Car Accident Answers

If you or any other passenger is injured in an auto accident and you have access to a mobile phone, call 911 and request that a police officer respond to the scene.

When the responding officer asks if you are injured and you are not obviously injured or are uncertain of your symptoms, tell him or her that you won't be certain until a physician examines you. “Soft tissue” injuries sometimes do not become evident until a day or two after a car accident. Other types of injuries may not manifest themselves until weeks after the accident.

See a doctor. Even if your injuries do not become apparent until weeks or months after a motor vehicle accident, a delayed diagnosis can significantly affect the outcome of your accident lawsuit.

It depends on whether the claims adjuster represents or was assigned by your own insurance company or by that of the other party's or parties' involved in the accident.

Your own insurance company is supposed to put your interests ahead of its own. In practice, if such is not the case, at least you have the recourse of filing an insurance bad faith claim.

Any adjuster who represents another party (a "third-party" adjuster), such as the negligent driver, should be viewed with skepticism. If the negligent driver's liability insurance company happens to be the same as yours, then this healthy suspicion applies. Why? In such a case, the adjuster's loyalty is with the party that injured you.

A third-party insurance adjuster may attempt to secure a statement from you that could reduce the amount of damages you will recover, or to have you sign releases or authorizations that permits access to your confidential records. The adjuster may also try to discourage you from retaining an auto accident lawyer to represent you, in part by suggesting to you that the worth of your claim has already been determined.

If you are a victim of an automobile accident and you are asked by a third-party insurance adjuster to give a statement, our car accident attorneys generally advise clients to politely tell the adjuster that you wish to consult counsel first, and not to provide a statement until after you have discussed the claim with counsel.

You may file a claim against the other driver instead of his or her insurance company or you may be able to recover compensation from your own insurance company. Your accident attorney may be able to suggest additional courses of action.

In Florida, the doctrine of comparative negligence applies to these circumstances. You may still be able to recover your money damages, but the amount will be reduced by the amount of your negligence. Our accident attorneys can address this in more detail with you.

You control this decision. An experienced vehicle accident attorney will discuss this option with you. Experience matters.

Our local Southwest Florida attorneys have litigated cases in our local courthouses, including DeSoto County, Charlotte County, Collier County, Hendry County, Lee County, Sarasota County, Manatee County, and the federal court in Fort Myers. We have handled cases in State and Federal courts outside Florida.

In an auto accident resulting in serious injuries, you may be able to recover compensation for:

Medical Expenses
Future Medical Expenses
Scarring
Disfigurement
Lost Wages
Loss of Earning Capacity
Household Services
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
Loss of Consortium
Loss of Consortium of Child
Pain and Suffering

Our Florida auto accident attorneys can answer additional questions you may have with regard to your auto accident claim or lawsuit as well as many other personal injury matters. Contact us today.