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Each year, thousands of Florida residents suffer serious injuries in motor vehicle collisions. A car accident can result in thousands of dollars in medical expenses, weeks of lost wages, permanent disability, and emotional trauma—all of which can be difficult to recover from without financial support. If you are injured in a Florida car accident, the attorneys at Salter, Healy, Rivera & Heptner can help. Our Clearwater car accident attorneys can represent you in your claim and advocate aggressively for your right to compensation.
That available from the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) department shows that there were nearly 400,000 total vehicle collisions reported across the state during the most recent reporting year on file. Unfortunately, these incidents led to more than 3,500 fatalities and hundreds of thousands of injuries.
Some of the leading causes of fatal and catastrophic injury collisions in Florida involve drug and alcohol impairment along with speeding or operating too fast for conditions. However, these are not the only causes of vehicle collisions in and around Clearwater, Florida. Some other causes include:
Florida is a no-fault accident state, a system that is meant to simplify the process for minor car accidents. In essence, drivers in most collisions in Florida deal with their own insurance company rather than file a claim with an at-fault driver’s insurance carrier. All Florida drivers must carry no-fault insurance and personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, which pays for medical expenses and other financial losses up to $10,000. The no-fault and PIP system is intended to expedite minor accident claims and reduce the time it takes for policyholders to be reimbursed or have their vehicles repaired.
However, when significant property damage or injuries are involved, the process can be very confusing. If you sustain serious injuries in your collision, PIP benefits will likely be extremely inadequate. Our Clearwater car accident attorneys can file a lawsuit on your behalf against the at-fault driver to recover compensation for medical treatment and lost wages. Additionally, if you suffer a significant injury or one that exceeds your PIP policy limits, we may be able to recover compensation for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.
Car accident victims in Clearwater may be able to receive various types of compensation if their claim is successful, particularly if they can pursue damages that rise above no-fault insurance thresholds. At Salter, Healy, Rivera & Heptner, our goal is always to help clients receive as much compensation as possible for their claims. We help clients recover economic and noneconomic damages.
Economic damages associated with a vehicle accident revolve around calculable expenses, those that can be added up using receipts, bills, or estimates after the incident occurs. Some of the most common economic damages associated with car accidents in Clearwater include:
Non-economic damages are designed to help car accident victims recover compensation for their emotional, psychological, and physical pain and suffering caused by the incident. These damages can also help pay for any loss of quality of life caused by a disability.
There is no set amount of compensation paid to crash victims if their claim against another party is successful. However, there are several factors that can influence an insurance settlement or jury verdict amount. Some of these factors include the severity of the injuries and the length of time it takes the victim to recover. However, other factors can include overall insurance policy limitations as well as whether or not there was any shared fault for the incident. Unfortunately, these two factors could limit how much compensation a person recovers.
If you want to recover the compensation you are entitled to, enlist assistance from a car accident attorney in Clearwater who has extensive experience handling these types of claims. You deserve an advocate who will fight to recover maximum compensation on your behalf.
At Salter, Healy, Rivera & Heptner, we handle car accident claims in Clearwater, Florida, on a contingency fee basis. This means that clients do not have to pay any upfront costs related to their case, and they will not pay any legal fees until after our team successfully recovers the compensation they need. In the event we do not win a case, our clients do not pay a dime. Final legal fees will be a previously agreed-upon percentage of the total settlement or jury verdict.
If you are involved in a car accident in Clearwater, Florida, it is important to remain calm and take action as soon as possible. Take the following steps to seek help and preserve evidence for your future claim.
If you lost your loved one in a vehicle accident, contact our Clearwater wrongful death lawyers.
If you are injured in a Florida car accident, you have the right to recover financial compensation. In these situations, the attorneys at Salter, Healy, Rivera & Heptner can help. Contact us today to schedule a free case consultation and strategize your next steps with a Clearwater car accident lawyer.