Car accidents are often an incredibly traumatic experience. Not only are they physically and emotionally devastating, but they can also lead to significant financial problems.
If you or someone you love has been involved in a car accident, it’s vital to seek legal help as soon as possible. An experienced Port St. Lucie personal injury lawyer can investigate the accident and help you recover the compensation you deserve.
At GOLDLAW, our Port St. Lucie car accident lawyers have recovered more than $1 billion for personal injury clients in Florida. We understand Florida’s no-fault insurance rules, and our legal team offers free consultations to anyone injured in a motor vehicle accident.
Why You Should Hire GOLDLAW For Your Florida Car Accident Claim
When choosing a personal injury attorney, it’s important to choose someone who makes you feel comfortable and has experience handling cases like yours. GOLDLAW is here to help.
Here’s what we have to offer:
- Since 2002, our firm has been dedicated to protecting the rights of injury victims throughout Florida.
- Our Florida personal injury attorneys have secured more than $1 billion in compensation for injured clients and their families.
- Our team brings together more than 200 years of combined legal experience handling challenging personal injury and accident claims.
- We have the resources necessary to thoroughly investigate and litigate your case.
- We handle exclusively personal injury cases, as well as Port St. Lucie truck accident cases, so we have local knowledge of this area.
- We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you owe us nothing unless we win.
For a free legal consultation with a car accident lawyer serving Port St. Lucie, call 561-222-2222
Common Car Accident Injuries in Port St. Lucie
Unfortunately, car accident injuries are often severe. When individuals refer to an injury as being incapacitating, this typically means a catastrophic injury such as a traumatic brain injury or a spinal cord injury.
Some of the most common injuries associated with vehicle accidents, injuries that often lead to medical care and expenses, include the following:
- Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries with or without paralysis
- Severe lacerations or puncture wounds
- Broken bones or dislocations
- Internal bleeding
- Internal organ damage
- Crush injuries or amputations
Be sure to retain your medical records so that your personal injury law team can prove that your accident caused your injuries. Whether you were injured in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident, GOLDLAW is here to help.
Click to contact our Personal Injury Lawyers in Port St. Lucie today
Common Car Accident Causes
Some of the leading causes of vehicle accidents in Port St. Lucie, West Palm Beach, and all throughout Florida include the following:
- Speeding
- Impaired driving (alcohol and drugs)
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Following others too closely
- Failing to stop at stop signs and stop lights
- Aggressive driving
- Improper lane change
- Distracted driving
Whether a crash was caused by distracted driving, speeding, impaired driving, or another dangerous action, the aftermath can leave victims dealing with traumatic injuries, mounting medical bills, lost income, and emotional stress.
At GOLDLAW, our personal injury law team is dedicated to helping injury victims throughout Florida pursue the compensation they deserve after a serious accident. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a crash, we are ready to provide a free consultation.
Call or text 561-222-2222 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
Types of Compensation Available for Car Accident Victims
Our team works diligently to recover maximum compensation on behalf of our clients. We want crash victims to recover compensation for all of their economic and non-economic damages.
The economic damages after a vehicle accident are often referred to as “special damages.” These types of losses revolve around calculable expenses that car accident victims are likely to incur as a result of the incident.
Our trial injury team will use the receipts, bills, and invoices that the car accident victim receives in order to adequately calculate the following:
- Emergency medical bills
- Ongoing hospital or doctor costs
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Medical devices or prescription medications
- Property damage expenses
- Rental vehicle expenses
- Lost income and loss of future earnings
- Various household out-of-pocket expenses
No-Fault Insurance
Under Florida’s no-fault insurance system, individuals are usually able to receive up to 80% of their medical expenses as well as up to 60% of their lost wages. Through no-fault insurance, individuals will turn to their own insurance carrier to recover this compensation.
Individuals who have insurance policies in the state of Florida will also be able to recover compensation for property damage expenses if the other driver was at fault, but only up to the limits of the other driver’s policy.
When Can You Step Outside of the No-Fault System?
If an individual is able to step outside of the no-fault system because the incident meets the thresholds established by state law, then they may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit in civil court against the at-fault party.
Under these circumstances, an individual may be able to recover compensation for all of their economic costs as well as compensation for non-economic damages.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages after a West Palm Beach vehicle accident are sometimes referred to as “general damages,” but you may also hear individuals refer to them as pain and suffering damages.
These types of losses are more immeasurable than the economic damages just mentioned because there typically are not any bills or receipts related to these types of losses. However, they are equally important to calculate and include in a final settlement or jury verdict.
