Different Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle
If you were hit by another driver, we can help you understand your legal options, regardless of the details of the collision. Thanks to our decades of collective practice experience with a deliberate focus on motor vehicle accident cases, we can handle claims and lawsuits involving crashes and wrecks of all sorts.
We can work on car accident claims involving these types of crashes and more:
- Rear-end collisions
- Sideswipes
- Head-on collisions
- T-bones
- Multivehicle accidents
- Rollovers
Common Causes of Car Accidents
Car accidents are caused by various forms of negligence, mostly driver negligence which should have been preventable with more care behind the wheel. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), human error accounts for at least 94% of car accidents in the United States.
Common causes of car accidents in Florida, which mostly involve driver negligence, include:
- Driver distractions
- Texting and driving
- Drunk driving
- Fatigue
- Reckless driving and speeding
- Auto product defects
- Poor weather conditions
- Road hazards
What to Do After a Car Accident
Following an accident, you should always try to follow these steps:
- Contact the authorities: Dial 911 if anyone has been injured or if any vehicles were badly damaged. The responding officer will file a police report detailing how the accident occurred, which can serve as evidence for your claim later.
- Seek medical attention: Get medical attention for your injuries, even seemingly minor ones. If an emergency medical technician (EMT) wants to take you to the hospital via ambulatory care, you should likely accept it. Keep records of all treatments received.
- Collect witness information: Gather contact details from any eyewitnesses at the scene. Third-party testimony can provide insight and information that neither you nor the other driver could see from your perspective.
- Take photos: Capture images and video footage of your injuries, vehicle damage, traffic conditions, and the weather. Use your smartphone or see if anyone else has one that can record it for you.
- Call an attorney: Once you have a minute, talk to one of our Hollywood car accident attorneys about what happened. The sooner you call us, the sooner we can get to work on your case.
- Notify your auto insurance provider: Soon after the car accident, you will need to notify your auto insurance provider about it. If you hire our legal team to represent you, we can help you provide this notification, which can reduce the risk of saying the wrong thing.
Florida’s No-Fault Car Accident Laws
Florida is one of a few states in the country that uses a no-fault law for auto insurance coverage and accident liability. Under this law, drivers must carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance that meets minimum requirements. If an accident occurs, no matter who caused it, each driver’s PIP insurance should help pay for expenses related to medical care and property damage.
The minimum limits for PIP auto insurance under current Florida law are:
- $10,000 of bodily injury coverage per person
- $20,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident
- $10,000 of property damage coverage per accident
Typically, after an accident, you must use your PIP insurance to get coverage for your damages. You won’t be permitted to file an injury claim against the other driver, even if you know their mistake was the sole reason for the crash. Only when you have been “seriously injured” can you take legal action against the other driver.
Serious Injuries After a Car Accident
If you have suffered a "serious" injury as defined by Florida law, you may be eligible to pursue additional or unpaid compensation from the at-fault driver after an accident.
Florida personal injury law defines a “serious” injury as a physical condition that creates a substantial risk of:
- Death;
- Serious personal disfigurement; and/or,
- Protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member or organ.
Brain, head, spine, neck, and back injuries are common car accident injuries that can be considered “serious” under this definition. Broken bones, internal organ damage, and noticeable scars are also common forms of serious injuries that may allow you to pursue additional compensation through an injury claim filed against the other driver.
Compensation Available in Florida Car Accident Claims
With the help of trusted medical experts, our attorneys can evaluate your injuries and see if they are serious enough to allow you to pursue compensation through a car accident claim. If they are, we can then assess the damage you have experienced, so we can accurately calculate the total compensation you should be provided by the liable party or parties. We know that every penny counts when you have been seriously injured in a crash, so we will be ready to fight for the maximum amount possible.
Compensation that might be available in your car accident claim includes:
- Past and future medical treatment costs (not covered by PIP insurance).
- Past and future lost wages (not covered by PIP insurance).
- Non-economic damages like pain and suffering (not available through PIP insurance).
How to Prove Who Was at Fault in a Car Accident
One of the catches when you file a car accident claim outside of PIP insurance is that you introduce the need to prove liability for the crash. You can only make a recovery against another driver if you can convincingly prove that they contributed to the crash more than you did. Of course, if you have our Hollywood car accident lawyers on your side, you can allow us to handle every part of the process on your behalf. We know where to look for evidence of liability and how to use it to strengthen a claim.
Evidence that might help when working on your claim could include:
- Police reports taken at the scene of the crash.
- Photos and videos from the car accident scene.
- Eyewitness testimonies.
- Medical records that detail your injuries.
- Statements of guilt from the other driver.
- Accident reconstructions from experts.
Car Accident Claim Process in Florida
To file a car accident claim, you’ll need to notify your auto insurance company about what happened. As mentioned, you shouldn’t rush to notify them, but you do need to tell them soon after the crash. We recommend that you talk to our attorneys first, so we can assess the situation and tell you what you should include in your initial notification. We are always standing by to help a client in a tough situation, so you can call (888) 499-6206 right away after being in a crash, no matter the time of day.
Choose a Highly Experienced Legal Team – Call Now
With more than 50 years of experience, Rosenberg & Rosenberg, P.A. has become a trusted name in car accident representation across Florida. Our legal team has secured millions of dollars in settlements and awards for our clients. Past results can’t promise future results, but they show what we’re capable of when we work together to help someone in need. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a crash, talk to our reputable team right away.
Start with a free consultationwith our Hollywood, FL car accident attorneys today.
