When you’re involved in a car accident, your first thought may be to call your insurance agency. However, contacting your insurance company before speaking with a car accident attorney may harm more than it helps. Read on to learn why.
It’s important to talk to the right people from the start to get maximum compensation. Once emergency service has been provided, and victims treated for life-threatening injuries, call the personal injury attorneys at Florin|Roebig.
Following an accident, you may need extended treatment that includes physical rehabilitation and mental health therapy to recover from your experience. This is where the law offices of Florin|Roebig — who have won the highest case award to date in Florida for personal injury — can help.
Our board-certified attorneys are highly recommended by clients and other Florida law firms. We use our four-acre Florida law office campus as a valuable resource to build a strong case with mock trials in our own practice courtroom and onsite printing facilities for visual evidence with impact.
What To Know About Brandon Car Accident Claims
In 2023, there were over 27,000 car accidents in Hillsborough County, where Brandon is located. It’s popular with families on vacation and those visiting students at one of several universities. Many teens and young adults are on the road, leading to more accidents as younger drivers often exhibit riskier driving behaviors.
Filing a car accident claim in Brandon is the best way to protect your personal interests and to receive fair compensation for any serious injuries or damages you incur. It may also be instrumental in helping improve local traffic laws and regulations.
Dangerous Intersections In Brandon, Florida
On top of the population and tourists, accidents in Brandon can also occur due to dangerous or highly trafficked intersections and roads.
According to Tampa Bay 10, the most dangerous intersection in Hillsborough County is U.S. 301 at Gibsonton Drive with 367 crashes and 13 serious injuries/deaths in 2022.
Located close to the freeway, this intersection often has high rates of traffic that make car accidents more likely. This isn’t the only dangerous intersection or road in the county, though.
Intersections in Brandon and Hillsborough County that experience high car crash rates:
- U.S. 301 at Big Bend Road
- U.S. 301 at State Road 674
- N. Florida Avenue and E. Waters Avenue
- Lakewood Drive and E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
- Fishhawk Boulevard and Boyette Road
- Big Bend Road at Summerfield Boulevard
- Big Bend Road and Summerfield Crossing Boulevard
- County Line Road and U.S. 41
- Bill Tucker Road and U.S. 301
The Car Accident Claim-Filing Process
According to Florin|Roebig attorney Shaun Cummings,
“After you’ve been in an accident, the first step is to make sure that everyone is okay. But at some point, you need to recoup losses for damage to your vehicle and your body. The claim-filing process begins immediately following a car crash, and my team and I are with you for all of it.”
Document The Accident Scene
If possible, begin collecting evidence at the scene of the accident. Time can erase factors, and evidence is harder to find if you wait too long. Be sure to get a copy of the police report when it’s available.
While you’re on the scene is the best moment to capture a few very important pieces:
- Photos
- Videos
- Contact information
- Witness statements
All of this will be useful to your attorneys later as you work through the rest of the steps, but this is step one.
Get Your Injuries On Record
As the scene is cleared, you need to seek medical treatment next. Even if you feel fine, understand that adrenaline from the accident may be affecting your symptoms. Even if the paramedics or doctors don’t find anything wrong, it’s a good safeguard to have in place. It starts the timeline for any symptoms that may develop later, and it’s common for injuries to show up within a couple of days rather than immediately following an accident.
Write Your Personal Account
In the midst of the chaos, try to take a moment to write down your account of what happened. Your memory will be best immediately following the incident, and everything you remember is relevant initially. Also, document all injuries and symptoms, even if you’re still waiting to see a doctor. Write notes on a scrap of paper, use an app on your phone, whatever you can find. You can move those to your computer or a physical file later.
Consult A Qualified Personal Injury Attorney
The next thing to do is contact a personal injury lawyer in Brandon if you need to file a claim with your insurance for vehicle damage or physical injuries. Contacting an attorney first can prevent you from admitting fault during any conversations with your insurance company.
