When you get up in the morning, you expect a normal day. Unfortunately, this sense of normalcy can be erased in the blink of an eye when you are involved in an accident that leaves you suffering a permanent disability. This can be devastating as it will impact your life for years. If this represents your circumstances, it’s important to connect with a Wesley Chapel personal injury lawyer who can help you fight for the compensation you deserve. Keep reading to learn more about how these injuries happen and how liability is determined.
What Constitutes a Permanent Disability?
Under Florida law, someone is considered permanently disabled when they have an impairment of the mind or body that makes it impossible for them to sustain gainful occupation and will continue to impact them throughout their life. Even when you reach your maximum recovery, the injury or condition will still negatively impact the rest of your life.
Unfortunately, many kinds of accidents can leave individuals suffering from permanent disabilities. These include car crashes, workplace accidents, slips and falls, dog bites or medical malpractice. Common disabilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
- Paralysis
- Limb loss or amputation
- Nerve damage
- Loss of sight or hearing
- Burns and scarring
How Is Compensation Determined?
When you are left suffering a permanent disability due to the negligent actions of another person, it can be devastating. Not only are you left unable to do the things you once loved, but it can cause serious financial hardship as you are likely accumulating medical bills all while unable to work. However, you should not be left to bear the burden of someone else’s negligence. Understanding how compensation is determined in these matters is critical.
If you are injured due to the negligence of another person, it’s important to understand how funds are determined. Generally, you will start by calculating the economic damages you’ve suffered. This includes your medical bills and the wages you’ve lost. Calculating this can be challenging, as you’ll need to figure out the cost of future medical treatment and the wages you would have earned had you not been injured and unable to work.
Next, you’ll calculate the non-economic damages you’ve endured, like pain and suffering or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Unfortunately, these are subjective so they can be harder to determine the value of.
Ensuring you receive the correct compensation for these injuries can be difficult, as the other party and their insurance company will likely do everything possible to reduce the value of your claim. As such, working with an attorney is critical. Not only can they help you determine how much money you are entitled to, but they can also work with expert witnesses who can help explain your injuries and how they affect your ability to work.
When you are hurt and need help, the Law Offices of Matthew J. Jowanna is here to fight for you. We understand the impact a permanent disability can have on your life, which is why we will do everything possible to help you achieve the best outcome. Contact us today for more information.