West Palm Beach Auto Accident Lawyer

It is a sad fact that many auto accident victims do not get the compensation they truly deserve. Much of the time, they simply didn’t understand how one unfortunate event would continue to impact them in the following months or years.

Our West Palm Beach auto accident lawyers are dedicated to putting an end to the financial suffering of injury victims. Book a no-obligation consultation today – you don’t pay unless we win.

Auto Accidents in West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach has an average of over 500 auto collisions a week, with a high rate of pedestrian collisions. This is in part due to the high amount of traffic in Palm Beach County and West Palm Beach in particular. 

 

The popular I-95 and Florida Turnpike are used by thousands daily, many of whom aren’t paying proper attention or are driving recklessly. A single wrong move can cause someone else a lifetime of pain and suffering due to injury or loss of a loved one.

 

Pedestrians need to be especially careful in Florida, as it is rated as the most dangerous state for pedestrians. It is theorized that this is due to a lack of pedestrian-friendly road constructions.

 

What we know for sure is that tragic accidents happen daily – almost 73 times, according to the averages – causing individuals life-long damage.

Our expert West Palm Beach auto accident lawyers are here to help. If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident in West Palm Beach, call us today.

Auto Accident Statistics in Palm Beach for 2019

In 2019, there were over 400,000 auto accidents in Florida. Of these reported accidents, there were 166,000 personal injuries.

Palm Beach saw 26,820 auto accidents in total in 2019. Approximately 16,789 of these resulted in injuries, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. This is a significantly higher rate of injury per accident compared to Florida’s average in 2019.

Cars are a necessity, but they can also be deadly. Unfortunately, in 2019, there were 174 fatalities in Palm Beach due to auto accidents.

Although that’s a small percentage of the total 26,820 auto accidents that occurred in Palm Beach in 2019, it represents immense tragedies for the lives of people in our county. No one wants to think of the worst happening when they’re driving on the Florida Turnpike or merging off the I-95, but accidents can happen at any time.

The majority of auto accidents are caused by distraction, reckless driving, fatigue, or vehicle failure. Stay vigilant on the road and keep your car well-maintained. If you are injured in an auto accident, contact a West Palm Beach Auto Accident Lawyer for a free consultation on how to proceed.

Call a West Palm Beach Auto Accident Lawyer Today

You are more than a statistic. If you were injured in an auto accident in West Palm Beach, we know that you have a difficult road ahead of you. But the only difficulty on that road should be your recovery, not handling a legal case. Let us put our expert lawyers on the case to reduce your stress and let you focus on your health.

 

While you recover, we’ll liaise with insurance companies and collect evidence for your claim. Don’t worry about saying or doing the right thing: your auto accident attorney knows exactly what needs to happen and when. We’ll work to get you the maximum compensation for your injuries.

 

You can rely on us to do the difficult work while you heal from the trauma of your auto accident. 

 

Call us today to start prioritizing your health.

Call Us (561) 621-4200

What To Do After an Auto Crash

Auto crashes can seem like a blur. Time slows down at impact, then speeds up afterward, making it difficult to keep your thoughts straight.

 

Follow our steps to ensure you take care of your health, manage information properly, collect the right evidence, and earn the maximum compensation.

1. First Hour After an Auto Crash
  • Stay at the scene of the accident.
  • Don’t move your car unless instructed by police or blocking traffic.
  • Assess your physical injuries and the damage to your vehicle.
  • Call the police.
  • Collect the names, licenses, and contact information for all parties involved in the crash and any witnesses. Collect insurance information, license plate numbers, and models/makes of cars. Take photographic evidence of damage to the car or of any physical injuries you may have.
2. Two Hours After the Crash
  • Tell the police the details of the accident, including your exact recollection of the events.
  • Ask the police for their name and badge number.
  • Arrange for a tow truck to collect your vehicle.
  • Write down your recollection of the crash for future evidence. 
3. Within 2-3 Days of the Accident
  • Get assessed by a medical professional, even if you don’t feel injured. Some injuries can take hours or days to appear, at which point you may have caused long-lasting damage to yourself. Ideally, go to see your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately after your auto crash.
  • Call West Palm Beach Auto Accident Lawyer for an expert who can help you collect evidence and make your case for the maximum compensation.
  • Get a copy of the police report.
  • Create a binder or folder of the evidence you have collected, including all receipts and any medical examinations. Keep detailed notes.
4. Within 7 Days of the Accident
  • File your claim with your insurance agent. Have your evidence binder or folder on hand. Be sure to discuss this claim with your lawyer before filing.
5. Long-Term
  • Continue keeping a record of all medical appointments, costs involved in your medical care or in repairing the damage to your vehicle, and issues with the insurance company. Discuss these with your lawyer.
  • Follow your lawyer’s instructions to prepare a case that will allow you to recover the maximum compensation for your injuries following the auto crash. 

