A car accident has the potential to cause serious disruption in a person’s life. The State of Florida reported that over 30,000 car accidents occur every single month, which means that crashes are an increasingly dangerous risk. You might not know who to turn to after a crash, especially if you sustained serious injuries or incurred any other damages.
There are a series of steps that you must take after a car accident to secure the best possible outcome for your case in the State of Florida. This includes seeking medical attention, filing a police report, notifying your insurance company about your crash, and most important of all, hiring a personal injury lawyer to manage your case and protect your future. A personal injury lawyer with experience will be able to provide support and guidance in your time of need.
The Law Place has over seventy-five years of collective experience in working with clients who have been involved in car accidents and recovering compensation for damages, such as injuries, pain and suffering, lost wages, property damage, and more. Our law firm will file a personal injury lawsuit and help you to get back on your feet following a car wreck. We understand how frustrating, expensive, and time consuming it can be to have to deal with all of the pressure and paperwork after a car crash, but The Law Place will be there to make sure that your case goes smoothly so that you can focus on your recovery.
If you suffered injuries in a car wreck in the State of Florida, then you could be entitled to compensation. Our team of car accident lawyers will provide vigorous representation and fight for the compensation that you deserve, no matter what. A car accident lawyer will take the time to explain the law and the process of making a claim to you so that you will be as prepared as possible and be able to understand the situation more clearly.
Reach out to The Law Place today, and a car accident lawyer will offer you a piece of professional legal advice on how to approach your case.
Contact us now on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation, and we will fight your car accident case together in the State of Florida. Our phone lines are open 24/7.
Personal Injury Lawyers in Florida
A personal injury lawyer offers legal services to people who have been injured in car accidents due to the negligence of another driver or company.
Personal injury law is based on tort, which means that if you have suffered any type of injury caused by another driver in an accident, then you should seek help from a personal injury lawyer to seek compensation.
Personal injury lawyers who specialize in fighting car accident cases are also called car accident lawyers in the State of Florida. Most car accident lawyers are able to handle a number of different personal injury cases. Highly skilled car accident lawyers are well-versed in the laws surrounding car accidents and personal injuries, and they are able to manage any auto accident case that comes their way.
How Car Accident Lawyers Work in Florida
If you suffered injuries in an auto accident and the other driver is found to be at fault for the crash, then you might be entitled to receive compensation for all of your injuries, damages, and costs. However, it is not always easy to recover damages after a car accident, as insurance companies will try to find ways to reduce the amount of money to be paid. That is why you will need to hire a skilled car accident lawyer from The Law Place to support your claim and protect your legal rights in the State of Florida.
Insurance companies will attempt to employ tactics, such as:
- Using your words against you after you called them to report your car accident.
- Trying to blame you for the car accident.
- Claiming that your injuries were not caused in the accident and that they were pre-existing.
- Using intimidation tactics to convince you to take much less compensation than you deserve.
- Offering you the lowest settlement and hoping that you will accept it out of desperation.
Insurance companies can be notoriously difficult to deal with, but that is where a car accident lawyer will step in to handle your case. The Law Place will fight for your rights and negotiate with your insurance company to make sure that you receive the maximum amount of compensation possible. Rest assured that we will make sure your insurance company does not take advantage of you, and we will talk to them on your behalf to avoid any mistakes being made.
We’re here to serve you. Our phones are open 24 hours a day. How to Find the Best Car Accident Lawyer to Handle Your Case in Florida
It is imperative that you start searching for a local and well-established law firm that holds a good standing reputation. We advise that you look for a car accident lawyer who has:
- Years of valuable experience in successfully managing car accident cases like yours.
- Positive feedback from clients over the years.
- Good chemistry with their clients so that you can feel comfortable and freely ask any questions that you might have in mind.
- A positive track record of working on car accident cases.
If you wish to learn more about what a car accident lawyer can do for you, schedule a free consultation at The Law Place today.
We’re Florida’s top litigation team with over 75 years of combined experience Avoid Settlement Mills
You must remember to be cautious of a settlement mill. Most law firms out there have numerous advertisements and make wonderful promises to potential clients, but at the end of the day, all that they care about is settling as many personal injury claims as soon as possible. In other words, they do not take the proper time to sit with each client and understand the circumstances surrounding their accident. All they want to do is get paid from your car accident case and be done with it.
It is imperative that you have a car accident lawyer that you can trust is on your side. Make sure that they have your best interests at heart. A car accident lawyer should listen to what you have to say, answer your questions, and be determined to achieve the best possible outcome for your car accident case.
