Were you recently injured in an auto accident in Orlando, Florida? Call now (407) 648-1510 to speak with an Orlando car accident lawyer at Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers to discuss your options. If you weren’t at fault, the responsible party may owe you compensation for your damages.
For over a decade, accident victims have trusted us to help them get the money they need to get back on their feet. By putting more than 50 years of combined experience to work for injured clients, we’ve recovered over $100 million in settlements and verdicts.
Even if you are expected to heal fully, life won’t be easy during your recovery. Contact our law office to schedule a free case evaluation with a lawyer who can help.
How Can Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers Help Me After an Orlando Car Accident?
It’s important to act quickly after a car wreck. Evidence can disappear quickly–and the insurance company isn’t on your side. An experienced Orlando personal injury attorney at Payer Law Group can step in and deal with the legal issues for you.
Our experienced accident attorneys have been recognized by several associations such as the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
You can count on our award-winning attorneys to:
- Offer sound advice at all stages of the process
- Investigate and gather evidence to support your claim
- Identify all parties who share blame for the accident
- Evaluate your damages and calculate your case value
- File a claim with your insurance company
- Negotiate aggressively with the insurers for the full compensation you deserve
Our auto accident lawyers will put the full weight of our experience and resources to work for you. Call us today to learn more.
Why Should I Hire an Orlando Car Accident Lawyer?
Hiring a car accident attorney in Orlando could significantly affect the amount of compensation you receive.
Here are a few reasons why:
- Your attorney can level the playing field. You’ll have an ally with the knowledge and skills to battle aggressive insurance agents who want to pay you as little as possible.
- Your lawyer will gather compelling evidence proving every element of your claim.
- Your attorney will shield you from insurance company tactics that serve to undermine your case. For example, they’ll push back if you are unfairly blamed for the collision.
- You’ll have time to rest and recover while your attorney takes on all aspects of your claim, including documentation, negotiations, and more.
We can further explain the benefits of an attorney-client relationship during your free initial consultation.
Orlando, FL Car Accident Statistics (September 2024 Update)
According to statistics compiled by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), Florida saw 243,025 crashes from January 1, 2024, to August 29, 2024. Of that total, 16,104 crashes occurred in Orange County.
Orange County, Florida, experienced 16,104 crashes, resulting in 1,925 fatalities and 12,079 injuries in only eight months.
Of those wrecks:
- 5919 involved bicycles
- 6065 involved motorcycles
- 6514 involved pedestrians
- 12885 were hit-and-runs
On average, about 66 people were injured in car crashes in the Orlando area every single day so far in 2024.
How Much Compensation Can I Recover From a Car Accident Lawsuit?
All cases are different, and the value of your car accident lawsuit will depend heavily on the circumstances of your crash.
Our Orlando car accident lawyers will evaluate all of the variables that may impact your case value, including:
- Your current medical bills
- Whether you will need future medical care or rehabilitation
- The nature of your injuries and whether you will make a full recovery
- The length of time it will take to reach maximum medical improvement
- How the injury impacts your current earnings and earning capacity
- The circumstances of the crash and whether you share any blame
- Whether you have been impacted emotionally
- The physical pain you have experienced
To make sure your settlement is fair, you should always speak to an experienced attorney. They can assess all your damages and calculate the value of your claim. They can even bring in experts in medicine and finance to help assess the value.
How Should I Deal With The Insurance Adjuster Company?
You need to be cautious if you communicate in any way with an insurance company after a collision. These individuals are professional negotiators who are trained to pay claimants as little as possible. Thus, they frequently ask misleading questions and twist statements to minimize and deny valid claims.
Expect an adjuster to make a quick settlement offer. They want you to accept it before you understand the true value of your damages. You need to also be careful when answering seemingly benign questions, like “How are you doing?” Saying you’re doing “fine” could be used against you to imply that your injuries aren’t as severe as you say they are.
The best thing you can do is direct any insurance representatives to your attorney. Having your counsel communicate on your behalf will prevent you from accidentally hurting your claim. They will also effectively negotiate and increase your chances of receiving maximum compensation.
What Damages Can I Recover After A Crash In Orlando?
Damages in Florida are classified as either economic or non-economic.
If your case is successful, you should be able to receive compensation for all of your economic losses, including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Nursing care
- Repair costs for your damaged vehicle and belongings
Victims who suffer serious injuries can also secure compensation for their non-financial losses. These damages are often called “pain and suffering damages.”
Examples of non-economic damages you may have suffered include:
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- PTSD
- Anxiety
- Physical disfigurement or scarring
- Loss of consortium
While rare, it’s also possible that punitive damages may be available to punish the at-fault party. In Florida, punitive damages are only available if the defendant’s acts were intentional or especially shocking.
What Happens if I’m Partially At-Fault for a Car Wreck in Florida?
Other parties will probably try to blame you for the accident. Your compensation award could be reduced if you share some blame for the crash. It’s also possible that you could lose your right to damages entirely.
Under Florida’s modified comparative negligence law, you cannot receive compensation if you were more than 50% responsible for your own injuries. If your share of fault is less than 51%, your compensation is reduced in proportion to your share of fault.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Most Orlando car accident lawyers – including ours – work on a contingency fee basis. You won’t owe any upfront payment for our services. Additionally, you only pay attorney’s fees if we secure compensation for you through a settlement or court verdict. Those fees are a predetermined percentage that will be deducted from your award.
This payment structure allows you to retain a experienced legal help without worrying about the cost. We can explain it in more detail during your free case review.
What Does PIP Insurance Cover?
All Florida drivers are required to purchase personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. This is no-fault auto insurance, meaning you’ll turn to your own insurance first in the event of a crash – regardless of who was responsible.
