Coral Gables Car Accident Lawyer
Coral Gables drivers are at risk of accidents on busy roads throughout the city and surrounding areas, especially along major thoroughfares with heavy commuter, commercial, and tourist traffic, including US-1 (South Dixie Highway), which connects Coral Gables with Miami and surrounding communities.
Accidents can happen to anyone at any time on these busy roads, leaving victims confused and frightened. If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident, our team at Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers can help.
Reviewed by: James D. Payer
We have spent 30 years fighting for accident victims. We’re ready to represent you. To schedule your free consultation with a Coral Gables personal injury lawyer, contact us online or give us a call today at (305) 363-7099.
Table of Contents
- Why Coral Gables Car Accident Victims Choose Payer Law
- Florida Car Accident Laws That Impact Coral Gables Car Accident Claims and Lawsuits
- What Compensation Can You Recover after a Car Accident in Coral Gables?
- How Long Do Coral Gables Residents Have to Report Their Car Accident to Their Insurance Company?
- How Long Do Coral Gables Residents Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit?
- Types of Car Accidents We Handle in Coral Gables
- Common Injuries from Car Accidents
- Speak With a Coral Gables Car Accident Lawyer Today
Why Coral Gables Car Accident Victims Choose Payer Law
Our firm works differently from most. You’ll work directly with James Payer, not a case manager, and there’s no handoff of your claim to junior staff. With over 30 years of experience handling car accident claims, James is available to answer your questions throughout your case so your voice is always heard.
Our team has a deep understanding of Florida’s personal injury and insurance laws. We’ve recovered over $100 million for our clients, and we’re always willing to take claims to trial to get you the money you deserve.
As a family-owned firm, we care about your family and provide personalized service in every case. You’re not just a case number, and we know your recovery matters. That’s why we offer free consultations, charge no upfront fees, and are available 24/7 when you need us. It’s also why we’ve earned over 100 5-star reviews from satisfied clients.
Notable Car Accident Results
We know how to build strong cases, and the past verdicts and settlements we’ve recovered for clients show that our approach succeeds. Our past case outcomes include:
My mom was involved in a car accident and suffered severe injuries. The insurance company was giving her the runaround, and I stepped in to help but we didn’t know where to turn. That’s when I contacted Payer Law. From the initial consultation we had with Lysette to the final settlement, they exceeded our expectations in every way.
Luv E.
Car Accident Client
Remember, It Pays to Call Payer! Call us now at 305-363-7099 to see if you can pursue compensation for you or your family. Consultations are free.
Remember, It Pays to Call Payer! Call us now at 305-363-7099 to see if you can pursue compensation for you or your family. Consultations are free.
Florida Car Accident Laws That Impact Coral Gables Car Accident Claims and Lawsuits
In a Doral car accident, Florida personal injury and insurance laws will dictate how much compensation you are entitled to receive and how insurance will affect your claim.
No-Fault Insurance (PIP)
Florida requires all drivers to purchase at least $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. This pays up to 80% of medical bills and up to 60% of lost wages, up to policy limits, as well as up to $5,000 in funeral expenses.
You must rely on your PIP coverage unless your injuries cause a significant and permanent loss.
When you make a PIP claim, you must get treatment within 14 days to preserve your full benefits. In order to access your full $10,000 benefit, you also must be diagnosed with an Emergency Medical Condition (EMC). If you’re not given an EMC diagnosis, your baseline policy payout for medical costs is capped at $2,500.
An EMC is an injury involving acute symptoms that are severe enough that failure to get immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in serious injury to your health, serious impairment of bodily functions, or serious dysfunction of a bodily organ or part.
Insurance Requirements
In addition to PIP coverage, Florida also requires drivers to have $10,000 in Property Damage Liability (PDL) coverage. Unfortunately, many drivers only buy the minimum required coverage. This means there might not be enough coverage to fully compensate you for damages.
Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage allows you to collect the funds you need from your own insurer in the event your accident involved an uninsured or underinsured driver.
Comparative Fault
Florida follows a modified comparative fault rule for negligence claims. This means you can recover compensation even if you share some of the blame for an accident, as long as you were 50% or less at fault. Your compensation is reduced based on your percentage of fault.
Third-Party Liability
If a third party is responsible for an accident or for making injuries worse, you can often take legal action against them. This could include the manufacturer of a defective vehicle, those responsible for negligent road design and maintenance, or, under vicarious liability laws, the employer of an at-fault driver.
What Happens If the Other Driver Doesn’t Have Insurance?
If another driver has no insurance, you can file a claim with your own insurer under your uninsured motorist coverage.
We will work with you to find all defendants who can be held liable for your losses if the at-fault driver has no insurance. The goal is always to maximize your recovery.
