Were you hurt in an accident in Pinellas Park, FL? If someone else caused your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering, lost earnings, and more. An experienced Pinellas Park personal injury lawyer can help you fight for all the damages you deserve.
Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers has represented Pinellas County accident victims for more than 28 years. We’ve recovered hundreds of millions for our injured clients. Contact our law firm today to schedule a free case review to discuss how we can help you.
How Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers Can Help After an Accident in Pinellas Park, FL
Experiencing an accident can instantly transform your life, leaving you to face physical, emotional, and financial hardships alike. At Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers, you shouldn’t have to battle alone for compensation to cover your medical expenses and losses.
As your trusted Pinellas Park personal injury lawyer, we will dedicate ourselves to your case, representing you in negotiations with insurance companies and taking your fight to court if necessary. Since 1992, our firm has secured over $500 million for our clients, combining our in-depth expertise with a commitment to excellence to protect your rights.
Do not trust the insurance company to treat you fairly. Call Catania & Catania in Pinellas Park, Florida, at (727) 513-6765 today for a free consultation to discuss your case.
How Common Are Accidents in Pinellas Park, FL?
Unfortunately, accidents are all too common in Pinellas Park and Florida. Accidental injuries are the number one cause of death for Florida residents (ages 1 – 44 years), and the state’s fourth leading cause of death overall. In 2019, more than 18,000 Floridians lost their lives to accident-related injuries. The age-adjusted injury rate in Florida is nearly nine percent higher than the U.S. average, with rates particularly high when it comes to motor vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle accidents.
When you examine the accident data provided by the FLHSMV, it becomes clear that Pinellas County residents must be aware of the risks on the road. There were 16,464 traffic accidents in Pinellas County in 2021 alone. These accidents caused 159 fatalities and 9,428 injuries. Around 4,895 of the accidents were hit-and-run crashes that hurt 948 people and killed 11. Pinellas County saw 16 bicycle fatalities, 62 pedestrian deaths, and 29 motorcycle fatalities that year.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Pinellas Park
Our Pinellas Park injury lawyers handle a comprehensive range of personal injury cases. Whether you’ve been involved in a traffic collision, suffered due to medical negligence, or been harmed by a defective product, our seasoned personal injury attorneys are equipped to provide the expert legal representation you need.
Pinellas Park Car Accidents
Car accidents in Pinellas Park can have life-altering consequences. Our experienced injury attorneys guide you through the complicated claims process, helping you secure maximum compensation for your injuries and any resulting losses while holding responsible parties accountable.
Pinellas Park Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents in Pinellas Park often result in severe injuries and motorcyclists face heightened risks on the roads in this area. We are dedicated to defending motorcyclists’ rights, challenging any biases, and advocating for fair compensation.
Pinellas Park Truck Accidents
Truck accidents in Pinellas Park often result in significant injuries due to the massive size and weight of commercial vehicles involved. Our team is well-versed in the unique challenges these cases present, from complex litigation to dealing with large trucking companies and insurers, ensuring you receive the justice and compensation you rightly deserve.
Pinellas Park Bicycle Accidents
In Pinellas Park, bicyclists are vulnerable to risks from inattentive drivers and poor road conditions. Our legal team specializes in bicycle accident claims, providing outstanding support so injured cyclists receive the compensation they deserve.
Pinellas Park Pedestrian Accidents
Our attorneys will manage pedestrian accident claims and pursue comprehensive compensation for injuries and other losses. We focus on addressing every aspect of your claim, from medical costs to emotional distress, advocating tirelessly on your behalf.
Other Types of Cases We Handle
In addition to vehicular accident cases, Catania & Catania expertly manages claims involving workplace accidents, nursing home abuse, slips and falls, and more:
- Shared ride accidents (Lyft/Uber)
- Boating accidents
- Bus accidents
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Medical malpractice
- Product liability cases
- Defective medical devices
- Premises liability cases
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dog bites
- Construction accidents
- Assault
- Wrongful death
Our Pinellas Park injury lawyer team works closely with medical experts to substantiate your claims, gathering key details and ensuring all aspects of your case are thoroughly addressed. We are ready to negotiate or litigate to protect your interests and achieve the best possible outcome in Pinellas Park.
Contact our law office or call us today at (727) 513-6765 for a free consultation to learn more about how we can assist you.
We’re here to help, 24/7
What is My Personal Injury Case Worth?
You likely have many questions after your accident, including questions about how much your case is worth. Unfortunately, there is no simple way to estimate the value of a personal injury case in Pinellas Park.
During your consultation, your Pinellas Park injury lawyer will consider many factors:
- Were you partially at fault for the accident? Did you fail to mitigate your damages?
