Florida Personal Injury Lawyers > Florida Personal Injury Law > Florida Car Accident Lawyer

Florida Car Accident Lawyer

Located in Orlando, Ocala, Daytona, Melbourne, Tampa, Bradenton, Fort Myers, Naples, Jacksonville, Miami, Fort Lauderdale & West Palm Beach

It may very well be that the most dangerous thing any of us does on any given day is drive our car. Here in Central Florida, one of the fastest-growing areas in the United States for many years now, the chances that we will be involved in a car accident approaches virtual certainty. Contact our Florida car accident lawyers for assistance with your car or vehicle accident case, we serve clients in Orlando, Tampa, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Broward County & Miami-Dade County.

There are a number of important steps to take after a crash to create the best outcome for your case. In addition to seeking medical care, filing a police report, and notifying your insurance company about the accident, your next step should be contacting an experienced Florida car accident lawyer for legal representation. Working with an experienced lawyer is highly advised, even if you think that your case is straightforward and that you are guaranteed a settlement.

If you have never been in a car accident, you may be shocked when you find out how expensive, time consuming and frustrating it can be to get back on your feet and back on the road. Most of us are totally unprepared for the disruption an accident can cause to our regular routine. Frequently, people find that they appear to be alright at the accident scene, only to find themselves in debilitating pain within a day or two. Many of our clients don’t have health insurance or disability insurance (almost half of all working Americans don’t) and don’t know where to turn to get treatment for their pain or to help pay the bills when they are out of work.

We, at the Pendas Law Firm, are accustomed to helping our clients through these difficulties. Our staff is skilled at dealing with law enforcement, health service providers and insurance company adjusters to make your transition back to health as smooth as possible. We can quickly analyze your insurance coverage and the insurance coverage of the person who caused the accident and let you know what your options are. Our Florida car accident lawyers take the time to personally and thoroughly explain the law so that you know what to expect. We pride ourselves in our ability to take on tough cases that other lawyers can’t or won’t.

Fatalities and Serious Injuries are on the Rise as Drivers Use Cell Phones on More Crowded Roads

Since 2012, there has been an increase in motor vehicle crashes and fatalities. More than 30,000 people die in these accidents every year, and that number is increasing. In fact, over 35,000 people were killed in 2015. As the trend continues to worsen, more transportation experts are looking to technology to save lives and prevent catastrophic injuries. Electronic stability control applies the brakes to individual wheels at a time to reduce slide outs and losing control. Lane drift detection, collision warning systems, backup cameras, and side view cameras all help improve driver visibility and reduce crashes during lane changes. And, of course, more side collision airbags and enhanced crumple zones help protect drivers during a collision and reduce injuries. However, none of these advances has seemed to reverse the worsening trend in auto collision deaths and injuries. Cell phones are a serious threat to everyone on the road as more people talk, text, and even browse the internet while driving and at stop lights. The human brain cannot multi-task (do two things at the same time), which is why cell phone use behind the wheel is so lethal, according to the National Safety Council. In fact, at least 18 percent of all crashes that result in injury are caused by a distracted driver, according to a 2014 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report. An improving economy and temporarily cheap gas prices are encouraging more people to drive, which clogs the roads, many of which are deteriorating with potholes and cracks. With the traffic situation worsening year by year, some believe that the only hope is for fully autonomous cars to become the norm, which we will undoubtedly not see happen for decades to come. In the meantime, countless more are injured and require medical attention. Traditional risk factors, such as alcohol, are present in many incidents, as are emerging new technology-related factors like driving while distracted. Males continue to be the most at-risk group with regard to motor vehicle fatalities, accounting for roughly 70 percent of the total number. Contact us today if you were injured in a motor vehicle collision of any kind.