Remember, It Pays to Call Payer! Call us now at 305-363-7099 to see if you can pursue compensation for you or your family. Consultations are free.
Remember, It Pays to Call Payer! Call us now at 305-363-7099 to see if you can pursue compensation for you or your family. Consultations are free.
What Compensation Can You Recover after a Car Accident in Coral Gables?
The amount and type of compensation you can recover after a car crash in Coral Gables will depend on the facts of your case and the applicable insurance policies. Generally, after a car accident, you are entitled to recover economic damages and non-economic damages from negligent parties.
Economic Damages
Economic damages include actual and measurable financial losses. Examples include:
- Medical expenses, including past and future bills
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Property damage, including vehicle repairs
- Rehabilitation costs
To prove economic damages, your attorney might obtain medical records that show the extent of your injuries, employment records to prove your wages, and even seek expert testimony about how your work and earnings were affected.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages cover subjective damages that are harder to quantify. Non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
To prove non-economic damages, your attorney might ask you to keep a pain diary or seek witness testimony about how your injuries have impacted your life.
Punitive Damages
In the event your injuries were caused by intentional misconduct or gross negligence, you might also be able to seek punitive damages. Florida law allows punitive damages in cases where injuries are caused by intentional misconduct or gross negligence that demonstrates a conscious disregard for or indifference to the life, safety, or rights of others.
Punitive damages are meant to punish and deter future wrongdoing and are awarded in addition to compensatory damages. Examples of cases where you may be able to seek punitive damages include DUI cases, hit-and-run accidents, or other situations where the driver is extremely reckless.
Special Circumstances
In certain cases, additional or alternative damages may be available, including punitive damages for reckless or intentional conduct or death benefits in wrongful death claims.
If someone else’s negligence caused the death of your loved one, you may be able to seek additional compensation for this tragic loss. Compensation can include coverage for funeral expenses, loss of earning capacity, and loss of companionship. Our legal team handles these cases with the compassion and respect your family deserves.
Remember, It Pays to Call Payer! Call us now at 305-363-7099 to see if you can pursue compensation for you or your family. Consultations are free.
Remember, It Pays to Call Payer! Call us now at 305-363-7099 to see if you can pursue compensation for you or your family. Consultations are free.
How Long Do Coral Gables Residents Have to Report Their Car Accident to Their Insurance Company?
You must report your accident to your insurance company promptly and seek medical treatment within 14 days of the accident to preserve your Florida PIP benefits. You should also begin documenting evidence from your car crash immediately, including the pain you endure and evidence from the crash scene.
If you don’t file an insurance claim in a timely manner, it could give the insurance company a reason to deny your claim.
How Long Do Coral Gables Residents Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit?
According to Florida’s personal injury statute of limitations, Coral Gables residents have two-years to file a car accident lawsuit to pursue compensation for their injuries against a negligent party. You must act within that timeframe to file a personal injury lawsuit. Acting early preserves evidence and ensures witnesses remember as much as possible.
Types of Car Accidents We Handle in Coral Gables
At Payer Law, our personal injury law firm handles all types of car accident claims in Coral Gables. We have helped clients with:
- Intersection accidents
- Rear-end collisions
- Highway and interstate accidents
- Left-turn accidents
- Rideshare and taxi accidents
- DUI and impaired driver accidents
- Pedestrian and bicyclist accidents
- Hit-and-runs
- T-bone collisions
- Rollovers
- Sideswipe collisions
- Multi-vehicle collisions
- Collisions caused by uninsured or underinsured motorists
Common Injuries from Car Accidents
We’ve seen our car accident clients in Coral Gablesl face many different kinds of injuries. In some cases, symptoms appear immediately. In other circumstances, you may not realize the severity or extent of your injuries until weeks later. For example, whiplash symptoms are often delayed.
Some of the most common car accident injuries that may qualify for compensation include:
- Whiplash and neck injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Back injuries
- Psychological trauma (PTSD)
- Soft tissue damage
- Scarring and disfigurement
Documenting Your Injuries for Compensation
Seeking prompt medical help after your car accident will help document your injuries and connect them to your accident. This is important even if you feel fine, as the long-term consequences of any injuries, and especially untreated ones, can be severe.
It’s also important to document the treatment you receive, as you will need this evidence to prove you are entitled to accident-related compensation.
Speak With a Coral Gables Car Accident Lawyer Today
Our team at Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers cares about every client, and our family-run firm is here for your family. We offer free initial consultations and case evaluations. If you need a Coral Gables car accident lawyer, contact us online or give us a call at (305) 363-7099 to schedule your case evaluation today.
- Bringing 30+ years of legal experience
- $100 million+ recovered for our clients
- No upfront costs or fees
Hours: Open 24 hours daily