- How much insurance coverage is available?
- Do you have a strong negligence case?
- What type of injuries did you suffer and how serious are they?
- Will you have ongoing medical needs?
- Will you be able to return to your job?
- How will your injuries affect your mental, physical, and emotional health in the future? What about your quality of life, relationships, and ability to perform daily activities?
As a general rule, cases involving serious or disabling injuries are worth more than injuries from which you can make a full recovery. Serious injuries come with higher personal losses and long-term financial costs.
The best way to determine how much your case is worth is by scheduling a free case review with a Pinellas Park personal injury attorney.
What Damages Can I Recover After an Accident in Pinellas Park, FL?
You are entitled to compensatory damages when the defendant is found at fault for your injuries.
Compensatory damages are divided into:
- Economic damages or special damages. This is compensation for your financial losses.
- Non-economic damages or general damages. This is compensation for your intangible, personal losses.
Economic damages can be quantified, even though it may require the help of experts. Non-economic damages will consider the severity and type of injuries you sustained, the circumstances of your accident, how your life will be changed, and more.
The following are common examples of financial compensation you may recover in a Pinellas Park personal injury case:
- Property damage
- Medical care bills
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Future lost earnings due to diminished or lost earning capacity
- Household services
- Other financial damages like home or vehicle modifications and counseling
- Non-economic damages for emotional distress, disfigurement, mental anguish, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, reduced quality of life, loss of enjoyment in life, and more
If your case goes before a jury, you may be awarded punitive damages on top of your compensatory damages. These damages are rarely awarded in cases and are capped at $500,000 or 3x your compensatory damages.
What Happens if I’m Partially at Fault for an Accident in Pinellas Park, Florida?
Are you being blamed for a motor vehicle accident or slip and fall? This is a common tactic by insurance companies seeking to reduce their own liability.
Florida uses a pure comparative negligence doctrine. This means you can still recover financial compensation even if you were 99% to blame for your accident. The damages you recover will be reduced according to your share of the assigned fault.
Do not let the insurance company try to shift the blame onto you. Contact a personal injury lawyer in Pinellas Park, FL, as soon as possible if you are being blamed for your accident.
What is Negligence and How Does it Affect My Personal Injury Case?
After you are injured in an accident, recovering compensation from the at-fault party requires proving they were negligent. This means they were careless or failed to exercise reasonable care.
A successful personal injury case proves all four elements of negligence:
- The defendant owed you a duty of care. This may be the basic duty of care a motorist owes to others on the road to exercise caution and obey traffic laws. It may be a heightened duty of care owed by a medical provider or property owner.
- The defendant breached the duty of care they owed you.
- The breach caused your accident.
- You suffered damages due to the breached duty of care.
You must prove negligence by “a preponderance of the evidence.” This means it was more likely than not that the defendant’s actions were unreasonable and caused your accident.
Evidence of negligence can include accident reports, witness statements, photos of the accident scene, video surveillance, maintenance logs, hiring practices, internal company records, and more. We may use expert testimony to strengthen your case.
If the at-fault party violated a safety law that was passed to protect people like you in similar circumstances, you may have an easier way to prove negligence. When you show the defendant was negligent per se, or by the law, they are presumed negligent.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Florida?
You have a limited amount of time to pursue your personal injury accident case. The first step is usually working with an insurance company.
Florida is a no-fault insurance state; your case may begin by making a Personal Injury Protection (PIP) claim against your insurance policy. This must be done within 14 days in most cases. For other accident claims, you must submit your claim to the insurer within a reasonable amount of time.
If you are eligible to make a claim against the other party’s insurance company, your claim must be submitted within a reasonable amount of time. You may also pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the other party, either after negotiations with their insurance company fail or without submitting an insurance claim.
In Florida, there is a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits. Your case must be filed before this deadline or your case will be dismissed without consideration. Some cases, however, do have a shorter deadline.
If you or someone you love has been hurt in a personal injury accident in Pinellas County contact our law firm today at (727) 513-6765.
What Does it Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Pinellas Park, FL?
Concerned about the cost of legal representation after your accident? The Pinellas Park personal injury lawyers at Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers will represent you on a contingency fee basis. This means no out-of-pocket attorney’s fees for skilled representation on your behalf.
We will handle everything from investigating your case to presenting your case to a jury. You will only pay our fees if we are successful in negotiating a settlement or winning a verdict.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Pinellas Park Personal Injury Lawyer
After a serious accident, you deserve sound legal advice and vigorous representation. Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers are prepared to fight on your behalf for the maximum compensation you deserve.
Contact our law office online or call us at (727) 513-6765 today for a free case review with a Pinellas Park personal injury lawyer to discuss your case.
