Car Accidents

We Serve Florida Car Accident Victims in All Florida Counties

You may be facing medical bills, time off from work, and property damage. Our experienced Florida car accident lawyers are local and ready to help you! We live and work in Jupiter, Florida and our law office is centrally located on Indiantown Road. We are prepared to handle your car accident claim and work with you every step of the way following a car accident in any county throughout Florida.  Britto & Herman Injury Lawyers offer a free consultation with our personal injury attorneys who will assess your auto accident case and build your strategy. Contact us today to schedule your free case evaluation.

Car accident claims for Florida car crashes often lead to an out-of-court settlement. However, unlike some car accident lawyers and law firms, our extensive trial experience prepares us well to pursue your personal injury claim in the courtroom if your Florida car accident case requires it. We are here to serve Florida residents in all counties from start to finish following an accident involving motor vehicles.

Daniel Britto, Esq. is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Lawyer and has earned multiple verdicts in favor of his injured clients. Insurance companies know which lawyers are willing to go to trial. Both Mr. Herman and Mr. Britto previously defended claims for insurance companies, and know how to prove your Florida car accident case in court.

What Can My Lawyer Help Me With After a Florida Car Accident?

Our Florida car accident lawyers can help you seek recovery after a car crash. You may be entitled to seek compensation for medical bills, loss of income, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more following car accident injuries. We will work to seek the maximum compensation for your personal injuries after a Florida car accident. You may be suffering from any of the following injuries:

• Concussion
• Spinal injuries
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Burn injuries
• Amputations
• Fractures requiring surgery
• Neck and back pain
• Shoulder pain
• Knee pain
• Headaches
• Fear of driving and other concerns

Common serious injuries from car accidents like traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, burn injuries, amputations, various head or neck injuries, or fractures can have significant impacts on the life of an injured person in the short term and the long term.

Catastrophic injuries from an auto accident in Palm Beach County may lead to a host of expenses for car accident victims in addition to lost wages and initial medical treatments. An  experienced car accident lawyer can guide you in seeking a car accident settlement that accounts for the full scope of accident-related expenses and other damages.

What Types of Florida Car Accidents Do We Handle?

The lawyers of Britto & Herman Injury Lawyers located in Jupiter, Florida handle the following types of car accident cases:

• Hit and run accidents
• Drunk driving accidents
• Distracted driving accidents
• Rideshare accidents (Uber and Lyft accidents)
• Trucking accidents
• Car versus pedestrian accidents
• Car versus bicyclist accidents
• Road rage accidents
• Texting while driving accidents
• Rear-end accidents
• Head-on collisions
• T-bone accidents
• Rollover accidents
• Road defect accidents
• Commercial vehicle accidents
• Motorcycle versus car accidents
• and more

Causes of Car Accidents

Car accidents in Florida, like many other places, can be attributed to a variety of causes. Here are some of the common causes of motor vehicle crashes in South Florida:

• Distracted Driving: This includes any activity that diverts attention from driving, such as talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, or fiddling with the stereo, entertainment, or navigation system. Every driver needs to uphold road and highway safety on their end.
• Speeding: Driving above the speed limit is a common cause of accidents, as it reduces the driver’s ability to steer safely around curves or objects in the roadway, extends the distance necessary to stop a vehicle, and increases the distance a vehicle travels while the driver reacts to a dangerous situation.
• Impaired Driving: Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication impairs the driver’s ability to operate the vehicle safely, increasing the likelihood of accidents. Unfortunately, driving impaired remains a perennial cause of Florida auto accidents.
• Running Red Lights and Stop Signs: Disobeying traffic signals and signs is a common cause of accidents, often leading to severe side-impact collisions.
• Reckless Driving: This includes a range of traffic offenses such as tailgating, changing lanes without signaling, and overtaking in a dangerous manner. Such behavior unnecessarily runs the risk of causing severe injuries to drivers and passengers in other vehicles involved in the interaction.
• Fatigued Driving: Drivers who are drowsy or fall asleep at the wheel pose a significant risk of auto accidents, as their reaction times and ability to focus on the road are significantly impaired.
• Aggressive Driving and Road Rage: This can include speeding, tailgating, failing to yield the right of way, cutting off other drivers, and other forms of aggressive behavior on the road.
• Mechanical Failures: Car accidents can also be caused by mechanical failures, including brake failure, tire blowouts, steering failure, and other vehicle malfunctions.
• Poor Road Conditions: Poorly maintained roads, lack of proper signage, or bad weather conditions can also contribute to car accidents.

