Tanney, Griffith & Bresler, P.A. focuses exclusively on representing injured individuals and families. Our attorneys handle a wide range of personal injury and wrongful death cases, including:

• Car accidents
• Trucking accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Slip and fall and trip and fall accidents
• Dog bite injuries
• Premises liability and negligent security
• Product liability and defective products
• Wrongful death claims

Every case is different. Our attorneys evaluate the circumstances of your injury and help you understand your options for pursuing compensation.

After an accident, taking the right steps can help protect your health and your legal claim:

• Seek medical attention as soon as possible
• Report the accident when appropriate
• Document the scene if possible
• Obtain contact information from witnesses
• Avoid giving recorded statements to insurance companies
• Contact an experienced personal injury attorney

Even if your injuries seem minor at first, it is important to seek medical care. Some injuries may not appear until days or weeks after an accident.

Under Florida law, every owner of a motor vehicle is required to carry certain minimum insurance coverages. These include:

• Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage of $10,000
• Property damage liability coverage of $10,000

Although not required, many drivers also carry:

• Bodily injury liability coverage
• Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage

These additional coverages can play an important role in recovering compensation after a serious accident.

Florida is a no-fault insurance state. This means personal injury protection, or PIP coverage, pays certain expenses regardless of who caused the accident.

PIP coverage generally includes:

• 80% of reasonable medical expenses
• 60% of lost wages
• Coverage up to $10,000

These benefits apply even if another driver caused the accident. However, serious injury claims often involve additional compensation beyond PIP coverage.

Bodily injury liability coverage applies when an at-fault driver causes injuries to others. This coverage may compensate injured individuals for damages beyond PIP coverage.

Common bodily injury coverage limits include:

• $10,000 per person / $20,000 per accident
• $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident
• $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident
• $100,000 per person / $300,000 per accident

The available coverage often affects the potential compensation in a personal injury case.

Sometimes the at-fault driver does not carry sufficient insurance. In these cases, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may apply.

This coverage allows injured individuals to pursue compensation through their own insurance policy when:

• The at-fault driver has no insurance
• The at-fault driver has insufficient coverage
• Multiple parties are involved

Uninsured motorist coverage can be one of the most important protections for Florida drivers.

Under Florida law, an injured person may pursue compensation for pain and suffering only if they have suffered a permanent injury.

These damages may include:

• Pain and suffering
• Disability or impairment
• Scarring or disfigurement
• Mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of life

A medical professional must determine that a permanent injury exists within a reasonable degree of medical probability.

Maximum medical improvement, often referred to as MMI, is the point at which your condition has stabilized and is not expected to improve further. At this stage, a physician may assign a permanent impairment rating.

This rating helps determine:

• The extent of your injuries
• Long-term medical needs
• Potential compensation

Many personal injury claims are evaluated after reaching maximum medical improvement.

Every personal injury case is unique. The value of your case depends on several factors, including:

• The severity of your injuries
• Medical expenses
• Lost income
• Future medical care
• Pain and suffering
• Long-term disability or impairment

Once your condition stabilizes, your attorney may submit a settlement demand to insurance companies. If a fair offer is not made, your case may proceed to litigation.

Florida law limits the amount of time you have to file a personal injury claim. This deadline is known as the statute of limitations. Because deadlines can vary depending on the type of case, it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible after an injury.

Acting quickly also helps preserve evidence and protect your claim.

Many personal injury cases are resolved through settlement negotiations. However, if a fair settlement cannot be reached, filing a lawsuit may be necessary.

Tanney, Griffith & Bresler, P.A. prepares every case carefully and is ready to pursue litigation when appropriate. Our attorneys have decades of experience representing clients in complex injury cases.