From the initial call to updates on your case status, we are here to get you answers. Causes for Car Accidents in Florida
The negligent driver in a car accident is usually the one who is legally responsible for all of the injuries, damages, and losses of the victim in the State of Florida. Some of the most common causes of negligence in car accident cases include:
- Speeding – Driving over the posted speed limit and traveling at an excessive speed that is considered too fast for the weather, road, or traffic conditions at the time.
- Driving under the influence (DUI/DWI) – Driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal street drugs, prescription medication, or other controlled substances can lead to impaired driving behind the wheel.
- Distracted driving – Driving while using a mobile phone, talking to another passenger, setting a GPS navigation system, eating, or drinking in the driver’s seat.
- Reckless driving – Driving too closely to another vehicle (also known as tailgating), running past red lights and stop signs, weaving in and out of traffic, merging onto a lane without signaling or looking.
- Fatigued driving – Driving without taking breaks or a lack of sleep could lead to falling asleep while in the driver’s seat.
- Weather conditions – Driving in bad weather conditions, especially at night, could lead to car accidents.
- Vehicle defects – Driving in a vehicle that has defective parts or inadequate vehicle maintenance.
- Construction warnings – Driving on a road that has road defects and inadequate warnings about construction. This includes potholes and other such road issues.
- Collision – Florida’s Highway I-4 is one of the deadliest highways for a collision to occur.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reported over 2,000 fatal accidents in the year 2018 for driving on some of Florida’s busiest interstates, which includes the I-4, I-10, I-75, I-75E, and I-95.
A car accident lawyer from The Law Place will conduct a thorough investigation into your crash to determine the exact cause. They will gather information and identify the liable party, which could be the other driver, the manufacturer of the vehicle, or the government department responsible for maintaining the roadway where the accident occurred in the State of Florida.
What Are the Most Common Types of Car Accidents in Florida?
There are millions of people who unfortunately suffer injuries or permanent disability in car accidents every single year in the United States of America. A car accident lawyer will investigate your case and figure out the cause of your accident in order to determine fault.
The most common types of car accidents include:
- Rear-end accidents – When a driver is not paying attention to the road in front of them, and they end up crashing into the car ahead, resulting in a rear-end accident. Other causes for a rear-end accident could be tailgating, distracted driving, or poor weather conditions.
- Head-on accidents – When a driver fails to stay in their lane, and they end up crashing into traffic ahead, which results in a serious head-on collision.
- Side impact accidents – When a driver makes an improper turn at an intersection or a parking lot, which results in a side-impact collision, also known as a T-bone collision. These accidents can be particularly dangerous as the sides of a vehicle are not properly protected.
- Multi-vehicle accidents – When there are multiple parties involved in an accident, it can become a very complicated process compared to other car accident claims. The hardest part of these accidents is proving who is at fault for the crash and how it might have occurred.
- Vehicle rollovers – When a vehicle collides with another vehicle or other hazardous circumstances are at play; it can result in the vehicle rolling over onto its side or roof.
Common Car Accident Injuries in Florida
Car accidents can be very dangerous, and they have the potential to result in serious injuries, such as:
- Burns.
- Lacerations, such as scrapes and cuts.
- Contusions, such as bruises.
- Joint damage, especially in the legs, can be caused by crushing injuries or hyperextension.
- Broken bones.
- Herniated discs and other back-related injuries.
- Injuries to muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other soft-tissue injuries.
- Whiplash.
- Internal bleeding or perforation of internal organs.
- Spinal cord damage, which may result in paralysis.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
A car accident can also cause emotional trauma, such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), phobias, anxiety, and survivor’s guilt.
Steps to Take Following a Car Accident in Florida
It is very easy to feel under pressure and stressed out after being injured in an auto accident, especially when the medical bills are piling up, and you don’t know how you are going to make the payments. Our team of car accident lawyers at The Law Place has helped hundreds of people who have been involved in car accidents, and they are available 24/7 to offer you support and legal advice.
You can help your car accident claim by following certain steps after your auto accident. These steps are:
- Health and safety – Following an auto accident, your first priority should be taking care of your safety. Move away from oncoming traffic to a safer location.
- Check for injuries – See if you have sustained any injuries. If you are capable of doing so, check on other drivers, passengers, or pedestrians involved in the crash to see if they need medical attention.
- Call 911 – Pick up your phone and call the police to the scene of the accident.
- Call an ambulance – If you or anyone else suffered any injuries in the accident, call an ambulance to the scene of the crash.
- Collect evidence – If you are uninjured, take notes of the accident, including time, place, and how it occurred. Take photographs of the location, damage to the vehicles, and any injuries. Remember to exchange names, addresses, phone numbers, and vehicle registration numbers with the other driver(s) involved in the auto accident.
