South Florida car accident lawyer

If you’ve suffered a severe injury in a car crash that wasn’t your fault, you’re likely feeling frustrated and angry. Not only are you dealing with a great deal of pain, but the medical bills keep pouring in. It’s time to contact a skilled car accident lawyer with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath.

Our firm has decades of experience helping clients obtain the compensation they deserve. If you’re ready to work with a South Florida car accident lawyer who will provide the aggressive representation you need, we’ll be ready to help. You can rest assured we’ll do everything we can to help you achieve justice.

Use our online form or call (561) 655-1990 to schedule your free consultation.

Steps to take after being in a crash

Not only will you help protect your health by taking these steps, but you’ll also increase your chances of obtaining the compensation you deserve.

1. Move your vehicle to a safer location

If it’s safe to do so, move your vehicle to the side of the road or a nearby parking lot. Move away from traffic – it only takes one inattentive driver to make an already bad situation much worse.

2. Check yourself and your passenger(s) for injuries

The more information you can give emergency personnel regarding your condition, the faster you’ll receive treatment. Do a quick self-check to see if you have any broken bones, potential internal injuries, or a head injury.

3. Call 911 and ask for police and an ambulance

The faster you get medical attention, the better the chances you’ll make a full recovery. When you call 911, tell the dispatcher you need an ambulance.

4. Tell your side of the story to the responding police officer

The officer is going to ask you some questions regarding the accident. Give truthful answers, of course, but stick to the facts. Don’t say anything the officer could construe as you taking the blame. Your words will wind up in the police report. If you admit fault, the insurance company will use that against you.

5. Notify your insurance company

You should notify your insurer of the crash as soon as possible. Even your insurance carrier will look for any excuse to deny you full compensation – delaying notification could give them that excuse.

6. Gather evidence at the scene

Again, your safety should always be your top priority, but if you can get photos or videos of the accident scene, that could really help your case. Take pictures of the damaged vehicles, skid marks, and anything else you think is important.

7. Visit Urgent Care or your primary care physician

You might not feel that bad after the wreck, and you may not want to go to the hospital, but you should at least see your doctor or a nearby urgent care clinic. Many injuries don’t start to show symptoms until long after they occur. Seeing a doctor will also establish your medical expenses, which will be vital to your case.

8. Meet with a car accident attorney to understand your legal options

Speaking with a South Florida car accident lawyer is almost as critical as getting medical help. Try to do this as soon as possible so your attorney can investigate the accident. They’ll work to gather the evidence needed to make your case as strong as possible.

Make sure you file a claim on time

In March 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis changed the state’s personal injury lawsuit statute of limitations from four years to two. A “statute of limitations” is the deadline in which you can take legal action. If you let the deadline expire, you won’t be able to obtain compensation for your injury.

Possible damages you can claim

Economic damages

Economic damages are tangible and straightforward. They include expenses like medical bills, including ambulance rides and follow-up appointments, and lost wages as a result of you being out of work.

Non-economic damages

Non-economic damages are more difficult to prove, as they don’t necessarily come with a price tag or receipt. This type of damages includes things like pain and suffering and emotional distress. If you’ve suffered a mental or emotional injury following the crash, you need to work with a South Florida car accident attorney to recover what you deserve.

Parties who may be liable for your injury

When someone is held “liable” in an incident, they have been found legally responsible and are therefore obligated to pay the victim to make up for their losses.

The driver who hit your car, for instance, may have lost control of their vehicle due to a blown-out tire or a failed braking system. If that’s the case, you can sue the manufacturer of the faulty component.

You could also sue the driver for being impaired, or driving while texting or talking on their phone. There could be some other party that contributed to the accident. Hiring an attorney right away will help identify all liable parties quickly.

How our South Florida attorneys prove negligence

Your skilled attorney with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath will go to the accident scene to gather evidence. They’ll also obtain footage from any surveillance cameras that might show what happened. If it appears that distracted driving caused the wreck, your lawyer may also be able to obtain the at-fault driver’s phone records.

When you choose our firm, we’ll dig deep to find every piece of evidence.

We fight the insurance company to get you the maximum compensation

You want a law firm that won’t be intimidated by huge insurance corporations. At Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath, our attorneys have a long track record of defeating formidable opposition. We definitely won’t be intimidated by the insurance company.

Car accidents are more frequent and more dangerous

Between 2020 and 2022, there were an average of nearly 380,000 car accidents in Florida. Tragically, these accidents claimed more than 10,500 lives.

People are driving more than ever before, and, unfortunately, they’re more distracted than ever. Not only are far too many of them looking at their phones instead of the road, but they’re also fiddling with the technological features found in today’s vehicles. This is a recipe for disaster.

Common car accident injuries

Any kind of car accident can result in devastating injuries. Some of the more common examples include the following:

• Broken bones
• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Burns
• Internal organ damage
• Amputations
• Death

“Dos” and “don’ts” of dealing with insurance after a crash

The best way to deal with an insurance company is not to deal with them at all. When the at-fault driver’s insurer tries to get in touch, simply provide your contact information and the name of your insurance provider. Don’t answer any other questions. Refer them to your attorney instead.

We’ve seen far too many instances where unsuspecting car accident victims damaged their cases by speaking with an insurance company adjuster. These adjusters are laser-focused on denying as many claims as they can – and they employ a lot of tricks to do just that. But if you have a lawyer, you won’t have to experience any harassment.

Cost of hiring a car accident lawyer

Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath won’t charge you a penny unless we win your case. This is known as a “contingency” agreement. We focus on your case while you focus on your recovery.

Why you should visit a doctor as soon as possible

Getting medical help immediately can increase your chances of a full recovery, and can also help prove your medical expenses. If the insurer learns you haven’t seen a doctor, they could argue your injury really isn’t that serious. They could conceivably argue that you’re not hurt at all.

Why work with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath

Each of our South Florida car accident lawyers is passionate about delivering the highest-quality legal representation. You won’t meet a firm that works harder to help you obtain every bit of compensation that you deserve.

Our South Florida car accident attorneys are here to help

Please don’t hesitate to contact Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath at (561) 655-1990 for a free review of your case.