How We Can Help

Maximum Compensation for Your Auto Accident Injuries

 

Our trial-tested auto accident lawyers are the best to take on your case. They have been working to protect West Palm Beach citizens’ rights for over 30 years.

 

It is extremely difficult to face insurance companies and lawyers on your own. Our expert lawyers can help support you through the claims process to ensure that your rights are protected. Both the insurance company and the defendant’s lawyers will try to find fault in you or to diminish the extent of your injuries. This would allow them to lower the amount that they would need to pay out as compensation for damages, either by claiming you were partially responsible for the damages or that you are exaggerating your damages.

 

Don’t let others deceive you or misrepresent your case. Allow our expert West Palm Beach auto accident lawyers to support your case and ensure that you recover the maximum compensation for the damages that you suffered.

These aren’t the only types of damages you can recover after a car accident, but they are the most common.

If you have questions about what you can recover in your specific case, call our West Palm Beach Auto Accident Lawyers at (561) 621-4200.

The Difference Between a Settlement and a Verdict

Settlements and verdicts are two ways of determining the outcome of a legal case for an auto accident. Settlements are decided out of court between the parties involved, usually the insurance company and the victim of the car accident. 

 

While settlements are a great way to avoid the stress of a trial, you should hire a lawyer who is prepared to go to court to get a verdict. A trial-tested lawyer is more diligent in collecting evidence and supporting you through the process of filing your claim, as they are prepared to argue it in front of a judge and jury.

 

Verdicts are the result of trials, where a judge or a jury determine the guilt or non-guilt of a party and determine the amount of damages owed.

 

This may seem more daunting, as it involves a full legal case, but a trial-tested lawyer is well-versed in the ins and outs of the courtroom. They know how to share your experience and help you recover damages without the stress of doing it alone.

 

That is why we are so proud of our trial-tested lawyers. They are specialists in assisting our clients through the process of a claim and always prepare for trial, even if a case is ultimately settled. 

When should I get a lawyer for my auto accident?

It’s best to attain a West Palm Beach auto accident lawyer as soon as possible following an auto accident.

 

While your first call should always be the police, your second should be to your lawyer. This way, they can advise you on how to proceed and what evidence to collect.

 

Bringing in a lawyer this early may sound odd, as you don’t even know the full extent of the damages yet, but you’ll appreciate it in the long run. By hiring an auto accident lawyer early, you’ll get support from day one of your claim. 

Rather than fighting with the insurance company on your own for months and letting the stress of the claim affect your health, allow us to ease your burden.

 

Get our specialized help to determine what evidence to collect, how much you’re owed in damages, and how best to proceed with your case to ensure that you receive the maximum amount of those damages.

Call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation of your case.

What types of damages can I recover
from my car accident?

“Damages” refers to the amount of money that the plaintiff (injured person) may be awarded in a lawsuit or other legal action. There are three main categories of damages: economic, non-economic, and punitive.

Economic Damages

Victims of auto accidents can recover economic damages to make up for finances that they had to spend or that they lost due to their injuries. Economic damages are the most frequently sought type of damages after an auto accident to pay for damage to the victim’s vehicle or to cover medical expenses.

 

Hire a West Palm Beach auto accident lawyer to help you recover the following types of economic damages:

  • Lost wages due to recovery time
  • Medical expenses for personal injury, including long-term rehabilitation
  • Rental car while victim’s car is repaired
  • Car repair or replacement for victim
  • Loss of employment or employment opportunities

 

It’s easier to recover the full amount of economic damages if you keep your receipts. This is explicit proof of the damages and the amount that you are owed.

 

Clients who represent themselves know to attempt to recover economic damages, but they aren’t aware that they’re also entitled to non-economic damages and punitive damages, in certain cases.

At West Palm Beach Auto Accident Lawyers, we work hard to recover the maximum amount of compensation for our clients. That means evaluating all of the different types of damages and ensuring we leave no stone unturned.
You’ve already suffered injuries from a car accident; you don’t have to suffer financially, too. Call us at (561) 621-4200 today.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are more difficult to prove than economic damages because they don’t come with an explicit receipt that shows their cash value. These damages are for non-monetary losses that vary based on the victim and their situation.