- Seek medical attention – It is important that you seek medical attention, even if you think that you are fine. A medical record is a valuable piece of evidence, and it will benefit your claim for compensation.
- Notify your insurance company – You usually have up to 24 hours to notify your insurance company of the auto accident. Remember not to share any information about the crash with your insurance company, as they will use anything that you say against you.
- Contact a car accident lawyer – It is crucial that you hire a car accident lawyer to protect your future and your family’s future. You must speak to a law firm that you can trust so that they can provide enthusiastic representation and win the compensation that you deserve.
- Listen to your doctor – You must follow the advice and orders of your doctor when you are looking to make a claim for compensation. This also includes attending all of your follow-up appointments and therapy sessions so that you can prove that you are doing all you can to recover from your injuries.
Time Limit for Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit in Florida
The statute of limitations imposes a time limit when it comes to filing a car accident lawsuit in the State of Florida. You have up to four years from the date of your car accident to file a claim for personal injury or property damage. If your spouse or a family member was tragically killed in a car accident, then you have up to two years from the date of the crash to file a car accident lawsuit according to Florida law.
However, if you fail to make a claim within the time period stated in the statute of limitations, the court will dismiss your case, and you will be barred from making a claim.
How to Strengthen Your Car Accident Claim in Florida
If you sustained injuries or lost a loved one in an auto accident in the State of Florida, then you will need to know what to do next to ensure that you receive the maximum amount of compensation for your case.
- Do not talk to insurance companies – Once you report the auto accident, try to refrain from giving any other kinds of information to insurance companies. Our team of car accident lawyers will speak to the insurance companies on your behalf so that you do not get pressured into accepting a lower settlement than you deserve.
- Do not discuss the accident – Remember to avoid discussing your car crash with insurance companies, friends, and family members. In addition, refrain from posting on social media. This is very crucial, as you do not want to make a statement that might be potentially detrimental to your car accident case.
- Keep a journal – It would be very beneficial to your car accident case if you were to keep a journal and write down the extent of your injuries, pain and suffering, and other changes that you have had to make following your car accident. Remember to keep your medical bills and other paperwork.
At The Law Place, we will handle the step by step process of filing an insurance claim and dealing with insurance companies while you are on your road to recovery. We will make sure to fill you in so that you do not make any decisions until you have all of the relevant information. We will work tirelessly to make you feel confident about your car accident case.
Your Options for Recovering Compensation in Florida
You will have two different options to file a claim after a car accident in Florida:
- Contact your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance policy and file a claim. Your policy will cover you, regardless of fault.
- File a claim against the insurance company of the driver who was at fault for the car crash. You must be able to prove that the other driver was at fault and meet the criteria in order to file a claim.
Establishing Who Is at Fault in a Car Accident in Florida
When you call The Law Place for a free consultation, we will sit down and listen to what you have to say. If our team of car accident lawyers decides that your case is valid, then we will investigate your accident to determine who behaved negligently and caused the crash.
In most cases, we could quickly establish fault for the accident by having you answer these particular questions:
- Did the other driver violate any of the Florida traffic laws?
- Was the other driver arrested by the police for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs?
- Did you see the official report from the police?
- Did the other driver admit that they were at fault after the crash?
- Were there any witnesses to the accident who could testify on your behalf?
In every car accident case, we must prove negligence. Our law firm will be able to establish that:
- The guilty driver had a duty of care.
- The guilty driver breached their duty of care.
- You sustained injuries in a car accident at the fault of the other driver who breached their duty of care.
- You suffered damages and other costs as a result.
How Does Someone Prove Negligence in Car Accident Cases in Florida?
Negligence is one of the key aspects of most car accident cases in the State of Florida. In order to understand negligence, you first must understand that every driver has a duty of care.
The duty of care is a responsibility that every driver has when they get behind the wheel. It requires them to operate their vehicle in a safe manner that does not risk the lives of other road users and pedestrians. The duty of care is a legal obligation, and when it is broken, it can lead to disastrous accidents with other road users or pedestrians in the State of Florida.
In the event that a driver behaves with intentional disregard for the safety and lives of others, they will be classed as negligent. In order to prove liability for a car crash, a car accident lawyer from The Law Place will have to argue these points:
- The duty of care – All drivers automatically assume a duty of care when they pass their driving test, which means that they must follow the traffic laws when they are driving on the roadways in the State of Florida. The law applies to drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, pedestrians, and other road users.
