Car accidents in Miami, FL, can have a devastating impact on those involved. As your medical bills, out-of-pocket expenses, and repair estimates begin to pile up, it can quickly become overwhelming. However, you don’t have to deal with this challenging time alone.
Payer Personal Injury Lawyers is here for you with over 28 years of collective experience. Our Miami car accident lawyers can guide you throughout the personal injury claims process in Miami, Florida.
Contact our law office today to schedule your free consultation with an experienced Miami car accident attorney and learn more about your legal options.
How Payer Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You After A Car Accident In Miami
We treat every client like family, recognizing that they are more than a number. Our team is here to listen to you, answer your questions, and walk you through every step of this often complex personal injury claims process.
Payer Personal Injury Lawyers has recovered over one hundred million dollars in compensation for injured victims since opening our law firm in 2007. Our top-rated Miami personal injury attorneys have also been recognized by Million Dollar and Multi Million Dollar Advocates.
When you hire our dedicated law office, you can expect us to do the following:
- Investigate your car crash case thoroughly
- Gather and analyze evidence relevant to your case
- Identify who may be at fault for your injuries and other losses
- Discuss your legal options
- Develop a strategy that’s tailored to your case
- Combat allegations that you were at fault
- Handle communications with insurance adjusters and defense attorneys
- Negotiate for a fair settlement agreement
- Represent you in court if needed
Contact our Miami, FL, law office today to learn more about how our Miami car accident lawyers can help you after a collision.
Why Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Whether you were injured in a major crash with significant injuries or a collision with seemingly minor vehicle damage, a car accident lawyer can help protect your rights. If blame is shifted to you, it is essential to have a legal team and experts on your side prepared to combat unfair allegations of fault. This gives you much-needed time to rest and heal from your injuries while your lawyer handles all of the legal aspects of your case.
Hiring an experienced car accident lawyer helps level the playing field and ensures you don’t lose your opportunity to pursue just compensation.
How Much Money Can I Get From a Car Accident Case?
The amount of money you can get from a car accident case will depend on the specifics of your claim and various critical factors, including the following:
- The severity of your injury
- The strength of available evidence
- The medical treatment required
- The length of time it takes to reach maximum medical improvement
- Insurance policy limits
- Time missed from work
- Vehicle repair or replacement estimates
- Your ability to return to work
- How the injury impacts your quality of life
A skilled Miami car accident attorney can help you assess what your crash case is worth and fight to ensure that you don’t settle for less.
How Long Do I Have To File a Car Accident Case?
In Florida, you typically only have two years to file a claim after an auto accident occurs. If you fail to bring your case prior to the statute of limitations expiring, you will be unable to recover damages for your injuries and losses. This remains true even if you have a valid claim.
Keeping track of critical filing deadlines while also dealing with the physical and emotional toll of the collision can be stressful and overwhelming. Hiring a knowledgeable personal injury attorney can help ensure that you comply with all applicable deadlines and don’t lose your right to recover deserved compensation.
What Type of Compensation is Available After a Car Accident?
After an auto accident in Florida, you may be entitled to economic damages for your financial losses and non-economic damages for your emotional suffering.
Economic Damages
You may be able to pursue various economic damages after an auto accident, including the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Out-of-pocket expenses
A seasoned personal injury attorney can help you accurately assess your economic damages.
Non-economic
You may also be entitled to non-economic damages, including the following:
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Scarring and disfigurement
- PTSD
- Loss of consortium
- Reduced quality of life
In rare instances, punitive damages may also be available if there was intentional misconduct or gross negligence. A skilled crash attorney can help you evaluate your damages and work with you to pursue all avenues of compensation.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Car Accident Attorney?
Many car accident lawyers in Florida work on a contingency fee basis. The contingency fee arrangement allows you to secure excellent legal representation without taking on an upfront financial risk. Instead, you are only required to pay the personal injury attorney’s fees if your case is settled or won at trial.
If your case is not won, you are not required to pay for the attorney’s work. However, if your case is won, your lawyer will receive an agreed-upon percentage of your settlement or trial award. It is crucial to understand how this fee arrangement will work and what expenses you will be required to pay before agreeing to hire an attorney.
Contact our law office to learn more about our contingency fee arrangements for auto collision cases during a free consultation.
Can I Get Money If I Was Partly At-Fault For My Auto Accident?
Florida is a no-fault state for car accidents. This means that you can recover compensation after a crash, regardless of who was at fault. Each driver is required to carry a minimum of $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) insurance and a minimum of $10,000 in property damage liability (PDL) insurance. This no-fault system then requires you to file a claim with your own insurer after a wreck.
If your injuries are serious enough to pursue compensation outside of the no-fault system, you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault.
For injuries to qualify as serious, one of the following must occur:
- Significant and permanent loss of a bodily function
- You suffered a permanent injury
- Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Death
Florida is a modified comparative negligence state. You can still receive compensation if you share less than 51% of the blame for the crash. However, the amount you receive will be reduced in proportion to your level of fault. For example, if your damages are valued at $100,000 and you are found to be 40% at fault, you can only recover $60,000 in compensation.
Comparative fault can significantly impact your personal injury claim and the compensation you’re able to receive. You can lose the ability to recover damages entirely if you are more than 50% to blame for the collision. A skilled car accident lawyer can help you combat unfair allegations of comparative fault and help you pursue the full compensation you’re entitled to.
Will My Car Accident Case Go To Trial?
Most car accident cases in Miami, Florida, are settled prior to going to trial. However, your case may go to trial if your injuries are serious and the insurance company or at-fault party refuses to make a fair settlement offer.
While most cases are resolved through settlement agreements, it is crucial to hire a skilled Miami trial attorney to help you navigate this process. They can develop an effective strategy tailored to your needs and prepare your case for trial. A willingness to go to trial and the process of conducting pre-trial discovery can also help strengthen your evidence, improve settlement negotiations, and lead to a more just resolution.
