Pensacola Personal Injury Lawyer

personal injury claims in Pensacola, FL

Experienced Pensacola Personal Injury Law Firm Fighting for Local Accident Victims

If the negligence and careless conduct of another person injured you or someone you know, you may be facing endless expenses, medical problems, and an inability to enjoy life. Attorney Ryan M. Cardoso helps individuals and families who have been the victims of negligent conduct seek the compensation they deserve after having their lives turned upside down by a car crash or another accident.

To collect damages in this context, you generally must prove that the person who injured you was negligent. This essentially means showing that they failed to use reasonable care and that this failure led to your injuries or the wrongful death of a family member. If you can prove that the defendant was negligent, you may be able to recover damages for amounts related to medical expenses, lost wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering, and more. Our injury lawyers have helped countless injury victims seek justice after an accident. We can evaluate your case and review your options with you.

Types of Cases Our Attorneys Handle

Motor vehicle accidents are personal injury cases that often receive the most attention in the media, but there are many others. Slips and falls are common causes of injuries, which frequently occur due to a property owner negligently allowing a dangerous condition to persist on their premises. Dog bites, defective products, and medical malpractice are also common grounds for personal injury claims. If you are a victim of domestic violence or someone has violently assaulted you, you may have a tort claim for suffering damages from an unlawful assault and battery.

Our skilled Pensacola personal injury lawyers can analyze the circumstances surrounding your personal injury accident and assess which parties may bear responsibility. Our experienced personal injury attorneys can also determine which theory of liability to outline in pursuing your claim for personal injury damages, or any other type of personal injury case, including the following:

How Can Personal Injury Victims in Florida Prove Negligence

Accident victims pursue their personal injury lawsuits on a theory of negligence. Under Florida law, to prove a claim of negligence, an FL personal injury attorney must show that the defendant owed you a duty of care to act reasonably under the circumstances, that the defendant breached the duty, and that it resulted in your personal injury accident and damages.

The defendant may attempt to argue that you acted negligently and that you caused the accident, at least in part. Even if the defendant proves you were ultimately negligent, you can still fight for compensation to recover.

Florida has adopted the comparative negligence doctrine, which allows an injured party to recover damages in proportion to the degree of the other party’s negligence. In other words, if the other party was 50% at fault, they are liable for half of the number of your personal injury damages.

Proving Strict Liability in Personal Injury Cases in Florida

While often your attorney must prove that another person’s negligence caused your injuries to recover damages, sometimes the responsible party will be deemed strictly liable, whether or not negligence is proven. For example, a dog owner in Florida is liable for any personal injuries caused if the dog bites someone, regardless of whether the owner was negligent. Similarly, if a person is injured due to a defective product, the manufacturer and any distributor or seller of the product can be held strictly liable by your lawyer if the product is determined to be unreasonably dangerous.

Statutes of Limitations for Personal Injury Lawsuits

Under Florida’s statute of limitations, people must file ordinary personal injury lawsuits within two years of the date of the personal injury. However, in the case of medical malpractice claims, people must file within two years of either the date of the injury or the personal injury discovery date. The statute of limitations for lawsuits arising out of defective products varies depending on the nature of the product involved. If you have suffered a serious personal injury, it is in your best interests to meet with a knowledgeable Pensacola personal injury lawyer at your earliest convenience. Talking to a lawyer can ensure that you do not waive your right to recover damages by failing to act promptly with a personal injury lawsuit.

Compensation Available For Pensacola Personal Injury Victims

If you suffered injuries due to someone else’s actions, you are most likely to get compensation. Personal injury victims should be able to recover the cost of any medical treatment, including future medical care, prescriptions, and medical devices. You may be able to recover lost wages if your injuries caused you to miss work, as well as loss of future earnings if your injuries affected your ability to earn a living going forward. Also, you may qualify to get compensation for pain and suffering damages and other non-economic damages for your loss.

FAQs About Personal Injury

Pursuing a personal injury claim can feel confusing and overwhelming, but taking time to understand the process can alleviate stress and provide some clarity. To help you do that, here are some personal injury lawyer FAQs that we frequently receive.

How much is my injury case worth?

No two personal injury cases share the same value. Several factors drive the amount you may recover, including:

  • The severity of your injuries
  • The cost of your medical care
  • The income you lose while you recover
  • The impact of the injury on your daily life
  • The strength of the evidence 

Our Pensacola personal injury lawyers can gather medical records, bills, pay stubs, and expert opinions to determine the full value of your claim. When we calculate compensation, we consider not only your current expenses but also future costs.

How long will my personal injury lawsuit take?

Each case follows its own timeline. Simple claims with clear fault and minor injuries may settle in a few months, while more complicated cases involving serious injuries and disputed liability can take a year or more. 

Factors that affect the timeline include:

  • Medical treatment and recovery
  • Investigation and evidence collection
  • Negotiation with the insurance company
  • Filing a lawsuit if negotiations fail
  • Trial preparation and court scheduling

While some factors remain beyond your control, working with our personal injury law firm in Pensacola can help the process move as smoothly and quickly as possible. 

What do I do about all these doctor and hospital bills while the lawsuit is still ongoing?

You do not have to wait for a settlement to handle your bills. Many clients use one or more of these options:

  • Their own health insurance
  • MedPay or PIP auto coverage
  • Payment plans with medical providers
  • Letters of protection that delay collection until settlement

Our Pensacola personal injury lawyer can step in and communicate with providers to manage your finances while you await your case’s resolution.

Can I still pursue compensation if I was partially at fault for my injuries?

Yes. Under Florida’s modified comparative negligence system, anyone who carries less than 51 percent of fault for an accident can recover compensation. However, this rule also reduces compensation by the amount of fault.

For example, if your recovery was $100,000 and you carried 20 percent of the fault, your recovery would be reduced by 20 percent to $80,000.  

Can I be treated by my own doctor after a personal injury accident?

You have the right to choose your own doctors. Many clients prefer their regular physicians because those doctors already know their medical history. Your attorney may also suggest specialists who understand injury documentation and court testimony. 

How much does a personal injury lawyer cost?

Our personal injury law firm works on a contingency basis. That means you pay no out-of-pocket attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. If we do win your case, your attorney’s fees will be a percentage of your recovery that will be agreed upon prior to taking your case.

Contact an Experienced Pensacola Personal Injury Attorney

If you suffered injuries due to someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, you should confer with an experienced Pensacola personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Personal injury lawyer Ryan M. Cardoso handles each case with the dedication and attention that it deserves. From his office in Pensacola, he frequently represents injured people in Pensacola, West Pensacola, Cantonment, Brent, Bellview, Ferry Pass, Century, Gulf Breeze, Milton, Navarre, Jay, Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, and other cities in Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa Counties. Schedule a consultation with our Pensacola personal injury attorneys to discuss a car accident, a motorcycle accident, a slip and fall, or another personal injury claim via our online form or by calling Mr. Cardoso at (850) 466-2073.