 

To recover non-economic gains, the plaintiff must demonstrate how much the auto accident affected their mental state. For example, proving that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from the accident means that you can no longer drive, so you can’t get a job.

 

Although non-economic damages do not come with a receipt, they’re just as impactful as economic damages. The long-lasting effects of mental health issues or emotional pain can linger longer than a broken bone. 

 

It is important that victims are given the time to heal and are awarded damages to allow them to afford to do so. Our expert trial attorneys will fight to protect your rights to non-economic damages.

It can be exceedingly difficult to argue non-economic damages for yourself. An expert West Palm Beach auto accident attorney knows what damages you’re entitled to and will ensure that you are given the maximum compensation.

 

They can recover the following non-economic damages for you:

  • Loss of quality of life
  • Emotional anguish
  • Pain or suffering
  • PTSD
  • Humiliation
  • Damage to reputation
  • Loss of a spouse

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are the rarest form of damages in Florida auto accidents. They aren’t awarded to assist in your healing physically or emotionally. Instead, they serve as a form of punishment for the defendant when they are found guilty.

 

The most common reason for punitive damages to be granted is that the party at fault was driving under the influence. In this case, their reckless behavior is criminally negligent. Judges punish these drivers by awarding the plaintiff additional damages in the form of punitive damages.

 

Punitive damages are always paired with economic or non-economic damages for the plaintiff. They are supposed to act as a disincentive for the defendant to ever commit the reckless act again. 

To award punitive damages, a West Palm Beach auto accident lawyer will need to prove that the defendant acted maliciously or was grossly negligent, and prove that similar cases awarded punitive damages previously.

 

Call one of our expert lawyers for a free consultation to determine if you can recover punitive damages in your case.  

How much can I expect to recover for my car accident?

Total sums for compensation vary from case to case based on the severity of injuries, the amount of damage caused, and whether or not the defendant was found to be negligent.

Florida’s comparative fault statute can result in less recovered damages if the defendant is able to prove that the plaintiff was partially at fault for the accident.

To recover the maximum compensation of economic, non-economic, and even punitive damages, hire an auto accident attorney who will support you through to trial. An attorney knows how to handle insurance adjusters trying to downplay injuries, lawyers trying to place blame, and work for the maximum compensation since they don’t get paid until they win.

Common Auto Accident Injuries

 

Unfortunately, auto accidents are a reality of daily life in West Palm Beach. People rushing along the I-95 or the Florida Turnpike can make a reckless choice or get distracted for a moment, causing a major accident. At the least, these auto accidents can result in damaged vehicles for both parties. However, auto accidents can cause severe injuries or even death.

 

Almost half of auto accidents in Florida in 2019 that were reported involved a personal injury.

 

If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident, call a West Palm Beach auto accident lawyer today to get support in recovering your damages.

Auto accidents can cause life-long trauma. These are the most common auto accident injuries in Florida:

 

  • Broken bones, bruises, and cuts or scrapes
  • Whiplash due to your head being thrown back with force
  • Spinal injuries in your back and neck
  • Nerve damage
  • Concussion from hitting your head on a hard surface
  • Traumatic brain injury that could result in seizures, the inability to speak, or internal bleeding
  • Soft tissue damage due to impact or the force of impact
  • PTSD or a fear of driving
  • Emotional distress and anguish

Common Types of Car Accidents

Auto accidents are not all alike. That’s why we at West Palm Beach Auto Accident Lawyer specialize in multiple types of auto accidents. If you’ve been injured in a West Palm Beach multiple car collision or a West Palm Beach rear-end accident, contact us for expert advice.

 

Auto accidents are typically grouped by the area of impact, or where one driver hit the other. Certain types of accidents, such as side-impact or T-bone impact accidents, occur most often in particular types of roads, such as intersections. The nature of intersections means that a distracted driver may not notice a stop sign and hit a vehicle obeying the traffic signs.

 

You can also classify auto accidents based on the number of cars involved.

These are the most common types of auto accidents in West Palm Beach:

 

  • Rear-end collision
  • Side-impact or T-bone
  • Head-on collision
  • Single car accident
  • Multi-vehicle accident
  • Rollover
  • Pedestrian

Car Accident Questions and Answers

An auto accident lawyer in West Palm Beach knows how to navigate the complicated process of filing movements, liaising with insurance companies, determining the maximum amount of compensation owed, collecting evidence, and interpreting settlement options.

 

We are able to defend your rights while saving you the stress of going through this process alone. Our years of experience means that we can make this process easier for you while ensuring that you benefit financially.

