Lakeland Car Accident Attorney

Serious car accident injuries can have life-changing consequences, leaving victims and their families with more questions than answers. How will you cover exorbitant medical bills? How will you make up for lost wages from time missed at work? What if you never fully recover from your physical injuries?

At Kogan & DiSalvo, our Lakeland car accident lawyers understand the confusion and anxiety you are experiencing after a crash and we’re ready to fight on your behalf for the compensation you need to get back on stable financial footing and move beyond this grim chapter in your life.

Injured in Polk County or anywhere in Florida? Reach out for a free consultation. We’ll give you an honest assessment of the strength and value of your case and lay out all of your legal options so that you can make an informed decision about the next steps forward.

Car Accident Liability in Florida

A motorist is liable for damages if their negligent behavior behind the wheel caused the crash and the resulting injuries and losses. Negligent driving occurs when a motorist fails to operate their vehicle in a reasonably safe way, such as in the following instances:

• Driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol
• Driving without paying the requisite attention
• Speeding
• Disobeying traffic signs and signals
• Failing to yield
• Driving while drowsy
• Driving an unsafe vehicle
• Driving too fast for road or weather conditions
• Following too closely

Sadly, these examples of poor driving are common on Florida roads and across the United States. In Florida alone, there were over 200,000 injuries from crashes in 2023 and nearly 3,000 fatalities.

Proving fault in a car crash is not always so straightforward. For example, to prove that the other driver was texting behind the wheel at the time of the accident, a plaintiff will likely have to subpoena the driver’s phone records, collect any nearby surveillance video that might have caught the driver in the act, and canvass for eyewitness statements. Kogan & DiSalvo has the resources and network of investigative experts to track down this crucial evidence to build the strongest case possible. Insurance companies are in the business of making money and will do everything they can to downplay the other driver’s fault and confuse the narrative about how the crash occurred. You need a law firm on your side with a proven track record of marshaling the facts to get the best possible outcome for their personal injury clients.

Serious Car Accident Injuries

Devastating injuries resulting from a car wreck can leave you out of work, in intense pain, and facing a long road to recovery. In many cases, accident victims are left permanently disabled. Common injuries resulting from a motor vehicle collision include:

• Concussion and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Bone fractures
• Spinal cord injury and/or paralysis (including quadriplegia and paraplegia)
• Disfigurement and/or scarring
• Amputation
• Organ damage and internal bleeding
• Lacerations, abrasions, and contusions
• Death

In many cases, injury victims are not aware of just how serious their injuries are and skip or delay medical treatment. Unfortunately, doing so can lead to the exacerbation of injuries. It can also give insurance companies an opportunity to challenge the source and seriousness of your injuries.

Damages

Because Florida is a no-fault insurance state, drivers must carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. This type of insurance automatically kicks in to cover a portion of a driver’s economic setbacks after a car accident, regardless of who is at fault.

Keep in mind that PIP insurance benefits are strictly limited. In the case of a serious injury, the losses you sustain will likely far exceed what PIP will cover. If this is the case, you will have to bring a claim against the other driver and their insurance company for the full compensation you deserve. When filing a car accident lawsuit against the at-fault party in Florida, you have the right to pursue damages for:

• Medical expenses (past, present, and future)
• Lost wages
• Reduced future earning capacity
• Lost caretaking services
• Loss of quality of life
• Pain and suffering

Why a Lakeland Car Accident Lawyer Is So Vital

When you seek compensation for car accident injuries, it is important to understand that insurance companies want to pay you less than you deserve or even deny your claim. Insurers do not have your best interests in mind and will typically dangle a lowball settlement offer that does not truly reflect the full extent of your losses. Many injured parties are tempted to accept this inadequate offer, for a variety of reasons:

• They’re worried over how they will ever pay their accumulating medical bills
• They feel powerless to challenge the insurance company’s evaluation
• They know they need money now and will grasp at any offer they can get
• They take the insurance company at their word that their evaluation is fair and accurate

It’s completely understandable that accident victims who are suffering after a crash and who are desperate for funds to cover medical expenses and basic living costs would seriously consider taking whatever the insurance company offers. That’s why it’s so important to have legal representation on your side as soon as possible after the accident.

A Lakeland car accident attorney will take the burden of legal action off your shoulders so that you can focus 100% on healing and recovery. As your legal representative, our firm will take over all communications with the insurance company on your behalf. Along with our team of forensic accountants and other experts, we will calculate the true value of your losses, backed up by facts and data. We will identify and reject any lowball offers and make it clear to the attorneys on the other side of the negotiating table that we will not settle for anything less than what you are owed. While the vast majority of these cases are resolved with a negotiated settlement, our accomplished trial lawyers are not afraid to take your case to court if necessary – a fact that the insurers are well aware of.

We strive to maintain full transparency and open lines of communication with our clients at every stage of the process. You’ll always know the status of your case and we’ll never make a move unless it is in your best interests. Our goal is to help you move forward with your life by getting you the funds you need in the most efficient, effective, and stress-free way possible.

A Car Accident Lawyer in Polk County Can Help

If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a crash in Lakeland, Polk County, or anywhere in Florida, reach out to Kogan & DiSalvo today for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation. The right Lakeland injury lawyer can make all the difference when it comes to getting maximum compensation for your injuries.

Get peace of mind knowing you have a law firm on your side that has a long track record of successfully handling cases just like yours. We’ll review your case for free and walk you through the process. Call or contact us online to get started.