Frequently Asked Questions

Hiring Sammons Injury Law for a personal injury case, particularly after a car accident, is indeed worth considering for several compelling reasons. An experienced and well-versed personal injury attorney, such as Trevor Sammons, can give you an informed idea of how much you should seek to recover, and then fight for that amount in damages. There is research that supports this. The Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS) reports that 62% of trial judges confirm that clients who have attorneys have better success in winning a claim or lawsuit than clients who represent themselves.  An additional study, conducted by the Insurance Research Council, shows that injured auto accident victims who hire a lawyer receive, on average, a settlement that is 3 ½ times larger than those who don’t. THREE AND A HALF times larger! To put it simply, that could be the difference between a client recovering 30,000 and $105,000. That’s a BIG difference.

With Trevor Sammons’ expertise in navigating the complex legal and insurance landscapes, clients can ensure their rights are vigorously protected and that they are in the best position to get more compensation than they would have without an attorney. His ability to accurately assess and negotiate claims means victims can secure settlements that truly reflect the extent of their damages. Moreover, Attorney Sammons’ dedication to providing personalized legal representation allows victims to focus on their recovery, confident that their legal affairs are in capable hands. Never settle for less, Attorney Sammons won’t!

Sammons Injury Law, led by Trevor Sammons, handles a broad spectrum of personal injury cases, including car and trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, boating and maritime accidents, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents, premises liability, dog bites, slip and fall incidents, wrongful death claims, and traumatic brain injuries. This wide-ranging expertise ensures that victims of various types of accidents and injuries can receive specialized legal representation aimed at securing the justice and compensation they rightfully deserve.

No, filing a lawsuit is not always necessary to bring a personal injury claim. Most personal injury cases are resolved through negotiations and settlements with insurance companies before ever reaching the courtroom. Experienced personal injury attorneys like Trevor Sammons often successfully negotiate significant compensation for their clients, avoiding the need for a trial. However, if a satisfactory settlement agreement cannot be reached through negotiation tactics, filing a lawsuit may become necessary to pursue the actual compensation you deserve. Attorney Sammons keeps all clients informed along the way and will explain the pros and cons should it be determined that a lawsuit may be in your best interest.

Under Florida law, drivers are required to carry a minimum of $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 in property damage liability (PDL) insurance. Personal injury protection coverage helps pay for medical expenses, lost wages, and death benefits regardless of who is at fault in an accident. Property damage liability insurance covers the damage that the policyholder causes to someone else’s property. These are the minimum mandatory auto insurance coverages required to legally operate a vehicle in Florida. Unfortunately, this also means that bodily injury coverage is not required to be carried in the state of Florida, one of the few states allowing residents to get away with rejecting bodily injury coverage.

Bodily Injury liability insurance coverage, also known as “BI” coverage, is a liability coverage. This means that this type of coverage only comes into play when the party carrying the coverage is liable for an accident.  BI coverage is coverage that a party may or may not carry, as unfortunately Florida is one of the few states where this coverage is not mandatory, that would cover the innocent parties’ medical bills and injury-related expenses when that party is liable, i.e. responsible, for causing the accident.  If you are hurt and injured in an auto accident, whether or not you were in a vehicle, on a bicycle or as a pedestrian, this is the first line of protection that we would search for to help cover your injury related medical expenses and additional damages such as pain and suffering damages. In Florida, it’s the wild wild west when it comes to residents carrying this coverage. Don’t rely on others to protect you, protect yourself by reading our FAQ entitled, “What is Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage.”