 

Hiring a West Palm Beach auto accident lawyer is a risk-free way to benefit your case. We don’t get paid until you do, which means that we want to get the maximum compensation the same way you do. We will work to make sure it happens, whether it be by settlement or by trial.

 

Get a risk-free, no-obligation consultation today by contacting us at 561-621-4200.

After an auto accident, it’s vital that you contact your insurance. Without them, you can’t begin to claim damages or to seek compensation from the other party.

 

However, it can be tricky to work with insurance companies. They are focused on their own well-being, not yours. It is in their best interest to diminish your injuries and lower the amount they have to pay out.

 

Our expert auto accident attorneys advise that you don’t speak to your insurance until you’ve hired a lawyer. They can help you determine what to say to the insurance company so that they can’t hold back compensation for your injuries.

 

However, it is important that you contact your insurance to make a report within seven days of the accident. Some insurance companies won’t honor your claim after this period.

 

When you speak to the insurance company on the advice of your lawyer, be sure to include the following information:

 

  • A description of the accident as you remember it occurring
  • The time, date, and location of the accident
  • The name of the defendant’s insurance company and their policy number
  • The type of vehicle the defendant was driving and their license plate number
  • The defendant’s driver’s license number and their full name
  • Extent of your injuries (be sure to see a medical practitioner beforehand to accurately speak to your injuries)
  • Extent of the physical damage to your car or other property
  • The number of passengers involved in the accident
  • The police officer’s name and badge
  • A police report
  • Photos of the accident and the resulting damage/injuries

In Florida, you must call the police if an auto accident occurs resulting in over $2,000.00 worth of damages. The police are also vital for obtaining a police report to submit a claim to your insurance company. Many companies will deny claims that do not contain a police report.

 

However, it’s important that you don’t accidentally mislead the police. For example, you may not realize that you have an injury at the time of the accident, as you haven’t been seen by a doctor yet. If this is the case, do not explicitly say that you have no injuries. If you are later found to have an injury, the insurance company may deny it as the police report says you weren’t injured.

 

Beyond ensuring that you don’t offer false or misleading information, here are the things that you should tell the police at the scene of an auto accident:

 

  • Your name and driver’s license number
  • Your recollection of the events of the accident exactly as you remember them
  • Any passengers in your car
  • Any eyewitnesses you noticed

 

Be sure to collect the names of all parties involved, all license numbers, license plate numbers, and photographic evidence of the damage for yourself. This evidence is vital to your claims for damages later.

After a car accident, you should always seek medical attention. Car accidents are traumatic events that get your adrenaline up. This can mask the feeling of pain, so you may not even realize that you’ve been injured.

 

Some common injuries from auto accidents, such as contusions or soft tissue damage, may take hours to appear. Internal injuries or brain injuries can often go undetected without a professional scan.

 

Although you may feel uninjured, be sure to get a medical professional’s opinion within five days of the accident. Ideally, go as soon as possible. See an emergency room doctor or your family physician, depending on the severity of the accident and your potential injuries.

The other driver’s insurance company may contact you to gain evidence of the accident. Remember that you are not required to speak with them.

 

In fact, we recommend that you do not speak with the other driver’s insurance company, but hire a West Palm Beach auto accident lawyer who can speak on your behalf. 

 

This is because insurance companies are only looking after their best interests. They are likely calling you to try and find fault in your version of the events and downplay the damages. This can greatly impact the amount of compensation you can recover.

 

To ensure the insurance company doesn’t misinterpret your experience, let us speak with them for you. We can ensure that your story is represented factually without risking your ability to collect damages. Our expert lawyers will collect evidence of your injuries and damages to create a narrative that they cannot deny. 

 

After 30 years of handling auto accidents in West Palm Beach, we know how to deal with insurance companies. 

Florida’s statute of limitations to file a claim for damages in an auto accident is four years from the date of the accident. After this point, it is unlikely that a judge will hear the case.

However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, if an injury went undetected for over four years before being discovered, you may be able to file a claim past the statute of limitation. However, it is up to the judge’s discretion and can vary from case to case.

This is why it is important to file a claim as soon as possible in cases of auto accidents in Florida. You don’t want to put off your claim until it is too late, forcing you to pay the damages out of pocket.

This is money that you are legally entitled to recover to compensate you for the trauma you suffered. Don’t leave this money on the table and pay for injuries you weren’t responsible for.

 

Get in touch

Call us or fill out one of our web forms to speak with a West Palm Beach auto accident lawyer to get help filing your claim to get the money you’re owed.

Address:

515 N Flagler Dr, Suite 1150
West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Phone:

(561) 621-4200

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