Why You Should Work with a Florida Auto Accident Lawyer

Many people hesitate to contact an lawyer after a crash, wondering whether or not working with an lawyer is really necessary. While you have no legal obligation to contact a lawyer, doing so can improve your chances of recovering the maximum amount of money that you are owed, and can also provide you with a sense of confidence and comfort throughout the process. Here are some important ways that our Florida car accident lawyer helps you after a car accident:

Investigating your accident. Fault in a crash is not always clear, and even when it is, the right evidence must be collected to prove it. Fault, or negligence, can have a big impact on the amount of money that you receive in a settlement offer, and unless you prove the negligence of the other driver (or other at-fault party), you may be unable to recover compensation at all. The investigation starts as soon as we learn around your accident, collecting all evidence. This includes physical evidence, pictures of the accident scene, police reports, video footage, witness statements, and more.

Filing your claim. Filing can be confusing. You may not know how to file your claim after an accident, or against whom. This is especially true if the accident was caused by a party other than another driver, such as the manufacturer of a defective auto part. Our Florida car accident lawyers help you file your claim against the appropriate party in a timely manner.

Proving damages. If you are injured in a crash and suffer losses, you may assume that the insurance adjuster responsible for processing your claim will recognize this and you’ll be compensated. Unfortunately, you will need to prove the full extent of your losses in order to recover any compensation. Our Florida car crash lawyers can assist you in gathering medical bills, working with experts, and proving damages.

Negotiating for a fair settlement offer. Frequently, insurance adjusters offer claimants less than they deserve, hoping that the claimant will take the money in desperation and frustration. When your settlement offer does not address the full amount of damages you have suffered, we will aggressively negotiate for a more suitable settlement amount.

Taking your claim to court. When a settlement cannot be reached, our Florida car accident lawyers will be prepared to take your case to court.

Types of Car Accident Claims

Most car accidents happen because of negligence, which is the failure to exercise a certain level of caution while operating a vehicle. The Florida car crash lawyers, along with your insurance company, will conduct a preliminary investigation to identify whether you were negligent or not.

To have the best chances of winning the case, the experienced Florida auto accident lawyers must prove that the defendant’s negligence caused the accident. Some examples are negligent drivers, reckless drivers, intoxicated drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and those who text and drive.

If your vehicle, or the defendant’s vehicle had a defect contributed to the accident, the injured party may have a claim against the manufacturer of the vehicle or one of its many parts. If the car had a faulty manufacturing issue, the manufacturer can be held responsible regardless of who was actually at fault for the accident.

The Florida car crash lawyers must prove that you were not at fault for the accident, and that the defect happened due to the manufacturing process. Oftentimes they bring in expert testimony and analysis as evidence to prove that the defect caused or contributed to the accident. Successful lawsuits will require the plaintiff to show:

The defective car or part was “unreasonably dangerous”
The vehicle was being operated safely
The vehicle’s performance had not changed since purchase

Then there’s faulty construction, design, or maintenance of roads. This can contribute to car crashes and have nothing to do with the drivers. This type of claim will prove the plaintiff and defendant not guilty due to circumstances beyond their control.

Types of Car Crash Injuries and Compensation You May Be Entitled To

The extent and severity of injuries suffered will vary with different cases. In some cases, treatment for injuries will not be covered by insurance. The Florida car crash lawyers help cover costs of injuries that include:

Paralysis
Burns and scars
Loss of limbs
Spinal cord injuries
Head injuries
Joint, muscle, back, neck, and bone injuries
Knee damage
Whiplash
Permanent disability

If you are seeking further compensation for damages, your lawyer will approach the negligent party’s insurance company in an attempt to recover compensation to cover your remaining costs. Your claim will be submitted for approval to the insurance company, which will have led an investigation of its own.

The success of your claim will likely depend on the ability of your lawyer to collect, analyze, and present evidence. This is no easy task because the opposing insurance company will clearly want to minimize their disbursement.

Providing your lawyer with as much information as possible can help strengthen your claim. If your lawyer and the insurance company cannot agree on a settlement, often the case may proceed to trial.

