Auto Accident Attorney in Florida

Hiring a personal injury attorney is critical if you are injured in a car accident. Many accident victims represent themselves and don't get the adequate compensation they need and deserve. Studies show that hiring the right attorney to handle a car accident case is compensated much more than an accident victim handling the case themselves. A significant amount of compensation is left on the table because accident victims don't know all the legalities and processes needed to maximize their compensation.

Insurance companies will offer injured parties a minimal amount of compensation because they know that accident victims don't know or understand all the steps necessary to get full compensation for their injuries. Many times, insurance companies offer minimal amounts of compensation immediately after the accident to take advantage of the injured party. Until a proper diagnosis is assessed, future injuries or medical treatment is unknown. Therefore, it is imperative to see a doctor to properly assess your injuries immediately after the accident. We can help guide victims through the whole process. At Rodriguez & Williamson, PLLC, we will fight on your behalf, ensuring that you get the compensation for medical, repair costs, lost wages and pain and suffering.

Common Auto Accident Injuries in Florida

Injuries sustained from auto accidents can range anywhere from minor to fatal. The types of immediate bodily injuries that are often involved in personal injury claims include:

Broken bones
Lacerations and cuts
Nerve damage
Whiplash
Spinal injuries
Traumatic brain injuries
Chronic pain.

All of the above injuries can be serious and life-threatening. All bodily injuries, regardless of severity, are compensable if you are the accident victim. In many cases, psychological, mental, and emotional injuries can be compensable, too.

Types of Auto Accidents in Florida

The type of injuries you sustain are often the result, in part, of the type of car accident. The most common types of crashes involve the following:

Head-on collisions are among the most devastating, resulting in severe and life-threatening bodily injuries.
Rear-end accidents, which are among the most common and frequently result in whiplash
Side-impact collisions, which are expected, usually occur at intersections and result in various injuries depending on where the vehicle was struck.
Rollover accidents, which are less common but result in head and neck injuries
Sideswipe accidents are less common and occur when two or more vehicles travel parallel, and one swipes the side of the other vehicle.
Blind spot accidents are less common and occur when one vehicle fails to spot another while changing or merging into another lane.

In part, liability for property and bodily damages can often be determined by the type of accident. It's important to remember, though, that accidents can be complex events, and so though the type may initially and seemingly indicate a fault, a thorough investigation must be conducted to understand where liability falls.

Common Causes of Auto Accidents in Florida

Car accidents happen due to many reasons. Typically, causes can be grouped into three categories: drivers, vehicles, and environment.

Drivers

Intoxicated driving (e.g., alcohol, marijuana, prescription drugs, illicit drugs)
Distracted driving (e.g., eating, texting, disciplining children)
Drowsy driving or falling asleep while driving
Speeding or reckless driving
Decision error (e.g., driving too fast for the conditions, misjudging another driver's actions)
Recognition error (e.g., inattention)
Performance error (e.g., overcompensation, poor directional control)

Vehicles

Tires/wheels-related
Brakes-related
Steering/suspension/transmission/engine-related
Manufacture defects

Environment

Slick roads (e.g., ice, loose debris)
Glare
View obstructions
Signs/signals

Most crashes are the direct result of one or more drivers. Aside from crashes caused by drivers, vehicles, or environmental conditions, other reasons don't fall within these categories. For instance, pedestrians can sometimes cause an accident; in other circumstances, the cause can't be determined.

When the cause of an auto accident is clear, liability will also tend to be easily identifiable. More complex auto accident cases, however, require the insight of an experienced auto accident attorney and the knowledge and expertise of expert witnesses.

Benefits of Filing a Personal Injury Claim in Florida

After a car accident, insurance companies will investigate the cause of the wreck to see who was at fault. They will then offer to cover the victim's expenses. Insurance companies, however, are for-profit entities, making money by bringing in premium payments and increasing profit margins by minimizing the amount they pay in settlements.

When an insurance company offers a settlement, that offer may not represent the correct amount of compensation a victim deserves. Victims deserve to be compensated for their:

Medical bills, past, and future
Property damage
Lost wages, past, and future
Reduced earnings
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
And more

Frequently, insurance settlement offers only cover property damage and medical bills, and only those that have been incurred so far. Sometimes the settlement will also include lost wages, but again, it may only include the wages lost to date, not necessarily future wages or loss of earned income. Much of it depends on the rules of your jurisdiction.

By hiring a lawyer and pursuing these other forms of compensation, accident victims can fight for what they deserve.

Contact an Auto Accident Lawyer in Florida Today

Auto accidents can be straightforward or complex. Regardless, speaking to an auto accident attorney is in your best interests. At Rodriguez and Williamson, PLLC, we work hard for our clients to obtain fair and just compensation. Contact us using our online form or call us directly at 813-320-7500 to schedule a free Consultation today.

Automobile collisions are one of the most common causes of personal injury. The drivers who were responsible for the accident are the ones who will have to pay for any losses, whether they be physical injuries, or damage to property. Payouts from insurance policies that are equitable and sufficient can help cover part of the costs of the loss, but in many cases, this is not enough. When that isn't enough, you might need the assistance of a personal injury attorney with specialized knowledge in auto accidents.