GET IT! Uninsured Motorist coverage is probably the single most important auto injury coverage a Florida resident can purchase because of the horribly low mandatory minimums Florida requires for drivers on its roads. Uninsured motorist coverage is optional, meaning not required, insurance coverage in Florida that compensates you or your family members if injured by an uninsured driver or a hit-and-run driver. This coverage, sometimes referred to as Underinsured Motorist coverage, also applies in cases where the at-fault driver does not have sufficient insurance to cover the full extent of your damages. Uninsured motorist coverage is designed to offer protection and financial relief in situations where the responsible party cannot adequately compensate for injuries or losses sustained in an accident. Do NOT depend on others to carry sufficient insurance coverage to protect you in the event of an accident that causes you injury, PROTECT YOURSELF by purchasing uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage with your auto insurance provider today. If you are injured in an accident as the result of someone else’s negligence, you will not regret carrying this coverage.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance coverage, as mandated by Florida law, is designed to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and death benefits regardless of who is at fault in an auto accident. Florida requires drivers to carry a minimum of $10,000 in PIP coverage. This type of insurance is part of Florida’s approach to auto insurance, which is known as a “no-fault” system, meaning that each driver’s insurance coverage pays for their injuries and related losses in the event of an accident, up to the limit of the policy, without regard to who caused the accident.

The short answer is Yes, Maybe. Let us explain. With the signing of House Bill 837 into law in March 2023, Florida now uses a modified comparative negligence rule rather than a pure comparative negligence system. Under modified comparative negligence, people who suffer injuries due to negligence can only recover damages if they are found to be 50 percent or less responsible for their injuries. If somebody was hurt in the accident and is more than 50 percent at fault, the new law bars them from recovering any damages. Medical malpractice cases in Florida are the exception to this rule. 

Comparative negligence law also affects how much a person can receive in compensation for a civil claim. The amount awarded to a victim is proportionately reduced by the percentage of fault they carry for the accident, up to 50 percent.

Let us explain with an example. You are speeding down the road in excess of the speed limit and a vehicle pulls out in front of you, causing a collision.  A jury awards you $100,000 in total damages but determines that you are 20 percent at fault for the accident due to your excessive speed. Therefore, the Defendant is determined to be 80 percent at fault for pulling out in front of you when they should have let you safely pass before pulling into the roadway. According to the new comparative negligence rule in Florida, your compensation is reduced by 20 percent to $80,000 to reflect your shared fault for the accident. Since the Defendant is 80 percent at fault, that person cannot claim compensation for damages under modified comparative negligence because the Defendant was more than 50% at fault. While this may be confusing, you can call attorney Trevor Sammons who can provide you with answers to any questions you may have during a free, no-obligation consultation.  Give us a call today.

Your priority should be your health and safety. Seek medical attention for any injuries you may have suffered. Next, document the scene with photos of the vehicles involved and any other evidence that may exist to prove who was liable for the accident. It is crucial that you obtain contact information from any witnesses before leaving the scene, if possible. It’s also crucial not to discuss fault at the scene or with insurance companies before consulting with an attorney. Contact Sammons Injury Law immediately to discuss your next steps. Do not give statements to anyone before consulting with attorney Trevor Sammons.

Immediately after a slip and fall accident, prioritize your safety by seeking medical attention for any injuries. Document the scene by taking numerous photos of the hazard that caused the fall, any visible injuries, and the surrounding area. It is crucial to document the evidence at the scene prior to the hazard being cleaned up or repaired.  Once this happens, the evidence necessary to prove your case may be gone forever.  If there are any witnesses, collect their contact information. Report the incident to the property owner or manager and ensure a written report is made, always keeping a copy for your records. You can do this by taking a quick photo on your phone prior to giving away the report.  Avoid making detailed statements or assigning blame at the scene. Lastly, consult with personal injury attorney, Trevor Sammons, at Sammons Injury Law, to understand your rights and options for pursuing a claim for any injuries or losses sustained due to the fall.

From a trucking accident, you can recover a variety of damages, categorized into economic, non-economic, and, in some cases, punitive damages. Economic damages cover tangible losses such as medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and property damage. Non-economic damage compensates for intangible losses, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium or companionship. Punitive damages, while less common, may be awarded in cases where the defendant’s conduct was particularly reckless or egregious, serving as a punishment to the wrongdoer and a deterrent to others. These damages aim to compensate the victim fully for both the financial and personal impacts of the accident.