It’s understandable to think that the company you pay for coverage is on your side, but unfortunately, that’s not the case in most scenarios. While your insurance company wants you to continue paying premiums, it wants to return as little of that money to you as possible.
File A Claim With Your Insurance Company
You can file a claim before speaking to an attorney, but most insurance companies ask for an explanation of the accident as part of the initial filing. If you include something that can be used against you, it’s hard to undo it later. Drivers who rely on their insurance representatives to give them honest advice are often fighting an uphill battle.
Insurance companies expect you to let them know pretty quickly when you’ve had an accident, so the amount of time you have to consult with an attorney is short. Florin|Roebig is available for consultations on your case 24/7, and we don’t charge you a dime unless we win.
Reasons To File A Car Accident Claim
You owe it to yourself and to others who may have been injured to report what happened and to seek legal representation.
Filing a claim may benefit you in the following ways:
- Cover medical bills caused by your auto accident
- Hold a negligent driver accountable
- Identify dangerous intersections or roadway imperfections
- Provide compensation for lost wages
- Help replace or repair your vehicle
Florida Laws For Car Accident Cases
The state of Florida is in flux regarding car accident laws. On March 24, 2023, House Bill (HB) 837 was signed into law, and it heavily impacted multiple factors in Florida car accident lawsuits for any vehicle collisions occurring afterward.
At the same time, vehicle collisions prior to that date still follow the previous laws in Florida, and there are significant differences between the approaches that can be taken. We break down the changes below to help you understand what may apply to your personal injury claim.
Fault In Car Accidents
Registered Florida drivers are required to take out personal injury protection (PIP) insurance with a minimum of $10,000 coverage to pay for a percentage of medical and income damages while the personal injury claim is reviewed. No-fault rules are followed under both iterations of Florida laws, so your PIP is one of the first stops in the claims process.
Working with the legal team at Florin|Roebig helps you decide whether your damages require greater compensation than what your PIP will pay. Determining the extent of your injuries and the percentage of fault assigned to each driver directs the next steps. If you bear a percentage of the responsibility in an accident, it reduces your compensation eligibility.
Liability In Car Accident Cases
Fault must be decided to assign liability. If a party causes an accident, they are at fault. If they are at fault, they can be held liable to compensate all other parties. However, they can utilize their insurance company to pay for accident victims’ damages. The at-fault party is not always the liable party, which matters in filing a claim.
One example would be a driver who causes an accident because the brakes go out on their car. If they maintained their vehicle properly, the cause could turn out to be a defect that can be attributed to the car or parts manufacturer or the auto repair shop. In that scenario, the driver may be considered at fault, but a manufacturer or auto shop may be liable.
Consideration Of Negligence, Degree Of Fault
Negligence is a major change in the wake of HB 837. For accidents before the bill passed, Florida applies pure comparative negligence. Everyone involved in an accident can file a personal injury claim against all other parties for whichever percentage of fault is not theirs.
In other words, you can claim damages against the party mostly responsible for the accident, but they can do the same back. If they’re 60% at fault but you bear 40% responsibility, you can only claim 60% of the damages and end up paying them the remaining 40%.
Under HB 837, Florida administers modified comparative negligence with the 50% bar rule. Using the above example but in the new context, you would be able to claim 60% of damages from the other party, reducing your eligibility by the 40% you are found at fault. Because the other party is more than 50% at fault, they would be ineligible to claim any damages against you.
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Ways The Accident Can Impact Your Life
A severe car accident changes much about how you live. The effects can be short-term, or they can last the rest of your life. Either way, they can be hugely detrimental. Although money is not a solution for everything, being fairly compensated can bridge the gap for some of the things that you’ve lost.
Traumatic accidents can remove your ability to function as you used to before someone else’s choice took away your autonomy. You can lose out on income and career advancements, be unable to handle normal household tasks or care for your children, and not have enough funds to cover your medical expenses or your family members’ care.
