Personal Injury Lawyer in New Smyrna Beach

Were you hurt due to someone else’s carelessness? You shouldn’t have to deal with medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering because of it. The attorneys at Zimmet & Zimmet can help get you the compensation you need to rebuild your life.

Since 1975, our personal injury law firm has been a reliable and fierce advocate for accident victims in New Smyrna Beach and throughout Florida — and we have the results to prove it. More than that, our attorneys provide compassion, support, and hope. We never treat clients as another case number but rather as what they are: human beings who need serious help.

Ready to put us to work on your case? Contact Zimmet & Zimmet today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a New Smyrna Beach personal injury lawyer.

Why Should I Hire a New Smyrna Beach Personal Injury Attorney?

If someone else is at fault for your injuries, they should compensate you for what you’ve suffered as a result — and you shouldn’t have to fight them to get it. Unfortunately, they and their insurer likely won’t see eye-to-eye with you. Instead, they’ll try to deny that they’re to blame, shift liability onto you, or pressure you into accepting a settlement offer that doesn’t come close to compensating you fairly. That’s why you should hire a New Smyrna Beach personal injury attorney to represent you.

You shouldn’t have to worry about the complexities of handling a legal claim. Let Zimmet & Zimmet do that instead by:

• Investigating what happened to establish who’s to blame
• Identifying avenues for compensation, including available insurance policies
• Reviewing documentary evidence to determine the financial costs of your injuries
• Getting to know you so that we understand the effects your injuries have had on your life
• Calculating what fair compensation should entail so we know how much to demand
• Filing your insurance claims and sending demand letters to liable parties
• Negotiating for an out-of-court settlement so you don’t have to go to trial
• Preparing litigation and arguing your case before a judge or jury as necessary to get you fair compensation

Throughout this process, we’ll treat you with respect and care and always put your needs first. Our lawyers know that the outcome of your case will have a huge effect on your future and that you’ve placed your trust in our hands. We’ll honor that trust by providing you with the care and attention your case merits.

Best of all, you pay nothing unless we at Zimmet & Zimmet recover the compensation for your personal injury claim. Our lawyers will handle your case with no upfront, out-of-pocket costs to you; instead, any fees will paid to the firm as a percentage of what we recover.

Contact Zimmet & Zimmet today for a free consultation and learn more about us.

How Do I Know If I Have a Personal Injury Claim?

Do you suspect someone else is to blame for an accident that caused you serious injuries? If so, you might be wondering if you have a viable personal injury case against them.

As a general rule, if you would not have been injured had someone else acted with more care, there’s a good chance you can pursue a claim against them. Your safest plan is to let a personal injury lawyer in New Smyrna Beach review what happened. Contact Zimmet & Zimmet today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation, and we’ll advise you on your options.

What Damages Could I Be Entitled to in a Personal Injury Case?

Your personal injury compensation can account for both the financial and subjective losses you’ve suffered because of someone else’s wrongful actions. This includes not just specific expenses but general, subjective costs as well. It may include money for your:

• Medical expenses, including the costs of emergency treatment, hospital stays, surgery, medication, rehabilitation courses, ongoing therapy, and in-home care
• Loss of income, including wages, salary, tips, bonuses, promotions, and benefits you were unable to earn because of your injuries
• Reduced earning potential, if your injuries or lingering impairments prevent you from continuing or advancing in your career
• Pain and suffering, which accounts for the physical and emotional discomfort your injuries cause you
• Diminished quality of life, if your injuries affect your ability to attend social gatherings and take part in favorite activities and hobbies
• Damaged property, if personal items need to be repaired or replaced as a result of the accident

These are just examples of compensable losses. A lawyer from Zimmet & Zimmet can give you a better idea of what, specifically, you could be compensated for in your case.

There are complex laws that surround finding other sources of recovery beyond the at-fault parties’ insurance policy. It is extremely important to hire an experienced lawyer who not only understands how to find other sources of recovery but will leave no stone unturned during the investigation to find them. Many times this is the difference between no recovery and recovering millions of dollars.

Can I Still Get Compensation If I Was Partly to Blame for My Injuries?

Florida follows a legal doctrine called modified comparative fault, under which an injury victim can still recover compensation if they were only partly to blame for their injuries. If your case goes to trial, a judge or jury acting as factfinder will weigh the evidence each side presents to them, then allocate them a percentage of fault.

If your share is over 50 percent, you cannot recover compensation. If it’s 50 percent or under, your compensation is reduced accordingly. As an example, if you would have won $100,000 but are found to be 15 percent at fault, you would recover $85,000 instead.

Be aware that the comparative fault rule applies to lawsuits, not settlements. However, because insurance companies factor the courts into the decisions they make regarding settlements, the rule can still affect cases that never go to trial. Rather than accept what an insurance company tells you your claim is worth, get in touch with Zimmet & Zimmet. An experienced personal injury attorney in New Smyrna Beach can push back against attempts to shift blame onto you and minimize your claim.

How Long Do I Have in Florida to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

The Florida statute of limitations on negligent-based actions gives you two years to file your personal injury lawsuit. While certain circumstances could increase the time you have to file your suit, it’s best not to delay, as late filing can lead to the dismissal of your suit. Protect your right to compensation by enlisting the help of a personal injury lawyer from Zimmet & Zimmet right away.

How Long Does a Typical Personal Injury Case Last?

The time it takes to resolve your personal injury case will depend on a number of factors, such as:

• The availability and complexity of evidence
• How clearly the other party is at fault
• How much insurance coverage they have
• Whether the insurance company is willing to negotiate
• Whether there are any factors affecting the statute of limitations

Simple cases can be completed in a matter of months, while more complex ones may take a year or longer to resolve. Remember that a quality outcome takes time and that staying the course is better in the long run.

What Must Be Proven in a Personal Injury Claim?

The elements your New Smyrna Beach injury lawyer must prove to win your personal injury claim will depend on what legal theory they bring it under. Most cases hinge on negligence, a legal term that describes a failure to behave with the level of care that a person of ordinary prudence would have given the circumstances. While that may sound complex, in many ways, it is quite simple.

The following are some practical examples to help you understand it:

• A driver merging onto the highway should check their blind spot before entering the main traffic lanes. Failure to do so could be negligence when it results in a collision.
• Store owners should inspect their shops regularly to make sure they’re safe for potential customers. Failure to do so could be negligence if a patron slips on a pool of water caused by a leaking freezer unit.
• Hotels have a responsibility to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of their guests. Failure to hire and train security guards in response to break-in attempts could constitute negligence if a guest is assaulted on the property.

Under a theory of negligence, your lawyer would need to show that someone owed you a duty of care; that they breached it in some way; that their breach led to your injuries; and that your injuries can be remedied by a certain amount of money. To learn more about what you’ll need to prove to win your case, reach out to Zimmet & Zimmet today.

What Are Common Personal Injury Cases?

Personal injury cases come in many common forms, such as:

What Types of Injuries Happen Due to Personal Injury Accidents?

Personal injury accidents can result in a wide range of serious, even life-altering injuries. Some of the most common are:

Contact a New Smyrna Beach Personal Injury Attorney Today

Have you been injured in an accident? If someone else was to blame, Zimmet & Zimmet can help you demand that they compensate you fairly. Contact us today for a free consultation with a New Smyrna Beach personal injury attorney, and let’s get started right away.