Yes, you can recover compensation for pain and suffering damages from an auto accident in Florida, but there are specific conditions under which these damages are awarded. Florida operates under a no-fault insurance system, which means your insurance may cover medical bills and lost wages regardless of who caused the accident. However, to pursue pain and suffering damages, your injuries must meet a certain threshold. According to Florida law, you can seek compensation for pain and suffering if you have sustained significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function, permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability, significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement, or death. If your injuries qualify under these conditions, you may file a claim or lawsuit against the at-fault driver, and possibly your own insurance company as well, to seek compensation for pain and suffering in addition to other damages.

Hiring Sammons Injury Law for a personal injury case in Florida typically involves a contingency fee arrangement. This means that clients do not pay any upfront fees when they retain Attorney Sammons for their legal representation. Instead, attorney’s fees are recovered under a percentage of the settlement or verdict amount recovered on behalf of the client. This percentage can vary depending on the complexity of the case and the stage at which the case is resolved (whether it settles early, goes to trial, or requires an appeal). The specific percentage and terms will be outlined in the agreement between the client and Sammons Injury Law at the beginning of the representation. This approach allows clients to pursue their personal injury claims without the burden of immediate legal costs, ensuring access to justice regardless of their current financial situation. Call Sammons Injury Law today for a free consultation with managing partner, Trevor Sammons.

With the signing of House Bill 837 into law in March 2023, Florida’s statute of limitations (“SOL”) is two years for car, truck, motorcycle, or pedestrian accidents. It is also two years if you were injured in an Uber or Lyft accident in Florida. However, an accident involving a government vehicle, such as a bus, has a different statute of limitations. This updated two-year SOL only applies to accidents that occurred after House Bill 837 was signed into law by Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis back in March of 2023. If your accident occurred prior to March of 2023, the Statute of limitation would fall under the old law which would mean that the applicable SOL would be four years instead of two.

The Florida statute of limitations for suing the government is three years. The procedures in these cases differ from other car accident lawsuits, making it more important to seek out the help of attorney, Trevor Sammons, to not jeopardize your claim.  Call Sammons Injury Law today for a free consultation so we can get started on your injury claim today. Don’t delay, call today!

After an auto accident in Florida, you may be entitled to receive several types of damages, broadly categorized into compensatory and, in some cases, punitive damages. Compensatory damages are further divided into economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover quantifiable losses such as medical expenses (both past and future), lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and property damage. Non-economic damages compensate for more subjective losses, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of companionship or consortium. Punitive damages, which are less common, may be awarded in cases where the defendant’s behavior was especially reckless or egregious, serving to punish the defendant and deter similar future conduct. These damages aim to financially restore the victim to the position they were in before the accident, as much as possible, and address the broader impacts of the injury on the victim’s life.

Whether your personal injury case goes to trial depends on various factors, including the complexity of the case, the amount of compensation involved, and the willingness of both parties to reach a settlement. Most personal injury cases are settled out of court through negotiations between the parties involved, as settlements can provide a quicker, less costly resolution without the uncertainty of a trial outcome. However, if an agreement cannot be reached, or if the parties involved have significant disagreements over liability or the value of the claim, the case may proceed to trial. Ultimately, the decision to settle or go to trial rests with the client, guided by the advice of their attorney, who will assess the strengths and weaknesses of the case, the likelihood of success at trial, and the client’s best interests.

The duration of a personal injury case in Florida can vary widely, depending largely on the specifics of the case, the complexity of the legal issues involved, and the willingness of both parties to negotiate. Factors that influence the timeline include the severity of the injuries, the clarity of fault, the amount of evidence to be gathered, and the negotiation process with insurance companies. Cases can be resolved relatively quickly if the facts are straightforward and both parties are eager to settle. However, if the case is complex, involves significant injuries, or if there is a dispute over liability or the extent of damages, it may take several months to years to reach a resolution. This timeline can be extended further if the case goes to trial, given the need for extensive preparation and the court’s schedule. Ultimately, the goal is to achieve a fair resolution, not a quick one, ensuring that the injured party receives full and just compensation for their losses.

Scheduling a consultation is easy. You can contact Sammons Injury Law through our website, email, or phone. We offer free, no-obligation consultations to discuss your case and advise you on the best course of action moving forward.