Our auto accident attorneys can assist you in compiling a credible and well-supported personal injury claim, increasing the likelihood that you will be compensated fairly for your injuries. You can schedule a free consultation regarding your case by calling us at 813-320-7500 or contacting us on our website.

Injuries Sustained Most Frequently in Auto Accidents in Florida

Accidents involving motor vehicles can leave victims with injuries ranging from relatively mild to fatal. The following are examples of immediate bodily injuries that frequently give rise to legal action in the form of personal injury claims:

Broken bones
A variety of cuts and lacerations
Nerve injury
Whiplash
Spinal injuries
Traumatic brain injuries
Ongoing pain

Every one of these wounds can be extremely severe and even fatal. If you were the victim of an accident, you have the right to compensation for any bodily injuries, regardless of their severity. In certain instances, a victim may be entitled to compensation for physical, psychological, mental and emotional harm.

Different Categories of Automobile Crashes in Florida

The nature of the car accident in which you were involved in often determines, at least in part, the injuries you sustained. The following categories make up the vast majority of all collisions:

Accidents in which two vehicles collide head-on are among the most catastrophic because they cause severe and potentially fatal injuries to both parties.

Accidents that occur from behind, which are among the most frequent, commonly cause whiplash because of their unsuspecting impact to the victim.

Side-impact collisions are to be expected and typically take place at junctions. The injuries sustained in these collisions vary depending on which part of the car was struck by the other vehicle.

Rollover incidents, although not very common, are a leading cause of injuries to the head and neck.

Accidents known as "sideswipes" are not as prevalent as other collisions, and they occur when two or more vehicles traveling in parallel collide.

Accidents in a vehicle's blind area are not very common and occur when a driver cannot see another vehicle while changing lanes or merging into another one.

The nature of the accident is frequently a significant factor in determining who is responsible for paying for damages to both property and persons. However, it is essential to remember that accidents can be intricate events; hence, even though the type of accident may initially imply fault, a comprehensive investigation must be undertaken to establish where the blame lies.

The Most Frequent Reasons for Automobile Accidents in Florida

Car accidents happen due to several factors. In most cases, the causes can be divided into three categories: the drivers, the vehicles, and the surroundings.

Drivers
Driving while intoxicated (e.g., alcohol, marijuana, prescription drugs, illicit drugs)
Driving while distracted (e.g., eating, texting, disciplining children)
Drowsy driving or falling asleep while behind the wheel is a serious offense.
Speeding or irresponsible driving
Error in judgment (such as driving too quickly for the conditions or failing to judge the behavior of another driver correctly)
Recognition error (e.g., inattention)
Performance error (e.g., overcompensation, poor directional control)
Vehicles
Tires/wheels-related
Brakes-related
Steering/suspension/transmission/engine-related
Manufacture defects
Environment
Slick roads (e.g., ice, loose debris)
Glare
Impediments to the view
Signs/signals

The majority of collisions are brought about directly by one or more drivers. In addition to collisions brought on by drivers, vehicles, or environmental conditions, other causes do not fit into these categories. For instance, pedestrians can occasionally cause an accident, yet in other situations, the reason for the accident cannot be identified.

When the reason for a car crash can be determined relatively easily, determining liability for the crash is typically not problematic. However, more complicated vehicle accident cases need the counsel of an experienced auto accident attorney and the knowledge and expertise of witnesses who are qualified as experts in their field (i.e. accident reconstructionists).

What Are the Benefits of Filing a Claim for Personal Injury in Florida?

Following a collision, the insurance companies will investigate what caused the accident and who was at fault. After that, they will offer to pay for the victim's medical bills. However, insurance firms are organizations that operate to make a profit, and they do this by collecting monthly or yearly premium payments and maximizing their profit margins by reducing the amount they have to pay out in settlements.

When an insurance company makes a settlement offer, the amount of compensation that is being proposed may not accurately reflect the amount that a victim deserves. It is only fair that victims be paid for the following:

Past and upcoming obligations for medical expenses
Property damage
Lost wages, both in the past and in the future
Earnings that are lowered
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress

Most of the time, insurance settlement offers will only cover property damage and medical expenditures, and even then, only those that have already been incurred. Sometimes the settlement will also include lost wages, but again, it may only include the wages lost to date, not necessarily future wages or loss of earned income. Other times, however, the settlement will include both types of losses. Many of it is determined by the laws governing your jurisdiction.

Accident victims can fight for what is rightfully theirs by retaining legal representation and pursuing these various alternative forms of compensation.

Get in touch with a car crash attorney in Florida today.

Automobile collisions can be quite simple or extremely complicated. Regardless, discussing the collision with a lawyer specializing in auto accidents is in your best interest. At Rodriguez and Williamson, we put forth much effort to ensure that our clients receive compensation that is both fair and just. To schedule a free consultation with us right away, please get in touch with us through the online form, or call us at 813-320-7500.