If you have ever been in a car accident, you know the unforeseen costs that can arise. Repairs to your car, medical expenses, and loss of income, while you are recovering from your accident, can all set you back financially.
The good news is that you can recover your losses through a personal injury claim with help from Florida Lawyers 360.
The Villages car accident lawyers at our firm can assess your case to determine whether you have grounds to file a claim and assist you in the following ways:
- Investigate the car accident to determine who is at fault and who is liable
- Identify what you can claim for and the amount of your claim
- Negotiate a settlement with the person who caused the accident, their lawyers, or insurance provider
- Prepare and present your case in a court of law
We will always fight aggressively to maximize your financial recovery. Contact us today at 954-448-7355 to schedule a free consultation with our personal injury lawyers in The Villages, FL.
What Will It Cost to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in The Villages?
Our attorneys work on a contingency basis. This means that getting paid is contingent or dependent on winning your case.
If we don’t win, you don’t get paid so we don’t get paid. When we do win, we will charge a small percentage of the settlement or amount awarded by a court as payment for our services.
You have nothing to lose. Contact Florida Lawyers 360 at 954-448-7355 today to set up your free consultation.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
After being involved in a car accident, it is important to take the following steps to protect your rights and wellbeing:
Contact the Police and Medical Services
If you have been seriously injured, getting medical attention as soon as possible is a priority. If the accident was not serious, you can report the accident to your nearest police station as soon as possible after the accident.
Check on Others Involved in the Accident
Check if the other parties involved in the accident need assistance. Never leave the scene of the accident until contact and insurance information has been exchanged or the police have arrived and spoken to you.
Be Careful not to Admit Fault
It is best to only answer basic questions like the other driver’s name, contact info, insurance details, and whether or not they are injured. You can implicate yourself unknowingly by saying something wrong.
Do not apologize to the other parties involved in the accident as this can be construed as admitting fault.
Collect Evidence
Take photos of the scene of the accident and take notes of other pertinent information. Also, make a note of the contact information of any potential witnesses to the accident or events leading up to the accident.
Seek Medical Attention and Keep Records
Seek medical attention as soon as possible even if you have no noticeable injuries or received attention at the scene by EMTs. Some car accident injuries can take a day or more to appear.
Getting checked out in an emergency room or by a doctor early on can help detect these injuries and ensure you receive the required treatment.
Keep all records of your medical treatments as well as bills. Also, document any other expenses related to your injuries like travel costs and unpaid time off work.
Call a Car Accident Attorney
Call a car accident lawyer to assess your case and get started with filing your personal injury claim. The earlier your attorney begins investigating your case, the better.
What is the Average Settlement For a Car Accident?
The average settlement for car accident personal injury claims in Florida is $15,000. However, settlements depend on a number of factors and each case is different.
The more severe your injuries, the greater your medical costs are going to be and therefore the more you can claim for. Injuries resulting in permanent disabilities are going to get the biggest settlements.
Why Do I Need a Lawyer?
The Villages car accident lawyers at our firm are going to provide you with the legal expertise to make certain that you get the compensation that you deserve. We provide the following services:
Preparing Your Case and Filing the Lawsuit
Your attorney will help to ensure that you properly file your claim and within the set deadline. Any errors or missing the deadline can void your ability to pursue compensation. Your attorney will help to ensure that everything is done right.
Negotiating a Settlement
Florida Lawyers 360 will always try to settle your case rather than go to court. Court cases are time-consuming, costly and there is no certainty about the outcome.
Unless you insist on a trial, the liable party refuses to settle or offers a settlement that is not fair, going to court is not advisable.
Our attorneys will negotiate for a favorable settlement amount that covers both your immediate losses as well as future losses you may incur as a result of your injuries.
Represent You at Trial
Should settlement negotiations fail, our firm will provide you with aggressive legal representation throughout the trial.
What Type of Damages Can I Recover in The Villages, Florida?
There are 3 categories of damages that may be awarded to car accident victims:
Economic Damages
Economic damages are financial losses that you incurred to which an exact monetary amount can be assigned. These include medical expenses, loss of wages or income, and damage to property.
Compensation should cover your current medical expenses as well as those that you are likely to experience in the future.
Non-Economic Damages
These include losses to which no exact monetary amount can be assigned. For example, pain and suffering, mental or emotional distress, loss of quality of life, and loss of companionship.
The amount assigned to each of these damages can differ greatly from case to case.
In the event that you are permanently disabled and this prevents you from working or partaking in activities that you enjoyed prior to the accident, you may receive a substantial amount.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are awarded in the event that the liable party is found to have been particularly negligent or reckless. The aim is to discourage similar behavior in the future by penalizing the party financially.
The victim is paid punitive damages in addition to compensation for economic or non-economic losses. However, courts do not award punitive damages easily.
How is Fault Determined?
The state of Florida follows the pure comparative negligence standard when it comes to determining liability. Liability refers to who is responsible for causing the accident and therefore needs to pay the compensation.
If you are found to be partially responsible or at fault for causing the accident, then the compensation that you are awarded by a court will be reduced accordingly.
For example, if you are found to have been 80% at fault for causing the accident and your injuries, the other party will only need to pay 20% of the compensation awarded to you.
Since Florida uses pure comparative negligence, a person can recover even if they are 99% at fault.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?
The statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is four years in the state of Florida. This means that you have exactly four years from the date of the accident to file a claim. If this time period elapses, you can no longer file a claim to recover your losses.
How Can a Lawyer Help Me File My Insurance Claim?
Insurance companies are notorious for finding any way they can of getting out of paying claims. If your claim has been denied or an insurance company refuses to offer you a fair settlement, you should contact a lawyer immediately.
Your car accident lawyer will assist you in ensuring that the claims process was followed and use legal tactics to persuade the insurance company to pay.
Often, a letter from a lawyer is sufficient to get a resistant insurer to pay a claim or offer a fair settlement. It is also advisable to have a lawyer look at any settlement offer before you agree and sign.
What if the Other Driver Doesn’t Have Insurance?
If the driver that caused the accident does not have insurance, your first step is to check with your own insurance carrier as to whether you are covered by uninsured motorist insurance. This coverage is an optional extra and will increase your insurance rate.
If you don’t have this coverage, then the driver who caused the accident will be held personally liable for paying your compensation. However, in most cases involving uninsured drivers, they cannot afford to pay the compensation.
This means that even if you win the case, you are unlikely to receive any money. A lawyer can assist you in recovering your losses by placing a lien on a house or other assets that they own.
Call The Villages Car Accident Lawyers at Florida Lawyers 360
A car accident is a traumatic event that can have minor to severe life-altering consequences. Financial compensation for these losses is possible by filing a personal injury lawsuit or claim for compensation.
The sooner you file your claim, the faster the matter will be resolved and the more likely you are to receive fair compensation.
Contact our Florida car accident law firm today to schedule a free appointment to assess your case for a personal injury claim.
Remember, that even if you were partially at fault for causing the accident, you may still be able to recover money for financial and other losses.
