Port St. Lucie car accident lawyer

There are over 250,000 car accidents in Florida every year, resulting in thousands of deaths and injuries to victims like you. Most of these car accidents are entirely preventable. If only drivers paid attention to the traffic around them and were prepared for weather conditions, we could greatly reduce the number of accidents in Port St Lucie.

If you have been injured in a car accident, seek compensation. You shouldn’t be responsible for paying for injuries caused by someone else’s negligence. However, it can be hard to be awarded the damages you’re rightfully owed.

Call our car accident lawyers in Port St. Lucie today. We will explain the process of filing for damages, represent you every step of the way, and ensure you get the maximum compensation for your injuries.

To collect compensation after a car accident, you may need to file a claim for damages. Our expert Florida car accident lawyers in Port St. Lucie can help you today.

Steps to take after being in a crash

1. Seek medical attention

You should always seek medical attention immediately after a car accident, even if you don’t feel very hurt. Adrenaline and other hormones can mask the feeling of a serious injury, so it’s a good idea to get checked out quickly.

Call 911 at the scene and request the police and an ambulance. If you or your passenger(s) are seriously injured, you’ll receive the care you need now.

2. Speak with the responding police officer

When the police officer arrives at the scene, tell them what happened, far enough away from the other driver(s) that they can’t eavesdrop. Unfortunately, some at-fault drivers will do everything in their power to place the blame on someone else, and you don’t want that to be you.

Having a police report will help you prove damage visible at the scene of the accident so you can collect compensation. Cooperate with the police officer and answer their questions, but don’t say anything that could demonstrate fault, such as “I’m sorry,” “I didn’t mean to,” or “I didn’t see them.”

3. Exchange policy information and notify your insurance

Once you have called the police, exchange information with the other driver. You will need their insurance provider and policy number so your insurance companies can talk to each other.

You can also call your insurance company at the scene and tell them what happened. You’re not required to report the incident at the scene, but you should do so within the first few hours. Provide your insurance company with the policy information of the other driver(s). Fill out a claim form, if required.

4. Collect evidence at the scene

If you’re not seriously injured and don’t have to go to the hospital, you should collect evidence at the scene. Take pictures of all damage (both to property and people), road conditions, weather, vehicle license plates, and anything else that seems pertinent to your case.

Keep a log on your phone where you can record information, witness names, a timeline, and any information that you deem relevant to your case. You can never have too much evidence.

5. Meet with a Port St Lucie car accident lawyer

Contact a Port St Lucie car accident lawyer to schedule a free consultation. They will help you prepare for the next steps in your claim if you have one. Make sure you hire a lawyer who will protect your rights and has time for your caseload so you don’t get pawned off on an inexperienced attorney.

Make sure you file a claim on time

For personal injury and property damage claims, you have up to two years from the date of the accident to file your claim and receive compensation.

If you do not file your claim within this deadline or “statute of limitations,” it is very unlikely that your case will be heard before the court. In fact, you could lose your right to damages and allow the defendant to walk away without having to atone for their actions.

Compensation you may be entitled to

After being injured in a car accident, you will likely experience many losses. Most people concern themselves with the financial losses but forget to factor in the devastating emotional costs they pay after a tragedy.

If you were not at fault for the car accident, you should not have to pay for these losses. Hire a Port St. Lucie car accident lawyer to have the best chance at recovering damages for your injuries and property damage.

Economic damages

Economic damages are financial losses suffered as a result of an accident. Anything with a receipt or a paper trail counts as economic damage.

This is why it is vital to maintain all bills or receipts associated with the car accident. Keep these documents in a file that you can easily access. Economic damages include:

• Ambulance fees
• Emergency Room fees
• Medicine costs
• Follow-up treatments
• Rehabilitation
• Counseling services
• Diagnostic tests
• Travel costs to hospitals
• X-rays
• Household care services
• Car repair or replacement
• Cost of rental vehicles
• Any lost or damaged items during the accident
• Lost wages due to your injury
• Loss of earning capacity, where you can no longer work as you once did due to injuries sustained in the car accident
• Loss of future earning capacity, if you are unable to earn a living in your previous career path going forward

Non-economic damages

Non-economic damages are more difficult to prove than economic damages as they are not accompanied by a receipt. In fact, most non-economic damages are mental or emotional losses that cannot be physically seen.