An experienced car accident lawyer will work with you to promptly collect evidence to prove your case following a car accident in Florida. Be sure to detail the behavior of the other drivers involved, as it may fit the definition of reckless driving.

It is wise to immediately begin working with an experienced attorney in Palm Beach County to assess the details of your case and determine the viability of your claim and the appropriate path to seek an appropriate car accident settlement. Evidence from car accidents often needs to be recorded quickly, so you should act promptly.

What to Do After a Car Accident in Florida

If you’re involved in a car accident in Florida, take several key steps to protect your health, preserve evidence, and safeguard your ability to pursue a car accident claim:

1. Prioritize Safety: First, ensure everyone is safe and out of harm’s way if possible, call 911. This will dispatch help and formally document the incident.
2. Seek Medical Attention: Even if injuries seem minor, it’s important to seek immediate medical attention. Some injuries may not be apparent immediately after the accident but can manifest later.
3. Document the Scene: If it’s safe to do so, take photos or videos of the accident scene, including vehicle damage, road conditions, traffic signs, and any visible injuries. This can serve as crucial evidence in your case.
4. Report the Accident: In Florida, you’re required to report car accidents involving injury, death, or property damage exceeding $500 to the Florida Highway Patrol or local police.
5. Exchange Information: Secure the other driver’s name, contact information, driver’s license number, insurance information, and license plate number.
6. Notify Your Insurance Company: Report the accident to your insurer as soon as possible. Be factual, but avoid admitting fault or speculating about what happened.
7. Avoid Social Media: Refrain from discussing the accident or your injuries on social media, as this information could potentially be used against you in a lawsuit.
8. Consult a Lawyer: Contact a personal injury lawyer who is experienced in Florida auto accidents. They can guide you through the legal process and seek to maximize your compensation.
9. Keep Records: Maintain a file with all accident-related documents and receipts, including medical expenses, repair estimates, and missed work days.
10. Follow Medical Advice: Continue follow-up appointments and adhere to your doctor’s advice. Failing to do so could be used against you to suggest that your injuries are not as serious as claimed.

A Note on Personal Injury Protection Coverage (PIP) as it Relates to Your Car Accident Insurance and Florida Personal Injury Law

Florida’s no-fault insurance system requires that you have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage with your car insurance, which takes care of your medical expenses and lost wages up to a specific limit, regardless of fault. However, if your injuries are severe, there is an option to step outside this system and file a claim against the driver responsible for the auto accident.

What Not To Do After a Car Accident

There are also several actions you should avoid after a Florida car accident in order to protect your ability to pursue a legal case and prevent potential negative impacts on your future:

• Leaving the Scene: It’s illegal to leave the scene of an accident in Florida. Always stay until you’ve exchanged information with the other driver and reported the incident to the police. Understand that you and your attorney will later secure a copy of the police report to refer to as evidence in your case.
• Admitting Fault: Avoid admitting fault at the scene of the accident, even if you think you might be responsible. Determining liability often requires a thorough investigation, and prematurely accepting blame could jeopardize your case.
• Failing to Report the Accident: Florida law requires you to report car accidents involving injury, death, or significant property damage. Not reporting can lead to penalties and complications with your insurance claim. However, do not proceed to discuss further details with the insurance adjuster. Leave those discussions to an experienced car accident attorney.
• Neglecting Medical Treatment: Even if you don’t feel injured immediately after the auto accident, it’s important to seek medical attention. Delaying or neglecting medical treatment could imply that your injuries are not serious or that they were not caused by the accident.
• Discussing the Accident Publicly: Refrain from discussing the details of the accident or your injuries on social media or with anyone other than your attorney, doctor, or insurance company.
• Signing Documents Without Legal Advice: Be cautious about signing any documents related to the accident without consulting a lawyer first. You could inadvertently sign away your rights or accept a lowball settlement offer.
• Negotiating with the Other Party’s Insurance Company Alone: The other party’s insurance company may attempt to minimize their payout to you. It’s advisable to have an attorney handle these negotiations to protect your ability to seek fair compensation.
• Ignoring Your Doctor’s Advice: Failing to follow your doctor’s prescribed treatment plan could be used against you to suggest that your injuries are not as serious as you have claimed, jeopardizing your case.

Be sure to tell your accident attorney if you have made any of these common mistakes during your free consultation with one of our personal injury lawyers at Britto & Herman.

Assessing the Factors Affecting the Value of Your Car Accident Case

The value of a car accident case in Florida can be affected by several factors:

• Severity of Injuries: The more severe your injuries are, the higher the potential value of your claim. This is because more serious injuries typically lead to greater medical expenses, longer recovery times, and potentially permanent disability.
• Fault: Florida operates under a comparative fault system. This means if you were partially at fault for the accident, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. You cannot collect any compensation if you are determined to be at fault at a level of more than 50% in Florida.
• Documentation: Having thorough documentation can significantly impact your case. This includes medical records, police reports, photos of the accident scene and car accident damage, witness statements, and any other evidence that supports your claim.
• Economic Damages: These are tangible losses that can be mathematically calculated based on known and projected bills and expenses. They include medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and future costs such as ongoing medical treatment and loss of future earning capacity.
• Non-Economic Damages: These are intangible losses that are more difficult to quantify. They include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of companionship. An experienced accident lawyer can help to assess and quantify non-economic damages.
• Total Loss and Diminished Value: If your car is deemed a total loss, you would be entitled to the actual cash value of the vehicle before it was damaged. If your car is repaired but its market value is less than what it was before the accident (diminished value), you may be entitled to compensation for this loss.
• Statute of Limitations: In Florida, you have two years from the date of the accident to file your claim. If you miss this deadline, you may lose your right to pursue compensation.
• Long-Term Impact of Injuries: If your injuries lead to long-term or permanent disability, this should be factored into the value of your case. This could include ongoing medical costs, future loss of earnings, and the cost of any necessary modifications to your home or vehicle.
• Representation: Having a skilled lawyer can also affect the value of your case. They can evaluate your claim, negotiate with the insurance company, and advocate for your interests.

Based on the above factors, your Florida car accident lawyer can estimate the value of your auto accident case in Palm Beach County. Coordinate with an experienced car accident lawyer immediately following a car accident in Florida. Working with an attorney is important when gathering evidence, making car accident claims involving your own insurance company, and seeking car accident settlements according to a cohesive strategy that will be determined with your personal injury lawyer.

Schedule a Free Case Evaluation Today with a Florida Car Accident Attorney at Britto & Herman Injury Lawyers in Jupiter — Serving All Florida Counties

For a free consultation with one of our experienced Florida car accident lawyers, call (561) 835-5555(561) 835-5555 and press “0” to be connected to the first available Florida car accident lawyer. Alternatively, fill out our online form, and we will contact you shortly.

We have been serving Florida residents for over a decade, and we are ready to help you seek appropriate compensation through your car accident claim or through a personal injury lawsuit, if necessary.We serve residents in all Florida counties.

It is wise to work in coordination with an experienced Florida car accident attorney from the outset of your car accident claim in order to effectively interact with the insurance company while pursuing a car accident claim and an appropriate settlement. Contact an experienced car accident lawyer today at Britto & Herman Injury Lawyers to begin your strategy following a car crash in Florida.

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