The experienced legal team at Florin|Roebig has been handling motor vehicle injury cases for more than 30 years and has won over $1 billion in case results. In fact, our Florida car accident law firm has had some of the largest verdicts in the sunshine state.
Our Florida board-certified attorneys are some of the most sought-after trial attorneys not only by the victims who have suffered an injury from a car accident but also by other Florida attorneys who refer their cases to Florin Roebig because of our success in the courtroom.
Thousands of people will experience car accidents every year in the United States. Some accidents will lead to serious injury or disability, while others can be fatal.
There are many associations in Florida and throughout the nation which work toward road, vehicle, and driver safety, yet motor vehicle accidents still happen. Texting while driving, poor weather conditions, distracted driving, and failure to obey traffic laws are just a few factors that can contribute to car crashes. With Florida being a vacation destination, many people travel from all over the world to visit places like Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, South Beach, the Kennedy Space Center, and our beautiful Florida beaches. This large influx of not only US tourists but also the many international tourists who have different driving standards can cause dangerous Florida roads and highways.
If you or a loved one were recently in a car accident in Florida and suffered an injury, you may consider filing a personal injury claim.
Compensation awarded in car accident claims can help cover medical bills, long-term medical care, and other types of damages not covered by your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance plan.
List Of 3 Main Factors That Determine Florida Auto Accident Case Worth?
- Liability (who is at fault)
- Damages (types of injuries, how severe)
- Insurance Coverage (how much insurance is available and the policy amounts)
In addition, there are many other factors at play, each automobile accident is different from the next. This means that each personal injury claim related to a car crash will also be unique.
In both insurance claims and personal injury lawsuits, all contributing factors and specific details are considered.
Factors that may affect a Florida car accident include:
- Poor road conditions or maintenance issues
- Lack of signs or traffic signals where crashes occurred. Very common in Florida near beach areas
- If drunk or distracted driving was involved especially in places like Tampa and Miami Beach
- If driver error was to blame
- Condition of vehicle and vehicle parts
- Whether negligence was involved
- Navigating the world of personal injury law is no easy feat, especially for those who may be struggling with an injury. For this reason, selecting an excellent personal injury attorney in Florida can be crucial for car accident victims.
Ensuring that the attorney you choose has experience in auto injury claims, is not fearful of going head-to-head with insurance companies, and will handle your case in a timely manner are the most important criteria when selecting legal aid.
Types Of Car Accident Claims
Depending on how the collision occurred, you may file a personal injury claim, a claim that calls out a manufacturing or design error, or a claim that illuminates faulty road design.
Regardless of the type of accident, it’s important that your Florida car accident lawyer provides a thorough investigation following the accident.
Personal Injury Claims
You have the best chance of winning your personal injury claim if your Florida auto accident attorney can prove negligence on the part of the defendant (the other driver/motorist).
Some examples of the negligent driver include drunk driving, distracted driving, failure to yield, and leaving the scene of the accident.
Manufacturer Error Claims
If your car, or the defendant’s car, had a defective part prior to the accident, you may have a claim against the vehicle manufacturer.
Defective car parts or manufacturer errors can include faulty brakes, defective airbags, and faulty seat belt restraints, among others.
To prove a defective car claim, the driver must not be at fault and your lawyer must prove the accident was caused by the defective part due to a manufacturing issue.
While this seems complex, it is possible to win a claim for such an accident. If an accident occurred due to faulty car parts, the manufacturer of the car can be considered at fault regardless of which driver caused the accident.
Road Conditions, Design, or Faulty Construction Claims
Though Florida allocates large sums toward road maintenance each year, car accidents still occur due to faulty road design, conditions, and construction issues.
When this happens, and no other factors were at play, the driver may not be considered responsible.
Lack of proper signs, faulty traffic signals, or problems with the design or maintenance of the roads are factors that can contribute to compensation for a resulting car wreck.
What Damages Can You Claim After a Car Accident in Florida?
If your personal injury lawyer and the insurance company cannot reach an agreement for your claim, it may be necessary to take the case to trial. Before the case is settled, however, expenses and charges related to your incident can often mount.
An excellent Florida car accident attorney, such as those at Florin|Roebig, can help you recover as much of these costs as possible.
The compensation you may be entitled to from your personal injury claim can include both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are those which are proven to be a direct result of the vehicle collision and which have a specific value assigned to them.
Economic or compensatory damages may include:
- Medical expenses, current and future
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning ability
- Payments for wrongful death (fatalities)
- Property damage to your vehicle
- Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are those which result from vehicle crashes yet have no specific value. This is because calculating the value of your loss is difficult, such as the loss of loved ones. Non-economic damages in car accident claims could include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish related to the incident
- Loss of consortium
- Punitive damages
Common Florida Car Accident Injuries
Each car accident is caused by unique factors and can result in a number of injuries. Unfortunately, treatment for certain injuries is not always covered by your insurance policy.
Injuries you may sustain in a motor vehicle accident include:
- Burns
- Head trauma
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Joint or muscle injury/damage
- Neck or back damage
- Whiplash
- Disability
- Loss of limbs
- Damage to the spinal cord
Paralysis
Even if you received minor car accident injuries, it’s important that you seek medical attention. This one step could prove crucial to your case and hold the at-fault driver liable for your injuries.
In some cases, injuries resulting from car crashes entitle you to compensation. However, pursuing a claim with the negligent party’s insurance company may be difficult, as they will be looking out for their own interests when it comes to paying out.
For this reason, it’s important to work exclusively and honestly with your Florida auto accident lawyer, providing all the necessary information to make the most reliable claim.
