If you were injured in a car accident in Florida, the consequences can be dire. You may be suffering from painful injuries while missing work and facing uncertainty about how to pay medical bills stemming from the accident. You should not have to pay for someone else’s careless mistake.
The Florida car accident attorneys from Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers are here to guide you through the process of filing an insurance claim to seek the compensation you deserve. Since 2007, we have been helping accident victims throughout Orange County, Florida. We want to help you, too. Call us today at (407) 648-1510 for a free consultation with a knowledgeable Florida car accident lawyer.
How Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After A Car Accident in Florida
At Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers, our Florida personal injury attorneys assist accident victims with every aspect of their claim. When you hire us, we want you to have peace of mind and be able to focus on your recovery in Florida.
Our Florida car accident lawyers can help with your case by:
- Consulting with you during a free case review
- Answering any questions you have about the claims process
- Conducting a thorough investigation into the accident
- Determining how the at-fault party was negligent
- Gathering evidence to prove fault in the crash
- Handling communication with insurance companies
- Managing your insurance claims, including the paperwork and case deadlines
- Obtaining evidence to prove the full extent of your injuries
- Preparing a demand letter to fully account for your injuries
- Skillfully negotiate on your behalf
- Fighting for your maximum compensation
- Taking your case to trial, if necessary
We have recovered over $100 million for our deserving clients. We are members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Let us put more than 28 years of our collective experience to use. Consult with a Florida personal injury lawyer today.
How Common Are Car Accidents In Florida?
According to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 397,620 traffic accidents occurred in Florida in 2022. 26,263 of these crashes occurred in Orange County, which caused 206 fatalities and 20,724 injuries.
Common Causes of Car Accidents In Florida
Car accidents in Florida can occur for various reasons, but most are due to a driver’s error.
Leading causes of car accidents in Florida include:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Impaired driving
- Aggressive driving
- Reckless driving
- Fatigued driving
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
Our Florida car accident attorneys have extensive experience handling these types of cases and others.
Types of Car Accident Cases Our Law Firm Handles
Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers handles various types of car accident cases, including:
- Rear-end collisions – Rear-end collisions involve one vehicle hitting the back of the vehicle in front of it. These accidents are often due to driver inattention or distractions.
- Frontal collisions – Front-end collisions are often fatal because they involve the combined force of two vehicles that have hit each other head on.
- T-bone accidents – T-bone accidents are angled accidents in which one vehicle hits another vehicle at a 90-degree angle, usually at an intersection or when turning left.
- Sideswipe collisions – A sideswipe accident occurs when a vehicle hits a vehicle in an adjoining lane on its side. These accidents are often due to distracted or impaired driving.
- Rollover accidents – Rollover accidents are terrifying because they involve vehicles that have been flipped over, often leading to fatalities or catastrophic injuries.
- Hit-and-run accidents – These accidents involve a driver who has caused an accident leaving the scene without reporting it.
- Fatal accidents – If you lost a loved one in a car accident, our attorneys can assist you with filing a wrongful death claim.
Our legal team is equipped to handle the most complex car accident cases.
Injuries Car Accident Victims Often Suffer
Car accidents can lead to devastating injuries that permanently affect victims for the rest of their lives.
Common injuries car accident victims may suffer include:
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Herniated discs and ruptured discs
- Paralysis and other spinal cord injuries
- Amputations
- Soft tissue injuries, including whiplash
- Burns and scarring
- Broken or dislocated bones
- Internal organ damage and bleeding
- Crushing injuries
These injuries can cause impairments and be expensive to treat.
Florida’s PIP Insurance Coverage
Florida requires all registered vehicles to have at least $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage.
This insurance covers the following losses after an accident, regardless of fault:
- 80 percent of all necessary and reasonable medical expenses, up to $10,000 for a covered injury
- 60 percent of lost wages, up to coverage limits
- 100 percent of replacement services that the victim can no longer perform, such as childcare or housecleaning
After a car accident in Florida, you will first file a PIP claim with your own insurer. However, this coverage is minimal, so you may consider filing a claim against the at-fault party to recover the full extent of your losses.
Damages Available In Third-Party Claims
As noted above, PIP insurance only provides a limited amount of coverage. You are still left with sizable losses. Additionally, it only covers medical expenses that are considered “necessary and reasonable.” It does not cover your damaged vehicle or the full extent of your lost wages.
You may need to file a third-party claim against the party responsible for your injuries to recover for your actual losses.
Through a personal injury claim, you can seek compensation for the following:
- All medical expenses stemming from the accident, including hospital stays, ambulance rides, diagnostic tests, surgeries, prescription medications, physical therapy, rehabilitation, chiropractic care, and mental health counseling
- Anticipated future medical expenses
- The full value of your lost wages and employment benefits you used
- Reduced earning capacity if the accident affects your ability to earn a living
- The value of services you can no longer provide
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Costs to repair or replace your damaged vehicle
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Physical impairments and disabilities
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of society and companionship
Punitive damages may also be available in some cases, such as those involving drunk driving or other reckless misconduct.
Our personal injury lawyers can thoroughly review your case and determine all of the damages you are entitled to. We can then fight to secure it.
What Do You Have To Prove In a Car Accident Case?
In order to recover damages in a third-party claim, you will have to show the other driver was at fault for the accident. This requires establishing the following legal elements:
Duty Of Care
All drivers are responsible for following the law, driving safely, and avoiding accidents. This legal duty is established under the law.
Breach of Duty
You must be able to show that the other driver breached their duty of care. Establishing this element typically involves citing the particular traffic law the at-fault driver violated, such as speeding beyond the posted speed limit or using a cell phone in violation of the distracted driving law.
Causation
You must also be able to show the connection between the other driver’s breach of the duty of care and the accident. Florida car accident attorneys are skilled at obtaining evidence necessary to establish this link, including by securing traffic and red light camera footage.
Damages
The basis of a personal injury claim is that another person’s negligence made you suffer damages. Your car accident lawyer can help obtain the evidence to establish your losses like medical bills and wage statements.
Can I Still Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for the Collision?
Florida is a modified comparative negligence state. You can still recover compensation if you’re partly to blame for the car accident. However, your damages will be reduced in proportion to your share of fault. If you are more than 50% at fault for the crash, you are barred from recovering compensation.
Top Tips To Strengthen Your Car Accident Claim
As seasoned car accident lawyers, Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers are familiar with effective strategies that help strengthen our clients’ cases.
Some of the best ways you can improve your chances of a successful outcome for your case include:
- Always report the accident to the authorities
- Do not admit fault for the accident
- See a doctor after an accident so a healthcare provider can properly diagnose and document your injuries
- Document the accident scene
- File your claim promptly
- Don’t give a recorded statement to the insurance company
- Do not sign any paperwork from the insurance company without having a car accident lawyer review it first
- Do not discuss your case with anyone other than your lawyer
- Stay off social media
- Do not accept a settlement offer without talking to a lawyer first
A car accident lawyer can protect your rights throughout the process. Contact Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Car Accident?
In Florida, you typically only have two years to file a lawsuit after a car accident. If you don’t bring your case before the statute of limitations expires, you can lose your right to recover damages.
Contact an Experienced Florida Car Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
The Florida car accident lawyers at Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers are ready to fight for your rights if another driver harmed you due to their careless actions. Our lawyers have helped countless Florida car accident victims like yourself recover meaningful compensation after the negligence of others derailed their lives.
Whether through an insurance claim or trial, our lawyers can work tirelessly on a contingency fee basis to fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation and case review with our Florida car accident attorneys.