In addition to these, our experienced Florida car accident lawyers can help you obtain compensation for the following:

Medical expenses
Future medical expenses
Lost wages
Loss of earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Mental anguish
Loss of consortium
Punitive damages
Wrongful death

Florida Auto Accident Lawyers Assist with Wrongful Death Claims

If you have lost a loved one in a car crash, you can file a wrongful death lawsuit. In these cases, the family or survivors of the victim must prove that their loved one was killed as a result of another’s negligence. You can gain economic, non-economic, and punitive damages.

What To Do After A Florida Car Accident

Figuring out your next step after an horrific car crash can be daunting. We are here to help in this difficult time. If a loved one was the victim of a fatal car accident in the state of Florida, you may be able to recover compensation for your loss under the state’s wrongful death statute. Similarly, if you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident as the result unsafe driving on the part of another, you may be able to recover compensation for any injuries you have suffered to your person or property, as well as lost income from missed work, and pain and suffering under the state’s negligence statute. To find out, contact an experienced Florida car accident lawyer, we have offices in Orlando, Tampa, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale & Miami.

Tips On What To Do After A Florida Auto Accident

Do not block the road, and warn oncoming traffic.
Help any injured who are involved.
Contact the police immediately, and make sure to give your side of the story.
Exchange information such as names and addresses of other drivers and injured persons, as well as license plate numbers.
Approach any witnesses for their contact information.
Take photos of the scene of the accident.
Do not accept any checks or sign any documents without first consulting a lawyer.
Do not give a statement to the insurance company without having an lawyer present.
Ignore anyone who approaches you and offers money to treat or sign a contract with a lawyer. This is illegal. No one can contact you before 30 days after the accident. Additionally, taking an offer quickly after that 30-day period will not likely be in your best interest. The more serious the crash and injuries, the longer it will take to come to a settlement or lawsuit to be filed. The insurance company of the at fault driver will either drag its feet making an offer, or will attempt to dodge what they really owe you by putting forth a low offer quickly. Do not take the bait.
Call The Pendas Law Firm for a free consultation to exercise your rights.

Practical Steps to Take After a Car Accident

Being involved in a car accident can be an extremely traumatizing experience, but taking certain precautions in the direct aftermath can help ensure that you receive adequate compensation. Make sure to speak with the police, exchange information, and preserve any evidence that you can. If witnesses are present, ask for their contact information, which can be an invaluable tool in the future. If you were too injured at the time of the crash to talk with the police or witnesses at the scene of the crash, you can do so at a later date. You can file a traffic collision report with the police on line so that your side of the story is heard, not just the other driver. Likewise, you may be able to track down witnesses at a later date through various media outlets if your collision was reported on by a local online news outlet. We can help you with making sure that all the evidence is gathered and supplied to the police so that it is clear who was at fault for causing the collision. All of these simple steps may help you secure payment in the near future.

You May Be Able To Recover Compensation for Damages Suffered During Your Car Accident in Florida

All motor vehicle operators owe their fellow drivers, passengers, and pedestrians a duty of care. If you have been injured in a car accident as a result of another driver’s careless or reckless driving, you may be able to recover compensation for damages suffered to your person and or property. If, in the worst case scenario, you have lost a loved one as a result of another’s failure to obey the rules of the road, you may be able to recover damages for loss of support, services, companionship, protection, as well as pain and suffering, and the cost of medical or funeral expenses. To understand your legal options, contact a skilled and experienced Florida car accident lawyer. The Pendas Law Firm – one of Florida’s most prominent in the area of personal injury – provides precisely the highly effective and experienced lawyers needed to handle car accident related personal injury claims. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us today to learn how we can serve you in this time of need. The Pendas Law Firm has offices in Orlando, Fort Myers, Tampa, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale & Miami and is dedicated to serving the community with its highly effective and experienced team of lawyers.

Contact Our Experienced Florida Car Accident Lawyers

If you have a Florida automobile accident and you or someone you know gets hurt, call us as soon as you can. It doesn’t cost any more to get us working for you from the beginning, so there’s no reason to wait. We have offices in Orlando, Fort Myers, Tampa, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale & Miami.

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