Brandon Personal Injury Lawyer

Our Brandon personal injury lawyers have represented clients throughout the Tampa Bay area. We will work closely with you to protect your best interests and secure the settlement that you need to recover from your injuries.

An unexpected injury can severely impact your life. You could sustain thousands of dollars in medical expenses, weeks or even months of lost wages, physical pain, and severe emotional suffering. In these situations, you deserve justice—and the injury lawyers at Vanguard Attorneys can fight for your right to compensation.

Why Choose Vanguard Attorneys

• Our Brandon personal injury attorneys have decades of combined legal experience in personal injury law. We will leverage our skills, knowledge, and experience to craft a strong case for your right to compensation.
• Our attorneys come from diverse backgrounds and have strong ties to the local community. We are dedicated to helping our neighbors secure the compensation that they deserve.
• Our personal injury law firm operates on a contingency fee basis to limit your out-of-pocket costs. If we do not win an award in your case, you will not pay any legal fees.

What is Personal Injury?

A personal injury occurs when you experience harm to your body, mind, or emotions. If this harm was caused by the negligence of another person or company, you could pursue legal action against the at-fault party.

Types of Compensation Available in Florida Injury Claims

Through a Florida personal injury lawsuit, you can recover compensation for the losses that you experienced due to your collision. There are two categories that you can claim: economic damages, which involve your financial losses, and non-economic damages, which involve your physical and emotional pain and suffering.

Common types of compensation available in Florida personal injury lawsuits include the following:

• Medical expenses for past and future treatment
• Lost wages and a loss of future earnings
• Disability accommodations
• Rehabilitation and physical therapy
• Property damage
• Chronic pain
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Emotional distress

Estimating the potential value of your claim requires a one-on-one evaluation with an attorney. Case values are all unique, as they are based on the specific circumstances of the case. Determining factors can include injury severity, recovery time, the number of defendants and the cause of the injury. An attorney can accurately estimate your case value and fight for fair compensation on your behalf.

When Should I Contact a Brandon Personal Injury Lawyer?

You may not need to hire an attorney in Brandon if an accident gave you minor to no injuries or property damage only. If, however, you or a loved one has a serious injury – such as a broken bone, head injury, spinal cord injury, long-term injury, or scarring and disfigurement – you need to contact a personal injury lawyer for advice. You and your family deserve adequate financial compensation for what may be years or a lifetime of related medical care and lost income.

Claimants with serious injuries may find their rights being taken advantage of by an insurance adjuster during a claim. Insurance companies and their adjusters have one goal: to save money. They may try to do this by underestimating the value of your claim, unfairly drawing out the claims process or wrongfully denying a valid claim. An attorney can be instrumental in protecting your rights and helping you fight for fair compensation for a serious injury.

Benefits of Hiring a Brandon Personal Injury Attorney

Navigating the personal injury litigation process can be challenging, especially after a recent injury. A lawsuit can be very complex and involve significant investigation and resources. An experienced personal injury lawyer can guide you through this process and offer several benefits to support your claim.

Your Attorney Has Handled Claims Similar to Yours

If you plan on filing a personal injury claim, it is likely the first time that you have engaged in the process. Lawsuits involve several processes, requirements, and paperwork, and it can be easy to make a small error that could otherwise delay your case.

A personal injury attorney in Brandon will have significant experience representing cases similar to yours. He or she can leverage these skills and knowledge to support your claim and guide you through the litigation process, helping you understand what to expect next.

Your Lawyer Can Take Your Case to Court

Some types of personal injury claims, like car accidents, can be settled through an insurance claim. However, your insurance policy may be insufficient to meet your needs after an accident. In these situations, a lawyer’s support can be incredibly valuable.

Your personal injury attorney will have the ability to escalate your claim to a lawsuit if necessary. He or she can identify if a lawsuit is in your favor and take the first steps toward filing your claim in civil court.

Your Injury Lawyer Has Strong Negotiation Skills

During many stages of your claim, you may need to negotiate with insurance companies or defense attorneys in order to reach a settlement. Handling these conversations can be difficult without prior experience. A personal injury lawyer will be a tough negotiator and can advocate aggressively for your best interests in front of these parties, helping you avoid an insufficient outcome.

Your Attorney Can Calculate Your Damages

After an accident, it can be difficult to understand the full extent of the compensation that you can claim. As a result, it is easy to underestimate how high your potential settlement will be and inadvertently accept a lower offer. Your personal injury attorney can calculate the full extent of your damages and losses, maximizing your potential recovery.

How to Prove a Personal Injury Lawsuit

Negligence is the basis of liability in Florida personal injury lawsuits. To secure compensation in your claim, you will need to show that the defendant’s negligent actions is the cause of your personal injury. To prove negligence, you and your attorney will need to gather sufficient evidence to proves the following three facts.

• Duty: The at-fault party owed you a duty of care at the time of the incident.
• Breach of Duty: The at-fault party breached his or her duty of care through a negligent act or failure to act.
• Causation: The at-fault party’s breach of duty caused your accident and your resulting injuries.