A reasonable settlement can:
- Replace lost wages since the accident and into the future
- Pay for household assistance and childcare
- Take care of medical bills and any treatment you need moving forward
- Ensure your loved one’s needs are provided
Many factors impact your injury lawsuit in Brandon, including how badly you’re injured, whether anyone involved was impaired or distracted, and whether you are found to be at least partly at fault. If you contributed to the accident in some way, such as by speeding, texting, or otherwise breaking Florida law, your compensation may be less.
This is why it’s vital to let a professional car accident lawyer handle your claim. Having Florin|Roebig attorneys on your side may mean the difference between receiving just compensation or being denied compensation altogether. It may also be the single factor that prevents you from legally shouldering the blame.
Types Of Damages Awarded In Car Accident Claims
If you’ve been injured by another driver’s negligence, a car accident case in Brandon may provide compensation to cover all the ways the accident has impacted your life, also known as “damages.”
Types of damages commonly awarded for car accident cases include:
- Lost wages
- Medical care
- Pain, suffering, and emotional suffering
- Repairing or replacing property damage, such as laptops, cell phones, etc.
An experienced Brandon car accident attorney will guide you through the legalese involved in car accident claims, ensuring that only those who are at fault are required to pay.
Brandon Car Accidents
Brandon is a very populated suburban area in Tampa Bay, and congested traffic creates stop-and-go patterns and the potential for accidents.
Brandon has these 2023 car crash statistics:
- 27,468 total car accidents on Brandon and Hillsborough roadways
- 18,873 injured persons
- 235 deaths
- 20 deaths due to driving while intoxicated.
- 7,067 hit-and-run accidents caused 1,744 injuries and 25 fatalities
What To Do After A Car Accident In Brandon
It can be challenging to get your bearings immediately following a traffic accident, especially if the impact causes you to be disoriented. However, if you are able and it is safe to do so, there are a few steps to take.
Steps to follow after a car accident in Brandon include:
- Check for injured persons in your vehicle and others involved.
- Contact law enforcement and other first responders, depending on the severity of injuries and damage.
- Move any driveable vehicles off the road and out of the way of oncoming traffic.
- Get treated for all injuries, even those that seem minor at the time.
- Gather evidence like pictures and video of the scene, vehicle damage, and the surrounding area.
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How Brandon Car Accident Attorneys Florin|Roebig Can Help With Your Car Accident Claim
Should your claim end up going to court as a lawsuit, you want the best legal team on your side. However, most car accident cases settle outside of the courtroom, and there are several actions we can take before that point. The first thing we do is a free case evaluation where we go over what happened, evidence you have, injuries you sustained, and your fault in it, if any.
If you have an eligible claim under Florida laws, we immediately file paperwork with all relevant parties and ensure any fees are paid. While we wait on insurance companies and the courts, we connect you to any local resources that may be able to assist with your personal needs.
“Because I’ve worked so much in personal injury law, I’ve been able to curate an extensive list of resources, and I usually have a good idea of which ones will work the best for each of my clients. While my team is doing the legwork of negotiating with insurance companies and other litigation support, our client is focused on getting the care they need to recover.”
Practical Advice After A Car Accident
Your first priority after a car accident in Brandon should be your well-being and that of your loved ones. Assessing injuries and getting medical care are important for treating any issues caused by the accident.
Gathering any evidence you can helps you later because it can prove your claim against your insurance company and the at-fault driver. Preventing blame assignments on yourself also matters. Even something as simple as a well-meaning “I’m sorry” can later be argued as an admission of fault on your part.
As to filing claims, you want to start the process ASAP but avoid missteps like cashing the first settlement check you receive. If your car is totaled and the insurance company cuts you a check for half its value, depositing that decreases your ability to fight for the full amount.
Never say “yes” to an insurance representative when offered a dollar amount. If you do, they will most likely refuse to pay you any more money.
FAQs About Brandon Personal Injury Lawyers
How much money do you get from a car accident settlement in Florida?
There is no set amount for a car accident settlement in any state, but factors affect your eligibility for a settlement.