These vary widely from client to client but are no less significant than economic damages. Non-economic damages include:

• Pain and suffering
• Permanent disfigurement or scarring
• Emotional anguish
• Embarrassment
• Reputation damage
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of quality of life
• Loss of consortium or affection, if your loved one dies or cannot be with you due to your injury
• Anxiety or PTSD

Liability in car accident cases

In order to have a successful case, you need to prove that another driver caused the crash that directly led to your injuries. This is called “proving liability.” In car accident cases, liability may look like this:

• T-bone accidents often occur when one driver illegally enters the intersection while the other is driving through legally
• Head-on collisions typically occur when one driver swerves into another lane due to fatigue or driving under the influence
• Sideswipe collisions often occur when a car is changing lanes without looking or is swerving between lanes

These are just a few scenarios where liability is relatively easy to determine. Our skilled Port St. Lucie personal injury lawyers have decades of experience proving negligence in countless scenarios and circumstances.

How our Port St. Lucie car accident lawyers prove negligence

Evidence is critical in any claim. A Port St. Lucie car accident lawyer will gather evidence to prove the at-fault party’s negligence and how it caused your injury and/or property damages. They will use this proof to show that the negligence resulted in losses that now should be fairly compensated.

Our lawyers are tireless when collecting evidence. They will gather witness statements, medical bills, pictures of damage, paystubs, receipts, and more to build the strongest case possible.

If your car accident claim requires expert testimony to prove negligence, our car accident lawyers will find the best experts in their field to protect your rights to compensation.

We fight the insurance company to get you full compensation

Most car accident claims require fighting insurance companies for rightful compensation. The companies are so focused on their bottom line that they neglect their duty to pay out for fair settlements. Even if they do offer you a settlement, they will not take into account ongoing mental concerns or future medical issues as a result of the accident.

We will take the insurance company of the at-fault driver to court to prove your right to damages, help you determine the amounts you’re owed, and ensure that you get paid.

Common car accident injuries

Car accidents can result in serious, even fatal injuries. Our expert lawyers have represented victims who have experienced many common car accident injuries, such as:

• Whiplash
• Fractures
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Concussions
• Seat belt Injuries
• Neck and back injuries

Dealing with insurance after a crash

In Florida, you must claim personal injury settlements from your personal injury protection coverage under your car insurance before you can file a lawsuit against the other individual.

Provide your insurance company with only the facts. Never agree to be recorded or to give an official statement without your lawyer’s approval.

The other driver’s insurance company does not have your best interests at heart. They are working to save their money, which means denying your legitimate claim. If they are calling you, it is because they are working to undermine your lawsuit however that can.

You should never provide them with information. Always tell them that your lawyer will contact them on your behalf.

If you don’t have a lawyer yet, you can still say this. Then immediately go online and find the best car accident lawyer in Port St. Lucie and tell them what has happened. A reputable lawyer will be willing to help you work with the other party’s insurance company. They will protect your right to damages and not fall for the insurance company’s tricks.

Cost of hiring a car accident lawyer

When you work with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath, you won’t owe us a dime until we win your case. This is called being paid “on contingency,” and you can rest assured we’ll do everything in our power to win your case and get you full compensation.

Why you should visit the doctor as soon as possible

If you have been involved in a car accident, you need to seek medical attention immediately. You may not feel injured due to the shock of the traumatic event. Even minor pains could be a sign of a severe injury that you haven’t noticed yet.

Prevent life-long complications by seeking medical attention from a licensed physician as soon as possible following the accident. You may need to call your insurance company to check which hospitals are covered under your policy.

Hurt in a crash? Our Port St. Lucie car accident lawyers are ready to help

The sooner you hire a car accident lawyer, the sooner we can begin gathering fresh evidence and building a strong case for damages.

Attorneys with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath have helped countless victims get their lives back after being injured by someone else’s negligence. Offering our clients the best chance at gaining maximum compensation is our goal.

Call (561) 655-1990 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.