Personal Injury Law in Destin, FL
Destin is a community blessed with a prospering professional class, and that includes many doctors. The physicians per capita in Destin is higher than the national average, and so the good news, if you’ve been injured in Destin, is that you likely won’t have to wait as long as you would in many other places, to be seen by a doctor.
If you have been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence or recklessness, the proven and focused Destin, FL personal injury lawyers at Whibbs Stone Barnett can help you. We bring unmatched legal knowledge and over 60 years of combined legal experience to the table and have the resources to handle highly complex personal injury claims that many other firms might be hesitant to take on. We are always ready to go the extra mile, and we fight hard to help you get the monetary compensation you deserve.
Types of Personal Injury Claims We Can Handle in Destin, FL
- Car accident claims
- Truck accident claims
- Bus accident claims
- Boat accident claims
- Railroad crossing accident claims
- Motorcycle accident claims
- Bicycle accident claims
- Pedestrian accident claims
- Slip and fall accident claims
- Dog bite claims
- Medical malpractice
- Workplace injury claims
- Nursing home neglect and abuse claims
How to Find Out If You Have a Valid Personal Injury Claim after a Destin, FL Accident?
If a third party’s negligence or recklessness caused or contributed to the accident in question, you might have a valid personal injury claim. For instance, if you are injured by a distracted or drunk driver, you have the right to sue them. Similarly, if are injured by a defective condition on someone’s property, you have the right to sue them as well.
Determining fault and liability in an accident can be extremely difficult, especially if the parties involved blame each other for the accident. The only way to make sure whether you have a case against someone is to consult with an accomplished Destin, FL personal injury lawyer.
The Serious Injury Threshold Law in Florida
Under Florida law, an injured person can bring a claim against the at-fault party only if the injuries they sustained meet the criteria for serious injuries – as defined in Section 627.737 of the Florida Statutes.
According to the law, an injury can be considered serious in nature if it results in one or more of the following conditions.
- Significant and permanent loss of a bodily function
- Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability
Apart from this, fatal injuries that lead to the death of the victim are also considered serious injuries under Florida law.
With 232 physicians per 100,000 residents, Destin has a higher number of physicians per capita compared to the rest of the country. The city has several highly rated hospitals including the HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, Destin Emergency Care, Emerald Cost Urgent Care, and Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital. Following an accident, you can get the medical care you need at any of these hospitals.
Be Mindful of the Deadline for Filing a Personal Injury Claim in Destin, Florida
The deadline for filing a personal injury claim in Destin, Florida is set at four years – starting from the date on which the accident occurred. With that said, this deadline is only applicable to negligence-based injury claims that are filed against private individuals and organizations.
The deadline for filing medical malpractice and work injury claims in Destin, Florida is set at two years – starting from the date of the injury or from the date on which the injury is discovered. Similarly, the deadline for filing certain types of product liability claims is also set at two years.
Under Florida law, the deadline for filing an injury claim against a local or state government agency is set at three years.
Damages You Can Recover in a Destin, FL Personal Injury Claim
Depending on the nature and severity of your injuries, you might be able to recover the following damages:
Economic or Special Damages
- Medical expenses (ambulance charges, emergency medical care, surgery, diagnostic tests, lab tests, physician’s charges, pain management, medications, and more)
- Estimated cost of future medical care
- Cost of rehabilitation (physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, occupational therapy, and other rehabilitation procedures)
- Cost of mobility and assistive devices
- Cost of modifying your home to accommodate your disability (if any)
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
Non-Economic or General Damages
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
How Florida’s Comparative Negligence Law Can Impact Your Compensation
Florida follows the doctrine of pure comparative negligence, under which you have the right to sue the other party and recover monetary compensation even if you were partially at fault. The only caveat is that your compensation will be reduced depending on the extent to which your own negligence contributed to the accident.
For instance, if you are found to be 30% at fault for the accident, and if your total compensation amounts to $100,000, you will only receive $70,000.
Injured in an Accident? Let Our Seasoned Destin, FL Personal Injury Lawyers Fight for Your Rights
At Whibbs Stone Barnett, we are committed to providing high-quality, personalized legal representation to each and every one of our clients. Highly experienced and highly rated, our lawyers are best equipped to handle your claim and can get results that most of our peers cannot.
We can protect your rights as an injury victim, hold the at-fault parties accountable, and negotiate aggressively with the insurance company to get you the settlement you deserve. If a negotiated settlement is out of the question, we will take your case to trial and recover every single dollar you are owed.
Call us today at 850-500-1111 or fill out our online contact form and schedule a free consultation with one of our committed Destin, FL personal injury attorneys.
