Santa Rosa Beach, FL Personal Injury Lawyer
Whether you are injured on the road, at work or on Florida’s waterways, attorney Daniel W. Uhlfelder provides personal injury legal services to protect your right to fair compensation for injuries suffered due to the negligent actions of others. Our personal injury law firm serves clients from Santa Rosa Beach, Destin and throughout the Florida Panhandle.
Our lawyer spends almost every day in the courtroom, fighting for our clients. We are not afraid to fight even the largest insurance companies on your behalf and are prepared for trial if it will help obtain justice in your case.
You Have The Right To Compensation
In many personal injury matters, the insurance companies will attempt to settle your claim at a small fraction of what it is worth. Insurance companies want you to make a decision before you learn the full amount of compensation you may potentially be able to recover. This is why talking to an attorney before accepting any settlement offer is vital.
We help with a number of different personal injury claims, ranging from the simple to complex, that include:
- Automobile accidents and car crashes
- Truck wrecks
- Drunk driving accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Boating accidents
- Jet Ski collisions
- Products liability, including defective products and manufacturing errors
- Toxic mold exposure (black mold)
- Construction site accidents, such as scaffolding accidents, falling objects, ladder falls and roof falls
We understand that your family and your way of life depend on your physical recovery and compensation for your suffering. The law entitles you to compensation for injuries, and there is no reason not to pursue damages if you have suffered from an accident due to the negligence of another. Depending on your injury, you may be entitled to receive compensation for the loss of past and future wages, damage to your car, pain and suffering, medical expenses and more.
How Long Do You Have To File A Personal Injury Claim In Florida?
In Florida, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is two years from the date of the injury or accident. This is a change from the previous four-year limit, effective March 24, 2023, due to tort reform. This applies to cases like car accidents, slip-and-fall mishaps or medical malpractice.
Exceptions may extend this deadline, such as the “discovery rule” (when the injury was not immediately apparent) or cases involving minors or mentally incompetent individuals, where the clock may start later. Missing this deadline typically bars you from court-ordered compensation.
Because time can affect evidence and witness memory, it is important to act quickly. Contacting an experienced Santa Rosa Beach personal injury lawyer early helps ensure your case is handled properly from the start. Our firm can review your situation and make sure every deadline is met.
What Types Of Damages Can You Recover In A Florida Personal Injury Case?
As a personal injury victim, you can seek these three types of damages in Florida:
- Economic damages cover medical bills, lost wages and property damage.
- Noneconomic damages include pain, suffering and emotional distress.
- Punitive damages, which punish extreme misconduct, are rare and capped at $500,000 or three times the other damages.
Most cases have no caps on economic or noneconomic damages. However, proving them requires robust evidence and strategic litigation. We leverage our deep courtroom experience to build compelling cases. In return, this helps ensure clients in the Florida Panhandle recover the full extent of their losses against insurance companies and negligent parties.
Can You Still Pursue A Personal Injury Claim If You Were Partially At Fault For The Accident?
Yes. Under Florida’s comparative negligence rule, you can still seek compensation even if you were partly to blame. However, your total recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were 20% responsible for the accident, you could still recover 80% of your total damages.
If you are 51% or more at fault, recovery is barred, unlike the prior pure comparative system, which allowed recovery at higher fault levels. Fault is assessed using evidence like accident reports and witness testimony, often sparking disputes. Partial fault does not eliminate your claim, especially in complex cases like multivehicle accidents.
Schedule Your Free Consultation Today
You have a limited amount of time to bring personal injury claims under Florida law. The longer you wait, the less options that may be available to us to potentially maximize your recovery from the responsible parties. To talk to an experienced lawyer about your case, call Daniel W. Uhlfelder, P.A., at 850-909-2225 or send us an email to find a time that works for you.