Some of the most common non-economic damages associated with a vehicle accident include a victim’s:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional and psychological pain and suffering
- The loss of quality of life
- Loss of consortium (for a spouse)
How Much Compensation Are You Entitled To?
The total amount of compensation available for vehicle accident victims in West Palm Beach will vary depending on several factors related to the incident.
Some of these factors include the severity of the injury, how long it takes a person to recover, whether or not there was any disability, and whether or not there was any shared fault for the overall incident.
Your car accident attorney in Port St. Lucie will examine the facts of the case and enlist assistance from trusted economic and medical experts when working to calculate total losses.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
What is the Statute of Limitations in Florida Car Accident Claims?
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Florida House Bill (HB) 837 in March of 2023, and this law changed the statute of limitations related to auto accident claims.
Previously, individuals had four years to file a personal injury lawsuit against a third party if a civil lawsuit was appropriate for the situation. However, individuals now only have two years to file a lawsuit in civil court against a defendant.
Missing This Deadline Bars You From Pursuing Compensation
If you have any questions about the personal injury statute of limitations related to your particular case and your eligibility to file a lawsuit, please reach out to a lawyer.
Additionally, you need to be aware that there are deadlines in place related to insurance carrier claims as well. Failing to file an insurance claim within the carrier’s deadlines could lead to a claim delay or denial.
We encourage you to speak to your Port St. Lucie car accident lawyer as soon as possible if you have any questions about whether or not you are bumping up against timelines related to your case. The sooner you get your claim filed, either with an insurance carrier or in the civil court system, the better.
Who Can You Sue For Your Car Accident in Florida?
If you’ve been in a car accident, you may be wondering who could be held liable for the damages. The answer depends on the specific circumstances of your accident, but there are a few parties that are commonly found to be at fault:
- The driver: In most cases, the driver of the other vehicle will be found at fault for a motor vehicle traffic accident. This is because drivers are expected to operate their vehicles in a safe and reasonable manner.
- The manufacturer: In some cases, the driver may not be at fault for an accident, but rather the vehicle’s manufacturer. This can happen if a defect in the design or manufacture of the car causes it to malfunction and cause an accident. If this is the case, you may have a claim against the manufacturer.
- The government: The government is responsible for maintaining safe roads and road conditions. If an accident occurs due to poor road conditions, they could be held liable. The statute of limitations is shorter for a claim against the government, so make sure you contact a Port St. Lucie car accident lawyer.
Steps to Take After a Car Accident
Our personal injury lawyers can help you learn what to do after a car wreck. There are a few critical steps that you will need to take to make a successful injury claim, including:
Seek Medical Help
The first thing you need to do after an accident is seek medical attention, even if you do not think your injuries are serious. This is important for two reasons.
First, it will ensure that any injuries are treated as soon as possible.
Second, it will create documentation of your injuries, which will be important when making a claim. The amount of compensation you’re entitled to will depend in large part on the severity of your injuries and the cost of your medical expenses.
Call the Police
Once Florida law enforcement arrives, they will observe the scene, talk to witnesses, and write up a report. The police report will document what happened and could be helpful if you decide to file a personal injury claim. Always request a copy of the report.
Gather Evidence
Take photos of the scene and get contact information for any witnesses who may have seen what happened. It is important to gather this evidence as soon as possible after the accident because it can be challenging to do so down the line.
Make sure you keep track of all medical appointments and other expenses related to the accident. This documentation will be essential when it comes time to file a claim with the insurance company.
Speak With a Port St. Lucie Car Accident Attorney
The next step is to speak with an experienced Port St. Lucie personal injury attorney who can assess your case and advise you on what kind of claim to make and what compensation you may be entitled to.
Your personal injury lawyer will also be able to handle all aspects of your claim on your behalf so that you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
Dealing with the aftermath of a South Florida car crash is never easy, but by taking the right steps, you can ensure that you are taken care of both physically and legally.
Get a Free Consultation With a Port St. Lucie Car Accident Attorney Today
If you or someone you care about has been injured in a car accident caused by a negligent party in South Florida, we encourage you to reach out to a skilled Port St. Lucie car accident lawyer as soon as possible.
At GOLDLAW, we have extensive experience handling vehicle accident claims throughout Florida, and we know what it takes to help clients recover the compensation they need for their losses.
If you were involved in a car accident and believe you might have a civil personal injury claim, contact GOLDLAW to schedule your free consultation.
Get GOLDLAW and get the help you need and compensation you deserve.