These factors determine how much you can receive in a car accident settlement in Florida:
- If the at-fault driver was negligent, meaning they did not follow traffic laws
- If you share any responsibility for the accident with distracted driving or similar
- How severe your injuries and vehicle damage are
- If there are catastrophic or fatal injuries, like spinal cord or traumatic brain injuries
- What long-term effects the accident has on your livelihood and quality of life
How much can someone sue for a car accident in Florida?
It depends on the factors listed above and when your car accident occurred. Consulting an experienced car accident lawyer with the details of your claim will help you put a reasonable number on your economic and noneconomic damages.
How long does a car accident settlement take in Florida?
We’re not trying to sound like a broken record here, but the factors of your specific case are unique and affect every aspect of seeking compensation.
The amount of time it takes from filing to getting paid will be impacted by the following:
- The level of severity of injuries and damages
- The extent of repair required for your body and your vehicle
- Any fault that falls on you
- How much negotiation occurs with insurance companies and liable parties
- Whether we need to take your claims to court
This may sound intimidating, but our Brandon personal injury lawyers are with you each step in the legal process, and we keep you up-to-date on the anticipated timeline as we move along.
How do I get money from a car accident in Florida?
To get paid for your losses in a car accident in Brandon, Florida, you have to file a claim. The first claim is to your insurance company on your PIP policy. If your damages exceed your policy limits, you then file claims against the at-fault driver’s insurance policies.
If all else fails, you can bring a lawsuit against any responsible parties to recoup financial, physical, and mental damages. Ideally, you want to ensure you have developed an attorney-client relationship with a local law firm well before your case ends up in court. Otherwise, you can find yourself scrambling for legal representation in the midst of recovery while sinking further into debt.
Florin|Roebig Car Accident Attorneys Serving Brandon
The importance of contacting car accident lawyers in Brandon cannot be stressed enough. Drivers who rely on their insurance representatives to give them honest advice are often fighting an uphill battle.
At the Florin|Roebig law firm, our trial lawyers will fight to protect your right to compensation. In fact, our personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee – so they don’t get paid unless they win.
Since 1985, we’ve been helping to secure just compensation for the clients who trust us. With over 30 years of experience, our law firm has successfully won over $1 billion in settlements from personal injury cases by providing our clients with high-quality legal representation.
Car accident lawyers on our team include:
- Will Florin, B.C.S.
- Tommy Roebig, B.C.S.
- Chase P. Florin, B.C.S.
- John J. Hart
- Parker Y. Florin, LL.M.
- Taylor D. Roebig
- Nollys R. Solarte, O.C.
- Lawrence J. Najem, O.C.
- Andrew M. Leone, O.C.
For over 10 years running, Florin|Roebig has been selected as one of the “Best Law Firms in America” by “US News and World Report” and “Best Lawyers in America.”
We Are Nationally Awarded Lawyers
How To Get Help From Florin|Roebig Attorneys In Brandon, Florida
When you’re ready to reach out to Florin|Roebig lawyers for help with your car accident claim in Brandon, we’re available every day of the year.
You can contact Florin|Roebig in any of the following ways:
- Call us
- Visit our website at www.florinroebig.com/contact to fill out our form online or chat with us.
- Come to our main office or call our local phone number:
Palm Harbor
777 Alderman Road
Palm Harbor, FL 34683
When you contact us today, we’ll provide you with excellent legal advice and honesty regarding your eligibility for damages under Florida laws.
To recap, we’ll go through your case from beginning to end, including:
- The specifics of your car accident in Brandon and your legal options for filing claims
- How fault, liability, and negligence apply in your unique case
- What impacts you may face from your car crash
- Ways to focus on your well-being while we handle your legal issues
- Any tasks you need to handle as part of litigation
Most importantly, our top-rated Brandon car accident attorneys will be with you every part of the legal process, and we’ll be completely transparent in answering all of your questions and concerns. We want to help you live the best life possible after your accident, and we want to bring the at-fault parties to justice on your behalf.
