Car Accident Lawyer in Coral Gables, FL
A sudden car crash can disrupt your entire life in different ways. You may also sustain injuries in a crash that require you to undergo treatment or even stop working. Statistics compiled by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FHSMV) show that roughly 400,000 accidents occurred in 2016, causing over 250,000 unique injuries, over 3,000 fatalities, and over 20,000 incapacitating injuries. This means that, on average, 1,081 accidents occurred throughout the state every single day.
If you were involved in a Coral Gables car accident, you should talk to a car accident lawyer immediately to pursue a settlement for your injuries. Our lawyers provide legal representation and counsel to car accident victims. We only charge legal fees after we’ve successfully recovered the compensation you deserve. To schedule an appointment with our experienced attorneys, call 305-928-2909.
How To Protect Your Rights After a Coral Gables Car Accident
Your actions in the days and weeks following a crash can affect the financial award you may be entitled to after your accident. To maximize your compensation for losses incurred and injuries suffered, do the following:
- Remain polite but don’t apologize. Exchange information with the other party after the accident. Collect the insurance information and the name of the driver, as well as any witnesses on site. Avoid apologizing, as the other party may construe your apology as admitting to fault. Remain polite with the other party involved but don’t offer an apology for the crash.
- Seek medical care. Even if you think you have not suffered serious injuries that require treatment, failing to seek medical care will mean you will not have a medical report available for your post-accident injuries. This can make winning compensation much more difficult. Moreover, your injuries may continue to worsen, making them more severe than you initially thought. To be safe, seek medical attention and treatment, if necessary, immediately.
- Call a lawyer. The best way to protect your legal rights as an accident victim is to call an attorney right away. If you delay in seeking legal counsel, you’ll risk losing important evidence needed to support your case since insurance companies take advantage of accident victims that are not represented by private legal counsel.
Common Causes of Car Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents can be caused by many factors, including:
- Drunk Drivers – Drunk driving is against Florida law. However, every year, thousands of drivers continue to get behind the wheel while intoxicated, putting passengers, pedestrians, and other road users at risk. Drunk drivers more often than not eventually cause an accident that can forever change the life of a victim.
- Hit and Run Drivers – The law requires motorists to stop after a crash and to remain at the accident scene until law enforcement officials arrive. They’re expected to help injured victims, exchange information, and report the crash to the police. Unfortunately, many motorists flee the scene for a number of reasons, including being drunk, driving a stolen car, being worried about the consequences of the crash, and more.
- Distracted Drivers – Every driver should know the risks associated with distracted driving such as texting/chatting on the phone, posting on social media while driving, and even eating or looking at the GPS. It only takes a second to lose focus and cause a devastating accident that could have been avoided.
Florida’s No-Fault Insurance Laws
Florida requires drivers to have a minimum of $10,000 as personal injury protection benefits (PIP). These benefits cover up to 80% of medical expenses and up to 60% of lost income. However, with the high cost of medical care, even $10,000 may not be enough to pay for all accident-related health and property damage.
You can only seek compensation from the other motorist if they caused the accident and your PIP benefits have been exhausted. Luckily, if the guilty motorist carries a personal injury insurance policy that can cover your lost income, medical costs, as well as suffering and pain, you may be able to seek full compensation from their insurance provider. However, not all motorists carry such coverage as they are not required to do so.
You should check with your own insurer if you have uninsured or under-insured motorist coverage. This will help pay your compensation in case the at-fault motorist doesn’t have personal injury insurance. Drivers who don’t have uninsured motorist (UM) coverage should speak with a lawyer immediately to discuss all legal options.
Call Us Today to Speak With a Coral Gables Car Accident Lawyer
Car accidents can cause both economic as well as non-economic losses. Accident victims should take the necessary steps to protect their legal rights. Contact our attorneys at 305-928-2909 to discuss the facts of your case and to pursue a full and fair settlement for all damages and injuries that you’ve sustained. Call now.