Gateway Car Accident Injury Lawyer

Since 1963, Wolfson & Leon has defended the rights of people severely injured in car accidents. Protecting your right to compensation is essential when you are badly hurt in a Gateway car accident. You can find out what legal options may be available to your family when a serious car crash has impacted their lives. Call Wolfson & Leon in Fort Myers today at 239-777-9954, and we will review your case for free.

Whether you are driving to work or are out running errands, a minor car accident can disrupt your day. You may be left with bumps and bruises. You may be stuck on the phone filing a claim with your insurance company and be unable to drive if your car is damaged.

But when a car accident results in severe injury, your life can be turned upside down. Extensive injuries require immediate medical care. Surgery, prolonged hospital stays, and rehabilitation may be necessary for recovery. Such injuries are painful and can prevent you from working and getting on with your life.

When you are badly hurt in a Gateway car accident, you should speak with a best Gateway personal injury lawyer. You will pursue damages directly through your car insurance company in a minor crash. Yet when the accident results in severe injury, even death, you may need to file a lawsuit to recover compensation.

Things to Know About Gateway

"Gateway" is a planned community located in Lee County, Florida, United States. Gateway is a small community in Lee County near Fort Myers. Located close to Estero and Lehigh Acres, Gateway offers quiet neighborhoods, parks, and schools. Commuters may jump on I-75 or Highway 82 to reach Fort Myers or Cape Coral nearby.

Here are some things to know about Gateway, Florida:

1. Location: Gateway is located in the eastern part of Lee County, Florida, bordered by the city of Fort Myers to the west and the Caloosahatchee River to the north.
2. Planned community: Gateway was designed and developed as a master-planned community in the late 1980s, with a focus on providing a high quality of life for its residents.
3. Amenities: Gateway offers a range of amenities for residents, including parks, playgrounds, walking trails, a community pool, a fitness center, and more.
4. Schools: Gateway is home to several schools, including Gateway Elementary School, Gateway Charter School, and Gateway High School.
5. Sports: The community has a strong focus on sports and fitness, with numerous sports facilities and programs available for residents of all ages.
6. Golf: The Gateway Golf & Country Club is a private golf club located within the community, offering an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Tom Fazio.
7. Shopping and dining: Gateway is located close to a variety of shopping and dining options, including the Gulf Coast Town Center and the Miromar Outlets.
8. Access to major highways: Gateway is conveniently located near several major highways, including I-75, which provides easy access to the surrounding areas, including Naples and Fort Lauderdale.
9. Real estate: Gateway offers a range of housing options, including single-family homes, townhomes, and condominiums, with prices ranging from the mid-$100,000s to over $1 million.
10. Community events: Gateway hosts a range of community events throughout the year, including concerts, holiday celebrations, and more, providing residents with a strong sense of community and a range of opportunities to get involved.

Injured in a Gateway Car Accident?

People can be hurt when drivers don’t operate their vehicles with the appropriate level of care. Some of the most common reasons for Gateway car accidents include the following:

• Driving above the speed limit
• Failure to obey traffic signs and lights
• Distractions, such as talking on the phone or texting while driving
• Not checking blind spots before changing lanes
• Driver fatigue or impairments
• Inexperienced drivers
• Roadway obstacles that limit a driver’s view
• Failing to yield when getting on or off the highway
• Driver inexperience
• Wet or slippery roads
• Bad road lighting

Since cars are heavy and travel at high speed, a severe car crash may result in extensive and painful injuries. Typical damage caused by a Gateway car accident includes broken or crushed bones, traumatic brain injury, loss of limbs, severe organ damage, deep cuts, burns, torn ligaments, and pulled muscles. Car accidents can cause a wide range of injuries, from minor cuts and bruises to life-threatening conditions. Some of the most common car accident injuries include:

1. Whiplash: This occurs when the head is suddenly jerked back and forth, causing damage to the neck muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
2. Broken bones: Fractures to the arms, legs, ribs, and other bones are common in car accidents, especially if the impact is severe.
3. Traumatic brain injury (TBI): This can occur when the head hits a hard surface or is jolted violently, causing damage to the brain. Symptoms may include headaches, dizziness, and memory loss.
4. Spinal cord injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can result in paralysis or loss of sensation in the limbs.
5. Internal injuries: Blunt force trauma can cause damage to internal organs such as the liver, spleen, and kidneys.
6. Cuts and lacerations: Shattered glass, metal debris, and other hazards can cause cuts and lacerations, which may require stitches or even surgery.
7. Soft tissue injuries: Sprains, strains, and tears to the muscles, ligaments, and tendons can result from the sudden impact of a car accident.

It's important to seek medical attention immediately after a car accident, even if you don't feel any pain or symptoms right away. Some injuries may take hours or even days to show up, and early treatment can help prevent complications and long-term damage.

In some cases, these injuries can be so extensive that you are left to deal with them for the rest of your life. The severe damage from the accident can affect your ability to move, speak, earn a living, and do basic chores.

What Is Comparative Negligence?

There may be times when you are found to be partially responsible for an accident. Shared responsibility is known as comparative negligence. Yet, even if you share some of the responsibility for an accident, it does not mean you cannot recover damages.

Comparative negligence is a legal principle used in Florida to determine the amount of damages a plaintiff may recover in a personal injury case. Under comparative negligence, the plaintiff's damages award is reduced by the percentage of fault that is attributed to the plaintiff for the accident.

In other words, if the plaintiff is found to be partially at fault for the accident, their damages award will be reduced by the percentage of fault that is assigned to them. For example, if the plaintiff is found to be 20% at fault for the accident and their damages are $100,000, their award will be reduced by $20,000 (20% of $100,000) and they will only receive $80,000.

Florida follows the pure comparative negligence rule, which means that even if the plaintiff is found to be more than 50% at fault for the accident, they can still recover damages, although their damages award will be reduced by their percentage of fault. This is different from some other states that follow a modified comparative negligence rule, which bars the plaintiff from recovering damages if they are found to be more than 50% at fault.

Seeking the help of a Gateway car crash lawyer can be especially critical in these situations, as any damages you may be entitled to are reduced by the percentage of negligence you share in the accident. A Gateway car crash lawyer can help you evaluate the nature and circumstances around the crash and challenge the comparative negligence assigned to you when appropriate.

Gateway Car Accident Injury Law Firm

When your life has been forever turned upside down by a severe car crash, you can reach out for help. At Wolfson & Leon, we work diligently to get justice for people gravely injured in car crashes. We invite you to call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation. We can learn more about your accident and your injuries and share possible legal courses of action you might be able to take.

Find out how the Gateway car accident lawyers at Wolfson & Leon in Fort Myers might be able to assist you by calling 239-777-9954 today.

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