Types of Car Crashes That Occur in Florida
Car accidents occur in a number of ways in the state of Florida. The type of car accident may be vital information to insurance adjusters, since how the accident occurred may show that the at-fault party was responsible for the accident, and therefore liable for your injuries.
Some of the most common types of car crashes include:
- T-bone accidents: These occur when one vehicle collides with the broad side of another vehicle, which is why they’re also called broadside collisions.
- Three-car accidents: A three-car accident is usually a rear-end collision wherein the back driver crashes into the front driver, who then collides with the next driver.
- Rear-end collisions: When one vehicle crashes into the car in front, this is known as a rear-end vehicle collision.
- Sideswipe accidents: These often occur during lane changes, and may result from the driver losing control of the vehicle and veering into the lane next to them, swiping the other car.
- Rollover accidents: Aptly named, these vehicle accidents happen when a car rolls over onto its side or completes a 360-degree turn.
The Four Most Dangerous Highways In Florida
- I-4: Interstate 4 is considered one of the most dangerous highways in Florida due to its high number of fatalities and serious injuries.
- Us-1: Statistics from the Florida Highway Patrol reveal that US-1 is a major cause of motor vehicle fatalities and serious injuries in Florida.
- I-95: Its dangerous curves and fast traffic make driving Interstate 95 a risky endeavor.
- SR-60: State Road 60 is a winding two-lane highway that has dangerous curves often resulting in deadly crashes in Florida.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Florida
If you have just been in a car accident, you may be pretty shaken and possibly injured. In addition to making sure you are safe and unharmed, there are a few steps to take right away which can make filing a personal injury claim easier in the long run.
Make sure your vehicle is not blocking the roadway. Then, help anyone in your vehicle who may be injured.
Contact emergency personnel for medical treatment, if necessary.
Get the police on the phone right away. Most states require you to report all vehicle accidents.
Exchange personal and insurance information with others in the accident. Be sure to get their car’s license plate number, name, and phone number.
Take photos of the scene of the crash, your vehicle, and other cars.
Do not turn in a statement to your insurance yet. Be sure to wait until you have contacted a lawyer who can handle car accident cases first.
Ignore attempts for a personal payoff or leaving police out of the accident. This can be of utmost importance to your case.
Legal Steps to Take After a Car Accident In Florida
Insurance companies may be unwilling to meet your claim or may present a number of reasons to avoid compensating you following an automobile accident.
While insurance companies are securing their own interests, you may have the right to a claim based on your insurance coverage and factors related to your incident.
It is important to pursue legal advice immediately in order to lose no time on your claim. At Florin|Roebig, our car accident lawyers can offer a swift initial consultation to obtain any information necessary to pursue your claim.
Car Accident Investigations
The very first step toward filing your injury-related car accident claim is to ensure a full investigation of the car accident. This is why it is so important to have the police involved. You can file a police report online to ensure your account of the incident is considered.
You will also want to speak to any witnesses who were present at the crash. Because you may be shaken, injured, or emotionally distraught after a car accident, you can always contact witnesses at a later date if you have their contact information.
Filing a Personal Auto Injury Claim
As with many court-related tasks, filing a claim can be a confusing process. First, you will need to know if you are filing a claim against another party, a car manufacturer, parts manufacturer, or, due to road conditions, the county or state.
You will also need to know the statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Florida, which is four years according to the Florida Legislature. Yet many factors can affect the statute.
This process can be intimidating, especially if you are still struggling with your injury. The team at Florin|Roebig can ease this task by providing assistance with filing your personal injury claim.
Once the claim is filed, a Florida car accident attorney can begin investigating the accident and communicating with the insurance company and/or other parties involved in the case.
How A Florida Car Accident Attorney Can Help
Once your claim has been filed, a Florida car accident attorney can assist you in many ways. You may be wondering if seeking legal aid for your claim is even necessary. However, getting help with your personal injury claim increases the chances that you will recover damages and receive compensation.
Negotiating the Best Settlement Offer
If you pursue your claim alone, an insurance company may short your compensation offer, assuming you will take the offer in order to be done fighting.
When you work with a Florida car accident lawyer, they can pursue your claim to ensure all damages are addressed in your offer.
Defending Your Personal Injury Claim in Court
If a settlement cannot be reached for your claim, it may be necessary to take the claim to court (trial). A Florida accident attorney is prepared to defend your claim, can explain the possible verdicts (outcomes), and help you recover the greatest amount in compensation according to your damages.
Best Florida Car Accident Lawyers Near You
When seeking legal help for a personal injury claim related to a car accident, your first step may be researching a list of car accident attorneys near you who can offer a free case evaluation.
For every year since the inception of the honor in 2010, Florin|Roebig has been selected as one of the “Best Law Firms in America” by “US News and World Report” and “Best Lawyers in America.”
Our award-winning legal team includes the following attorneys, as well as many more:
- Wil H. Florin, B.C.S.
- Tommy D. Roebig, B.C.S.
- Chase P. Florin, B.C.S.
- Shaun M. Cummings
- Luca G. Esposito
- Chad K. Florin, M.B.A., LL.M.
- John J. Hart
- Parker Y. Florin, LL.M.
- Taylor D. Roebig
- Michael A. Ossi, O.C.
- Lawrence J. Najem, O.C.
- Andrew M. Leone, O.C.
- Nollys R. Solarte, O.C.
At Florin|Roebig, we service cases throughout the state of Florida, as well as in several other states.
Some areas in Florida served by Florin|Roebig includes:
- Clearwater
- St. Petersburg
- Fort Lauderdale
- Tampa Bay
- Orlando
- Miami Beach
- West Palm Beach
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