What Should I do After a Car Accident in Miami?
Car accident scenes in Miami, Florida, can be overwhelming for everyone involved. Understanding what to do after a wreck occurs can help you be better prepared for the process that follows.
Take the following steps after an auto accident in Miami, FL:
- Alert law enforcement and get to a safe location
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible
- Exchange information with the other driver
- Gather witness statements and contact information
- Document what led to the collision, the weather and road conditions, and what happened after the crash
- Take pictures and videos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, and visible injuries
- Notify your insurance company of the collision
- Consult a Miami car accident attorney
It is crucial not to admit fault at the accident scene or when speaking with the insurance company. Anything you say can impact a subsequent personal injury claim. Before agreeing to provide a recorded statement to the insurance company, consult a Miami personal injury attorney.
Types of Car Accident Claims We Handle
Payer Personal Injury Lawyers has successfully handled a variety of car accident claims, including the following:
Distracted Driving Accidents
Whether a motorist is texting while driving or eating while driving on a road trip, the consequences can be catastrophic. Our Miami distracted driving accident attorneys can help you get the compensation you need to move forward.
Speeding Accidents
Driving at unsafe speeds can result in significant vehicle damage and serious injuries when accidents occur. When this happens, medical bills and out-of-pocket expenses can quickly become overwhelming. Our Miami speeding accident lawyers are here to help you hold the at-fault party accountable.
DUI Accidents
DUI accidents can be traumatic and devastating for victims whose lives are frequently altered forever. You don’t have to go through this unimaginable time alone. Our Miami DUI accident attorneys are here for you every step of the way.
Rear-End Crashes
Rear-end crashes can cause a surprising amount of vehicle damage and significant injuries. It may also be challenging to identify who was truly at fault for the crash. Our Miami rear-end crash lawyers can help you identify the responsible party and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Rollovers
Rollover accidents are often life-changing events for injured victims whose physical, emotional, and financial well-being are significantly impacted. When this happens, you need a legal team that is prepared to fight for you to receive much-deserved justice. Our Miami rollover accident attorneys can help you throughout the personal injury claims process.
Intersection Crashes
Intersection crashes frequently result in complex cases where fault is at issue. If you were injured in an intersection crash, our Miami intersection crash attorneys can help you pursue all available damages.
Who Could be Liable For My Injuries Resulting From a Car Accident?
Florida is a no-fault state for car accidents. However, any party that causes your collision could potentially be held liable for your injuries in a personal injury lawsuit.
Parties that are often held liable for car accident injuries include the following:
- Motorists
- Truck drivers
- Passengers
- Pedestrians
- Bicyclists
- Trucking companies
- Motorcyclists
- Transit companies
- Vehicle manufacturers
- Government entities
It is possible that multiple parties are responsible for your injuries and could be held liable in a personal injury lawsuit. An experienced Miami personal injury attorney can conduct a thorough investigation into who may be liable for your injuries and help you pursue all available damages.
Common Types of Car Accident Injuries
Car accident victims experience various types of injuries, ranging from minor to life-altering and even fatal.
Common types of car accident injuries that are sustained include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Crushing injuries
- Airbag injuries
- Eye injuries
- Burns
- Whiplash
- Lacerations
- Soft tissue damage
- Nerve damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Sprains and strains
- Internal bleeding
- Road rash
- Paralysis
- Amputation
These injuries often lead to burdensome medical bills for which you may be entitled to recover compensation.
Seeking the medical attention you need immediately after a collision is crucial. Doing so can improve your health, establish a record, and protect a subsequent personal injury claim.
Most Typical Causes of Car Crashes
In Miami, FL, car accidents occur for a variety of reasons, including the following:
- Aggressive driving maneuvers
- Driving at unsafe speeds
- Driving while intoxicated
- Unsafe turns and merging
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Driving while fatigued
- Improper lane changes
- Driving while distracted
- Inclement weather
- Poor road conditions
- Vehicle defects
Whether you were injured by a driver who failed to yield before merging or by a driver speeding in poor weather, you shouldn’t have to deal with the aftermath alone. If you were injured in an accident, regardless of the cause or how it occurred, our Miami car accident attorneys are here to offer you support and guidance.
Miami Car Accident Statistics
Car accidents, unfortunately, occur far too often in Miami, Florida, and the surrounding areas. In 2022, there were 63,540 crashes in Miami-Dade. In those crashes, 309 people died, while 28,726 people were injured. 21,803 of the collisions were also hit-and-runs, 1,202 involved motorcycles, 918 involved bicycles, and 1,375 pedestrians were injured.
In 2023, Miami-Dade saw 63,816 total car crashes. 359 people died in those collisions, while 29,755 were injured. Of those crashes, 21,344 were hit-and-runs, 1,288 involved motorcycles, 969 involved bicycles, and there were 1,832 pedestrian crashes.
As of mid-April 2024, Miami-Dade has seen 14,786 total auto accidents, with 66 fatalities and 7,357 injuries. In those crashes, 388 involved motorcycles, 255 involved bicycles, and 470 involved pedestrians.
Call our Miami Car Accident Lawyers today for help
If you or a loved one were injured in an auto accident in Miami, Florida, our legal team is here for you. With over 28 years of combined experience and over one hundred million dollars in compensation recovered, Payer Personal Injury Lawyers is prepared to handle even the most complex collision cases. Since opening our law office in 2007, we have remained committed to advocating for the rights of accident victims in the pursuit of justice.
Don’t delay getting the help you need and deserve after a collision any longer. Contact our law office today to schedule your free consultation with our Miami car accident attorney and learn more about your legal options.