For example, say that you are injured by a driver who runs a red light and strikes your vehicle. The police later discover that he was under the influence of drugs at the time of the collision. All drivers have a duty to follow Florida traffic laws, and the at-fault motorist in your case broke the law by driving while intoxicated.

Evidence such as traffic footage, police reports, witness testimony, and medical records can establish the cause of the injury as well as the at-fault driver’s breach of duty. Your Brandon injury lawyer from Vanguard Attorneys will work diligently to gather the evidence necessary to prove each of these elements and establish the at-fault party’s negligence.

Causes of Personal Injuries

Many different incidents can result in an injury that affects a victim’s body or mind. In Brandon, a victim can file a legal claim against the party responsible after an accident involving a motor vehicle, dangerous premises, defective product or criminal act.

At Vanguard Attorneys, our personal injury lawyers have experience representing clients in a wide range of civil lawsuits, including the following.

• Car accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Uber and Lyft accidents
• Slip and fall accidents
• Construction accidents
• Toxic exposure
• Premises liability
• Workplace injuries
• Wrongful death

The top causes of personal injuries in Florida can all be traced back to negligence. If one or more parties reasonably should have prevented your injury, hold the negligent person accountable with help from Vanguard Attorneys.

If you are unsure whether you qualify for personal injury litigation, schedule a consultation with one of our Brandon personal injury attorneys. Our personal injury law firm can evaluate your case and identify your optimal path to maximum recovery, helping you secure the settlement that you deserve.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Florida?

For most personal injury cases that are filed in Florida, the time limit is four years from the date of the accident. This is known as the statute of limitations, and it applies to the majority of injury claims.

Exceptions to the Statute of Limitations

If you miss your statute of limitations, you will most likely give up the right to seek financial compensation from a defendant. However, a few exceptions exist to the general rule:

Discovery Rule

If the accident victim does not immediately discover his or her injuries, the deadline may be paused, or tolled, until the date of injury discovery, even if this is after the date of the accident.

Injured Minor

A special provision in Florida law gives the families of injured minors additional time to file. If the individual is under the age of 18, the statute of limitations can be tolled for up to seven years.

Medical Malpractice

Florida has a unique statute of limitations of only two years for all medical malpractice cases. For a birth injury to an infant, a malpractice action must be brought on or before the child’s 8th birthday.

Wrongful Death

A family has four years from the date that an individual passes away to file a wrongful death claim, even if this is more than four years from when the accident took place.

Government Tort Claim

In Florida, there are special rules when trying to bring a claim against a government entity. Under the sovereign immunity law, tort actions must be filed within three years unless they are for wrongful death, in which case the time limit is two years.

It is critical to contact a Brandon injury attorney as soon as possible if you get injured in an accident in Florida and wish to file a claim. If you wait too long and miss your deadline, the courts may refuse to hear your case. Our lawyers can examine your situation to inform you of your specific time limit to file before it’s too late.

What to Do if You’ve Been Injured

If you get injured in an accident in Brandon, try to remain calm and take the correct steps to protect yourself and your legal rights. Here’s what to do:

1. Remain where you are and check for injuries. Check yourself and others involved in the accident for injuries. Try not to make any drastic movements until paramedics arrive, as this could exacerbate certain injuries.
2. Get medical care without delay. Go to the nearest hospital in Brandon for immediate professional medical care. Do not wait – delaying care could hurt your insurance claim later.
3. Report your accident to an authority. Call the police after a car accident or in an emergency, or report the accident to another authority figure on the premises. Request an official accident report.
4. Collect information and evidence. Remain at the scene of the accident until you can collect information, such as the other party’s contact information and photographs of important details.
5. Speak to eyewitnesses. Write down the names and phone numbers of anyone who witnessed the accident or who was involved.
6. Be careful what you say. Avoid talking about your accident with anyone who is not involved, including posting on social media. Do not admit fault or give too much information away about your injuries.
7. Hire an attorney from the beginning. Before you begin your personal injury case in Brandon, consult with an injury attorney for assistance. Hiring a lawyer early on can help you build the strongest case possible.
8. File an insurance claim. Contact the other party’s insurance provider to file a claim. Don’t wait to file your claim, as most insurers have strict deadlines for filing.
9. Understand your rights. Do not give the insurer a recorded statement and do not accept the first settlement offer, as it may not be adequate for your losses. Avoid signing anything sent to you by the insurance company until you’ve spoken to a lawyer.
10. Fight for fair case results with your attorney. Most personal injury claims in Florida achieve settlements. If an insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, however, your lawyer can take your case to trial.

An insurance company will analyze the steps you took – or failed to take – after an accident to determine if you qualify for compensation. Work with an attorney to protect yourself.

Contact a Brandon, FL Personal Injury Lawyer

If you believe that you qualify for a personal injury lawsuit, the lawyers at Vanguard Attorneys can help. Contact us today to schedule a free case consultation and discuss your legal options with a Brandon personal injury attorney.