When you file an insurance claim in Florida, you can receive up to 80% of your reasonable and necessary medical costs, such as:
- Treatment
- X-rays
- Surgery
- Hospital bills
- Nursing services
- Rehabilitation
You can also receive disability benefits, which cover up to 60% of your lost income.
If you suffered serious injuries or your damages exceed your PIP policy limits, you may be able to take action against the at-fault driver. This will allow you to seek compensation for your remaining losses.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Car Accident Injury?
Any party who caused or contributed to a collision can be held liable for resulting injuries and damages.
That could include a negligent:
- Driver of a passenger vehicle
- Pedestrian
- Bicyclist
- Motorcyclist
- Truck driver
- Manufacturer of a defective auto part
- Government entity
- Mechanic
- Property owner
Liability will depend solely on the facts of your auto accident case. An experienced injury lawyer can determine who may be liable and hold them accountable.
Common Types Of Auto Accident Injuries
Car accidents can cause almost all types of injuries. The injuries often vary based on the type of car accident and the speed of the vehicles involved.
At Payer Law Group, our car accident attorneys in Orlando often represent injured clients who have suffered:
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Whiplash
- Broken bones
- Facial injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck injuries
- Nerve damage
- Internal organ damage
- Crushing injuries
- Burns
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
If you lost a loved one, our wrongful death attorneys are prepared to help you fight to hold the at-fault driver accountable.
What Should I Do After a Car Crash in Orlando?
You can protect your rights and health by taking the following steps after a car crash:
- Stop your vehicle and remain at or near the accident scene. You are legally obligated to exchange information if the collision resulted in injury, death, or property damage.
- Call 911 to notify the police. You must do this after most Florida traffic incidents, so it’s best to report it immediately to ensure that you comply with state law. You can also request emergency medical services if anyone is hurt. Additionally, an accident report will be helpful for any future claims.
- Collect evidence, if possible. Take photos and videos of traffic conditions, vehicle positions, road debris, etc.
- Don’t admit responsibility or apologize. Even if you think you’re the at-fault driver, there may be other contributing factors that you are unaware of.
- Obtain a prompt medical evaluation, even if you don’t think you’ve been hurt. If anything is wrong, your medical record provides a causal link between the incident and your injuries.
Reach out to our car accident lawyers for further guidance.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Car Accidents?
Most auto accidents happen because someone was negligent. They are much more likely to occur when drivers aren’t paying attention, or are in a rush.
Distracted driving accidents happen when someone is focused on something other than the act of driving when they’re behind the wheel. Examples include texting while driving, eating, and talking to passengers. Distractions are one of the most common causes of Florida auto collisions.
Speeding accidents occur when a driver exceeds the posted speed limit or drives too fast for current conditions. For example, if it’s raining heavily or traffic is congested, you need to slow down, regardless of the speed limit. Traveling at high speeds is a form of reckless driving that can be devastating.
DUI accidents are tragic because they are entirely preventable. When people engage in drugged or drunk driving, they put themselves and countless others at risk of severe and fatal injuries.
Some other causes of car wrecks include:
- Driver fatigue
- Racing through intersections
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating
- Aggressive driving
- Road rage
- Weaving between lanes
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Dangerous road conditions
- Bad weather
- Failure to maintain a vehicle in a safe condition
At Payer Law Group, our Orlando car accident attorneys are ready to locate proof to establish the cause of your crash. If you were injured due to someone else’s negligence, connect with our law firm today to schedule a free case review.
We Handle All Types of Car Accident Cases
Car accidents can happen in many different ways. For example, a head-on crash can occur when someone is distracted, turns the wrong way down a one-way street, or falls asleep at the wheel. These can cause catastrophic injuries and even death.
Rear-end crashes happen when a vehicle (usually driven by someone who is distracted) slams into the back of another vehicle. Some of these may be considered “fender benders,” while others can be more severe. It depends on the speed and various other factors.
We also work on cases involving:
- Hit-and-runs
- T-bone accidents
- Rollovers
- Sideswipe collisions
- Highway accidents
- Intersection accidents
- Multi-vehicle crashes
- Accidents caused by uninsured or underinsured motorists
- Accidents that caused airbag injuries
If you were injured, we are here for you.
Proving Negligence in a Car Accident Case
Accident victims in Florida can only obtain compensation if they can prove that the other driver caused their injuries. If you didn’t do anything wrong, that might not seem fair.
Fortunately, an experienced lawyer can work on your claim while you heal from your injuries.
Most car accident claims are based on negligence.
Someone is negligent if:
- They owed you a duty of care (all drivers have a duty to drive carefully and obey laws)
- They breached the duty of care
- The breach of duty directly causes an accident
- A victim suffers damages due to the accident
How We Build Evidence in an Auto Accident Case
At Payer Law Group, our lawyers have the resources to conduct a detailed investigation to uncover valuable evidence to prove your case, such as:
- Video footage
- Photos
- Police reports
- Medical records
- Data about vehicle placement, skid marks, and vehicle damage
- Statements from eyewitnesses
- Testimony from experts
After an accident, it’s important to remain at the scene and call 911. Exchange information with the other driver. Once you’ve sought the necessary medical treatment, consult our lawyers to learn about your rights.
How Long Do I Have To File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Florida?
The deadline for filing a lawsuit is called the statute of limitations. In most Florida injury cases, the statute is two years.
If your wreck occurred before March 24, 2023, the old deadline applies, so you’ll have four years to file a lawsuit.
Once the filing deadline passes, you lose your ability to seek compensation from the responsible parties.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Trusted Orlando Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you were involved in a car accident, contact Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers today at (407) 648-1510. Our Orlando car accident attorneys offer free consultations, so there’s no risk in learning about how a lawyer can fight for you.
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