Fort Pierce Personal Injury Lawyer

Filing a Personal Injury Claim in St. Lucie County

If you or someone you love was involved in a motor vehicle accident, hurt on someone else’s property, or otherwise injured due to the negligent conduct of another, you could be entitled to financial compensation and Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather can help. Our firm has earned a reputation throughout St. Lucie County and the surrounding areas for providing highly personalized and attentive legal services. Our Fort Pierce personal injury lawyers have decades of experience and a long history of success in securing the results our clients need to heal and move forward with their lives.

How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Florida?

The amount of time you have to bring a personal injury lawsuit is governed by the statute of limitations. In Florida, the statute of limitations on personal injury lawsuits is typically two years from the date of injury or the date on which the injury was discovered/became discoverable. While there are some exceptions, in most cases, if you fail to file a personal injury lawsuit within two years of being injured, the court will dismiss your case.

How Are Damages Calculated in Florida Personal Injury Cases?

The primary purpose of filing a personal injury claim is to recover compensation for economic and non-economic losses, or damages, resulting from an accident or injury.

Examples of economic and non-economic damages include:

• Past, current, and future medical expenses
• Past, current, and future lost income/wages
• Past, current, and future pain and suffering
• Lost or diminished earning capacity
• Lost or diminished enjoyment/quality of life
• Disfigurement, inconvenience, and emotional distress
• Miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses, such as transportation costs

Generally speaking, victims may be entitled to full compensation for economic damages, or losses associated with a specific monetary value. But how are non-economic damages, or intangible losses, calculated?

Most often, the court will weigh a variety of factors when determining the value of non-economic damages, like pain and suffering. These factors may include:

• The severity of the injury
• The nature and extent of the victims damages
• The total cost of medical care, including projected future expenses
• The impact of the injury on the victims life
• The victims ability to reenter the workforce or obtain gainful employment
• The percentage of fault the victim had (if any) in contributing to or causing the accident

These and other factors, including set formulas, are used to calculate pain and suffering damages, as well as other intangible, non-economic damages associated with all types of accidents and injuries. While it is not possible to accurately predict how much you may be able to recover for your damages, our Fort Pierce personal injury attorneys can sit down with you during a free consultation and review the specific details of your case. We can provide more information regarding your particular legal options and the potential overall value of your case.

How Our Team Can Help

Getting back on your feet after a serious accident can be challenging, but with the Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather team by your side, you can focus on your physical recovery while we handle the legal details of your case.

Our attorneys represent clients in all types of personal injury matters, including cases involving:

• Car Accident
• Motorcycle Accident
• Truck Accident
• Wrongful Death

Our team is also highly experienced in complex cases involving catastrophic injuries, product liability, premises liability, and medical malpractice, among others. No matter how challenging your situation may be, or how serious your injuries are, our team is here to fight for you.

When you turn to Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather, help is just a call away. Reach out to us today to learn how our personal injury lawyers in Fort Pierce can assist you with your no-fault insurance claim or third-party lawsuit. We do not collect any legal fees unless/until we recover a settlement or verdict for you.