury Case Both In and Out of Court

Our attorneys can help you navigate Florida’s personal injury laws and manage every aspect of your case. We will handle all communications with other lawyers, insurance companies, and legal staff while you focus on the most important thing: your health.

We will also:

• Offer you a free case review
• Help you understand and protect your settlement value
• Gather compelling evidence to show that another party was liable
• Take your case to court, if a fair settlement can’t be reached
• Help you navigate the whole legal process

We Offer Complementary Consultations to Prospective Clients

Because every personal injury case is different, it is important that we learn the specific details of yours. During the complimentary consultation, we will gather more information about your injuries, the accident that led to them, and your legal options.

The complimentary consultation is also an important process that allows you to get some answers to your questions.

You Won’t Pay Anything Unless We’re Successful

We won’t charge you any upfront fees or costs to take on your case. Rather than billing hourly, our attorneys get paid a percentage of what we recover in your claim. This gives you peace of mind because you won’t be risking any additional financial loss. It also reassures you that we’re working in your best interest.

We Can Help Prove Fault and Your Losses by Gathering Strong Evidence

In order to prove fault and damages in a personal injury case, we will need to collect evidence. This often comes in the form of supporting documents.

In your case, we may assist you by collecting these items to establish the fault and the extent of your damages:

• Your medical records
• The police report
• Witness statements
• Expert witness reports
• Income documents

Suffering a personal injury can be costly when you factor in medical bills, time off work, and all of the other costs like childcare, household assistance, and transportation. We will assist you in calculating an appropriate amount to cover your personal injury costs.

This will help us prepare for any potential settlement offers. We are also fully prepared to turn down any settlement offer that does not appropriately cover your costs.

We Will Not Back Down in the Face of a Complicated Personal Injury Case

It may seem like your injury case is relatively clear; someone hurt you, so they should compensate you for your losses. Unfortunately, there are many reasons why a personal injury case may prove more complicated than that. However, know that we will fight for you no matter the challenge presented by your case.

We will represent your interests and help you navigate situations such as:

• Complicated liability. The person who caused your accident isn’t always the person responsible for paying you. For instance, a trucking company could be liable for a truck accident, or a local municipality could be liable for your slip and fall.
• Claims or lawsuits against major corporations. Some cases, such as medical malpractice claims, may be brought against large entities with substantial legal resources. You don’t have to be alone or intimidated in these kinds of cases.
• Unfair insurance tactics. Sometimes, an insurer will make a low offer or refuse a valid claim altogether. We can help defend you in these situations.

Proving Negligence in Your Personal Injury Case

By demonstrating that the four elements of personal injury are present, we can establish that another party was at fault for your injuries. From here, we can seek compensation for your costs.

Every personal injury case in Florida must include the following four elements:

• Duty of care. We must demonstrate that the defendant had a legal duty of care for your safety.
• Breach of duty. After establishing there was a legal duty of care, we must also identify that the defendant breached that duty. This may be in the form of intentional harm or negligent activity.
• Causation. We must also provide evidence that the breach of duty caused the personal injury.
• Damages. Actual damages must have occurred as a result of the breach of duty. The actual damages are the costs that we will work to recoup, including medical costs and property damages.

Comparative Negligence

Sometimes you may be partly to blame in your personal injury case. Even if you were partly at fault for your accident, you can still recover compensation according to Florida’s comparative negligence laws. While you can still seek compensation for an accident that you are partially to blame for, your owed compensation amount will be reduced by the percentage that you are at fault.

How Florida’s Personal Injury Statute of Limitations Could Affect Your Case

The statute of limitations is the set period of time in which you can bring a lawsuit to court. As a general rule, all personal injury lawsuits in the state of Florida must be filed within two years from the date of the accident, per Florida Statutes § 95.11(3)(a). Some situations, however, can extend the statute of limitations. These situations are rare, though.

In order to prevent exceeding Florida’s personal injury statute of limitations and having your lawsuit dismissed, it is important to gather evidence in your case as soon as possible.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle

Personal injuries are present in many situations. These are just a few examples of personal injury cases we handle:

• Slips and falls
• Car accidents
• Defective tire accidents
• Dog bites
• Medical malpractice
• Wrongful death

Our Results Speak for Themselves

Our team is proud to have been representing injured victims in Florida since 1995. We also take pride in treating our clients like our own family, tirelessly advocating for justice on their behalf.

What’s more, we have obtained millions for our clients. A few of our case results include:

• $22.1 million for a defective product that led to a brain injury
• $5 million for a car accident caused by a tire defect
• $1 million for a fatal car accident

Next Steps After a Personal Injury

Your personal injury claim begins at the accident scene, not the negotiation table. Your words and actions can be used against you in your claim, so your next steps are critical to securing compensation. We recommend taking the following steps. 

Get Medical Attention

Do not refuse medical attention at the scene of the accident. Even if you did not have to go to the emergency room, seek medical assistance immediately. Your healthcare provider can be a great asset to your case. They will provide a full summary of your injuries and documentation of medical costs. 

Additionally, failing to get prompt medical attention can worsen any injuries you have. It can also cause the insurer to doubt the extent of your injuries and offer a lower settlement or deny your claim.

Collect Identifiable Information

Gather identifiable information from all involved parties, including witnesses. If our Tampa personal injury attorneys need to follow up or investigate your accident further, this information will help.

Preserve Evidence

Take pictures and videos of your surroundings, if possible. The evidence needed will vary for your type of injury; however, we recommend preserving anything that may be helpful to your case, including but not limited to defective products, vehicle license plates, medical records, and police reports. This will aid us in pursuing a fault-based claim.

Don’t Admit Fault

Do not admit fault or express guilt following your accident. This admission can make it nearly impossible to claim compensation. Also, refrain from making a recorded statement regarding your accident. Insurers can use this information to contradict you and dismiss your claim.

Our Tampa Personal Injury Lawyer Provides Client-Focused Legal Care

Our legal team understands that each case brings unique challenges. We will not apply a one-size-fits-all approach to your case. Instead, we will tailor a legal strategy to suit your specific situation. This way, we can seek fair compensation for you and your family. 

For example, when you work with us, you work with our partners directly. We won’t field out our responsibility to case managers, but instead, we’ll be one call away to answer all your questions.

Call the Attorneys at Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers Today

If someone else caused your injuries and left you with expensive medical bills, the inability to work, and extensive pain and suffering, they should pay for your losses. A personal injury lawyer serving Tampa, Florida, from Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers may be able to help.