- Breach of duty – It is essential to have evidence to prove that the other driver failed in their duty of care in the State of Florida. Some examples of breaching the duty of care include driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, distracted driving, or breaking a traffic law.
- Causation – It is important to establish a link between the other driver’s breach of their duty of care and the injuries that you suffered. Most car accident cases have the potential to face challenges when insurance companies claim that your injuries were pre-existing or caused by another accident.
- Damages – It is crucial that you fully document the extent of your injuries and the amount of damage incurred following the car wreck to make sure that you receive the right amount of compensation to cover all of your losses. This includes medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
How a Car Accident Lawyer May Help You With Your Claim in Florida
The Law Place will focus on protecting your legal rights and helping you to recover the maximum amount of compensation for your injuries, damages, and other losses in the State of Florida.
Our team of car accident lawyers will work on the following areas:
- Filing a claim against the party who was at fault for the car wreck.
- Collecting evidence that determines the fault of the other driver.
- Speaking with law enforcement and insurance companies on your behalf.
- Managing all forms of communication with the insurance adjuster.
- Negotiating with the insurance adjuster.
- Agreeing on the highest settlement with the insurance company of the at-fault party.
If the insurance company of the at-fault driver refuses to agree on a fair settlement, then The Law Place will file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf. In most cases, filing a lawsuit will usually push the insurance adjuster to offer a higher settlement. However, we are prepared to take your car accident case to court if we are unable to resolve the claim.
Recoverable Expenses From a Car Accident in Florida
It might seem like a serious challenge to recover all of your expenses after a car wreck in the State of Florida. The good news is that you can hire a lawyer from The Law Place to handle your case and attempt to settle with the insurance company of the at-fault. Our team of car accident lawyers will evaluate your case and negotiate with the insurance adjuster to agree on a fair settlement.
There are two different types of categories that compensation for car accidents fall under – economic damages and non-economic damages.
The Law Place might be able to recover the following expenses for your car accident:
Economic Damages
This can be quantified by receipts or bills.
- Medical bills – This includes visits to the emergency room, overnight stays at the hospital, surgery costs, physical therapy, prescription medication, and medical equipment.
- Lost wages – This includes the earnings that you lost for time off work because of your injuries. It also covers the costs for not being able to work at the same rate as before and not earning your usual wages or any changes made to your earning capacity since the car wreck.
- Property damage – This includes damage to vehicles and other property, such as your mobile phone, clothes, and other property in the motor vehicle at the time of the crash. It also covers costs for repairing or replacing the damaged vehicle.
Non-economic Damages
This is more difficult to quantify, as it cannot be determined by paperwork.
- Pain and suffering – This includes emotional trauma and mental anguish caused by personal injuries. It also covers the loss of enjoyment and a reduction in your quality of life, as you are unable to perform the same activities as you could before the accident.
- Loss of consortium and companionship – This includes compensation for your spouse and family members who can claim for the loss of your companionship.
Car Accident Reporting Requirements Under Florida Law
There are certain rules that you must follow when you file a report after a car wreck, according to Florida Statute 316.066. This means that you must meet certain requirements to call the police and file a report in the State of Florida. You must call the police to the scene of the accident if:
- Up to $500 in property damage to one or both motor vehicles.
- Any type of injury, pain, and suffering, or even death caused in a car accident.
- Any vehicle that is required to be towed from the scene of the crash.
It is also worth noting that you must file a report if the other driver was operating a commercial vehicle or was caught driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol in the State of Florida.
However, even if you do not call the police to the scene of the accident, then you must get in touch with the city police, the local sheriff, or the Florida Highway Patrol to determine the proper law enforcement agency who can investigate the crash and file an official report in the State of Florida.
Contact The Law Place Today
If you were injured in a car accident that was not your fault, then you are entitled to file a claim for compensation in the State of Florida. In order to do this, you will need to hire a lawyer with experience and knowledge from The Law Place today.
The Law Place has over seventy-five years of combined experience in managing car accident cases and recovering compensation for clients all over the State of Florida. Our team of car accident lawyers will fight to cover all of your costs from personal injury, to property damage, to lost wages, to changes to your usual income, to pain and suffering, to wrongful death.
If you decide to put your trust in us, then we will handle all the different parts of your case while you take the necessary time that you need to recover. Our law firm will investigate your case thoroughly and estimate the value of your claim. We will also make sure that insurance companies do not take advantage of you, and we will do all of the negotiating on your behalf.
Get in touch with The Law Place today. Our phone lines are open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week so that we can be there for you during your most difficult time.
Contact us now on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation, and we will fight your car accident case together in the State of Florida.
