Best & Anderson, P.A. Personal Injury Blog

Being involved in an automobile accident is, perhaps, one of the most stressful events that can happen to a person, and when there are serious injuries, that stress is only compounded. Approximately one-fifth of people involved in automobile collisions experience symptoms involving the head and neck region, and sometimes those symptoms do not appear until days or even weeks after the accident. Although some people may recover quickly from the injuries they sustained in an accident, many do not and may develop chronic conditions that result in severe pain and even some kind of permanent disability.

Following automobile accidents, people may experience a range of symptoms including neck and back stiffness and/or pain, headaches, shoulder pain and/or stiffness, pain between the shoulder blades, pain/numbness in the arms or hands, sleep disturbances, and difficulty with memory and concentration. The first thing anyone should do following an automobile accident is be examined by a physician.

Because automobile accidents may involve personal injuries and property damage, knowledge of Florida's law is crucial should you have to pursue a claim involving monetary recovery either from your insurance company or that of another driver involved in the collision. An experienced personal injury attorney such as David Best or Dutch Anderson in Orlando, Florida will advise you on what, if any, valid insurance claim you have against an insurance company.

In order to commence a lawsuit for personal injuries due to a car accident, you must have sustained a "serious injury." According to law, a serious injury is one that results in "death; dismemberment; significant disfigurement; fracture; loss of fetus; permanent loss of use of a body organ, member, function, or system; permanent consequential limitation of use of a body organ or member; significant limitation of use of a body function or system; or a medically determined injury or impairment of a non-permanent nature which prevents the injured person from performing substantially all of the material acts which constitute such person's usual and customary daily activities for not less than 90 days during the 180 days immediately following the occurrence of the injury or impairment."

Deciding negligence in an auto accident means determining who was at fault or who caused the accident. In some situations, however, accidents are not necessarily caused by other drivers. An auto accident can occur due to a manufacturing defect such as a defective tire or steering mechanism. Improper repair to a car may cause an accident; in these cases, the injured party is still eligible for benefits if certain criteria are met.

Following an accident, you should not hesitate to call upon an experienced personal injury attorney to help you sort through the insurance paperwork and claims package. At Best & Anderson, Attorneys at Law, one of our experienced car accident attorneys is here to help you; please call today to schedule your free initial consultation.