One of the big questions we often get at our law firm is do I have a case? And that applies to auto accidents, trip and fall, slip and fall, medical malpractice, and any sort of personal injury. That’s one of our client’s initial questions is do I have a case and I don’t want to waste anybody’s time. And the initial inquiry as to whether or not there is a case circles around the issue of liability. What does that mean? Liability means who is at fault. So take for example, an auto accident. We often see rear-end collisions here in St. Petersburg and our clients oftentimes are victim of a severe rear-end collision. Imagine sitting in a red light waiting for it to turn green. It’s still red and out of nowhere somebody strikes you from behind. That’s a rear-end collision. And in Florida, liability is clear.
Our client was sitting there doing exactly what they should be doing and the at fault driver slammed into the back of the car. So in that case, liability is undisputed, meaning the at-fault driver is liable for the accident. Now. Sometimes in auto accidents we have questions of liability and these arise from witness statements or perhaps statements of a potential at-fault driver. Take another example. Let’s say somebody runs a red light and slams into one of our clients. Well, the police are called out and they conduct an investigation and if they can’t determine who’s at fault, they will not issue a citation. But unfortunately that doesn’t necessarily matter for the insurance companies because the insurance companies will then go out and talk to witnesses and make their own decision as to who’s liable. In a case of running a red light, let’s say the true at fault driver runs a red light as strikes my client, well, that driver who ran the red light could fabricate a story to their insurance company and say, no, they had the green light.
And you can see how liability in that scenario can get muddied. So this is why it is so important when we’re investigating auto accidents or trip and falls or slip and falls that we determine if there are any witnesses, independent third party witnesses. Because if we can get in touch with those witnesses and get their statement, that helps support our client’s position as to who is liable, that at the end of the day will help prove our case and make for a stronger case. So the initial question we always look at is liability. If you have any questions regarding any sort of personal injury, auto accident, trip and fall, slip and fall, contact us immediately.
*The above has been transcribed by a third party service and has not been checked for accuracy
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If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident, then you should take the proper measures to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Contact St. Petersburg Personal Injury Attorneys McQuaid & Douglas today and speak with an attorney. For over 60 years our firm has been successfully helping people who have been injured due to someone else’s carelessness. We have been nationally ranked for decades by US News and World Reports as a Tier 1 law firm, which is the highest ranking that can be received. Sean McQuaid and Jonathon Douglas have dedicated their careers to continuing the firms legacy of superior legal representation.
Remember that we never charge a fee, unless we win. Call us today at 727-381-2300 so that we may answer your questions, help you navigate the complexities of insurance claims, and recover the compensation that you deserve.
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St Petersburg Personal Injury Attorneys McQuaid & Douglas
5858 Central Ave suite a, St. Petersburg, FL (727) 381-2300
5 out of 5 based on 20 reviews
Sean McQuaid and Jonathon Douglas were voted best personal injury attorneys in Saint Petersburg, Florida for 2019.
