Tarpon Springs Car Accident Lawyer
If you’ve been in a car accident, you could have a viable legal claim. This is why it’s important to speak with a personal injury lawyer to discuss your case. A top Tarpon Springs car accident lawyer like Jeffrey W. Hensley, P.A. will work to recover the money you deserve for your losses, using an aggressive and strategic approach.
But you should not delay, as the sooner you contact a Tarpon Springs personal injury lawyer, the better your chances will be of seeing a positive outcome. Contact attorney Jeffrey W. Hensley, P.A. to discuss your case in a confidential and free case evaluation. Call 727-781-3433.
What to Do Following a Collision and When to Contact a Top Clearwater Car Accident Lawyer
If you’ve never been in a serious accident, you may be uncertain of what to do and what to expect following a crash. Do you need to file a police report? Should you contact a lawyer? Do you need to file an insurance claim? These are all common inquiries.
Tarpon Springs personal injury lawyer Jeffrey W. Hensley, P.A.’s legal team has compiled information on these and other common questions.
What Should I Do After an Auto Collision?
Following a car accident, it’s generally wise to consult a personal injury lawyer if you suffered injuries, even injuries that initially seem minor or moderate. Your attorney can review your case, offering helpful advice and guidance. It’s also important to remember that many injuries may initially seem minor, but adrenaline can dull the pain, and some injuries don’t immediately become apparent. For this reason, it’s important to seek immediate medical attention.
In the moments after a crash, you should always pull over to speak with the other driver. In some cases, you may determine that there’s no damage or injuries, and you may be on your way in moments. In other cases, you may need to exchange information. More serious cases may require a call to 911. The important thing is to stop immediately after the crash, otherwise, you could face criminal charges of hit and run.
You should dial 911 if the accident happened in a busy, dangerous location, if the other driver appears impaired, if one or more people is injured or if one or more vehicles is non-drivable.
You should always photograph the accident scene too, assuming it’s safe to do so. Whenever possible, take photos before the vehicles are moved. Also photograph your injuries, the entire scene (with all involved cars in the image), the area around the crash and any skid marks (skid mark length can be used to determine speed prior to the crash.) If the police are called to investigate, they typically take photos, but this is not always the case if the collision initially seems more minor.
You must exchange information with the other involved driver or drivers, including:
- name
- address
- phone number
- license number
- insurance information
- the make/model of your car and license plate information.
Also, note the exact location of the accident and if any witnesses are present, get their name and contact information. Eyewitnesses can offer valuable testimony if you ultimately file a personal injury lawsuit.
You’ll also want to contact your auto insurance company in many cases.
If there are any injuries, you should contact a Tarpon Springs personal injury lawyer to discuss your case.
What’s a No-Fault Car Insurance State?
As a no-fault insurance state, Florida auto insurance companies must provide compensation for accident claims regardless of which driver is determined to be at-fault.
All drivers in Florida must obtain personal injury protection (PIP) benefits. PIP coverage covers medical bills and non-medical losses, like lost wages. You also need property damage liability (PDL) coverage, which compensates for property damage repairs stemming from the auto accident.
What’s the Florida Injury Threshold?
After a Tarpon Springs car accident involving injuries, you should speak with a personal injury attorney to determine if your injuries meet or exceed the injury threshold. In cases where the injuries are relatively minor or moderate, the medical bills are typically covered by insurance. But if they surpass the Florida injury threshold, you may have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit.
Injuries that meet or exceed the threshold include:
- injuries resulting in serious scarring;
- injuries that are permanent;
- injuries resulting in disfigurement; or
- injuries involving the loss of an important body function, like your ability to walk.
Legal claims may also be filed in other circumstances, such as an accident involving serious negligence or a fatality that’s considered a wrongful death.
What’s Comparative Negligence Law?
In Florida, a car accident is subject to comparative negligence law. This system is used to assign a percentage to each driver to determine their degree of responsibility or fault for the car accident.
The percentage of fault is important because it can impact whether your insurance company seeks compensation from the other party’s insurer in a process called subrogation. Your percentage of fault can also have an impact on the amount of compensation you receive in a personal injury lawsuit jury award. For instance, if you’re deemed to be 10% at fault, the financial award would be reduced by 10%. So a $100,000 award would be reduced to $90,000.
Do You Need Help from a Tarpon Springs Car Accident Lawyer?
If you’ve suffered injuries in an auto accident, contact a Tarpon Springs car accident attorney like Jeffrey W. Hensley, P.A. to discuss your case. You must act soon to maximize your chances of a positive outcome. You could miss out on your chance to seek compensation if you do not file a legal claim within the statute of limitations timeframe.
Call Tarpon Springs personal injury lawyer Jeffrey W. Hensley, P.A. to request a confidential, no-cost case consultation at 727-781-3433.
