Palm Harbor Accident Lawyer
Unfortunately, some individuals who are injured in a car accident are not properly compensated for their losses and injuries. At the Palm Harbor law offices of Jeffrey W. Hensley, P.A., our elite legal team is here to help you to get the compensation you deserve following a Palm Harbor accident. Lawyers experienced in the area of personal injury law can work to help you get compensation for your medical bills, auto repair bills, lost wages and much more.
If you’ve been involved in an accident, Palm Harbor personal injury lawyers such as Jeffrey W. Hensley, P.A. can help represent you and your case. For a free and confidential case evaluation, call 727-781-3433.
Info on What to Do After an Accident from an Experienced Palm Harbor Accident Lawyer
Many drivers have never been involved in a crash before, so they have no idea what to do in the minutes, hours, days and weeks after a car accident. In fact, this accounts for a large portion of the questions received by personal injury lawyers like Jeffrey W. Hensley, P.A., so our legal team has compiled information on a few of the most common inquiries.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
Following a car accident, attorneys can advise you on how to proceed, but generally, the following tips are beneficial.
In the moments following the crash, you may wish to call 911 if there is serious damage, possible injuries, if the other party appears impaired, or if the accident occurred in a dangerous location. Police can serve as a great ally in your case, as they provide an objective, third-party account of the accident scene, which can work to your advantage if discrepancies arise following the crash.
You will need to exchange information with the other driver, including:
- your name;
- your address;
- your phone number;
- your license number;
- your license plate number;
- your insurance information; and
- the make/model of your vehicle.
You should also get the name and contact information for any witnesses to the accident.
Whenever possible, take photographs of the involved vehicles before they are moved. You should take photos of the damage, the entire crash scene as a whole (with all involved vehicles in the frame, taken from several angles). You should also photograph any skid marks. Injuries should also be photographed and documented.
Immediately following a crash, it’s generally best to visit a physician for an exam. Some serious or even life-threatening injuries may not be immediately obvious, especially due to the high adrenaline levels that you experience after a car accident. This will also provide you with vital documentation of your injuries.
You should also consult a personal injury lawyer if you’ve suffered injuries. An attorney can help guide you through the process, ensuring that you don’t harm your chances of recouping the compensation that you deserve.
Is Florida a No-Fault Car Insurance State?
Yes, Florida is regarded as a no-fault state for car insurance coverage. This means that an insurer is required to pay an auto insurance claim regardless of who was at fault for the collision. In addition, insurance is mandatory in Florida, as drivers must carry personal injury protection (PIP) benefits and property damage liability (PDL) benefits.
PDL coverage pays for property damage resulting from the crash. PIP coverage will pay for certain losses, such as medical costs, lost wages, and some other non-medical expenses.
What is the Florida Injury Threshold?
If you are involved in a serious Palm Harbor accident, lawyers dealing in personal injury law can help you pursue the at-fault driver if your injuries meet what’s known as the injury threshold. This applies to serious injuries, including:
- permanent injuries;
- injuries with serious scarring and disfigurement; and
- injuries associated with the loss of an important body function (i.e. walking).
If your injury falls within this spectrum, you may have a viable personal injury lawsuit. There are other circumstances whereby you may file a claim, such as a case where someone was killed or a case where the other party was negligent.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After an Accident?
The amount of time you have to file a legal claim after a car accident is limited. In Florida, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit is typically four years from the date of the collision. There are exceptions, though. For instance, if you didn’t discover that your injuries resulted from an accident until several years later, the timeframe could be extended.
If you plan to file a lawsuit against a municipality or the state (which may be appropriate if you believe that your accident was caused by poor road maintenance, for example), you typically have a period of three years to take action.
What is Comparative Negligence Law?
In Florida, comparative negligence law refers to the system used to determine fault in an accident. Each involved party is assigned a percentage of fault for the accident. So in a collision, you could have one driver who holds 20% of the fault and another driver who holds 80% of the fault.
Per Florida’s comparative negligence law, this percentage of fault will impact the amount of compensation you can receive if you file a personal injury lawsuit. So if you were the person who was deemed to be 20% at fault, any financial award would typically be reduced by 20%. Instead of receiving $100,000, you would receive $80,000.
Need Help from a Palm Harbor Accident Lawyer?
If you’ve been involved in a car accident, Palm Harbor accident attorneys with the law offices of Jeffrey W. Hensley, P.A. are here to assist. We encourage you to contact us as soon as possible to maximize your chances of a positive outcome. Remember, the law limits how long you have to take action.
Contact Palm Harbor personal injury lawyer Jeffrey W. Hensley, P.A. to arrange a confidential, no-cost case consultation by calling 727-781-3433.
