Car accidents are far from rare in Doral, Florida, which is one of the larger mid-sized cities in Miami-Dade County. In 2023, 27,757 injuries and 362 deaths resulted from the county’s 63,823 crashes, leading to lasting pain and suffering and financial hardship.
Thankfully, car crash victims have options to help them recover, which usually starts with filing a car accident claim. However, the Florida court system can be hard to navigate, and even a seemingly straightforward car accident claim in Doral can quickly become complicated.
Read on to better understand how the car accident claims system works in Doral, Florida, and the role of Doral car accident lawyers in getting their clients compensation.
“Many people are afraid to reach out to a lawyer after a car accident because they think they can’t afford one, but car accident attorneys like those at Florin|Roebig only charge if you win the case,” explains seasoned trial attorney Chad K. Florin. “Besides, getting a free case review can be invaluable for figuring out where you stand legally and what to do next.”
What To Know About Doral Car Accident Claims
If you were in a car accident in Doral, you’ll likely file a claim with your own insurance company or another driver’s insurance company. What claims you file depend on the specifics of your case and how they interact with local and state laws.
Insurance Requirements
Doral follows Florida’s no-fault system of insurance. In a no-fault state, every driver must have insurance. When you get in an accident, you usually file a claim with your own insurance company (first-party insurance) to get compensation. You’re only allowed to file a third-party claim (a claim against another driver’s insurer) if that driver was responsible for the accident and your injuries exceed what the typical no-fault policy covers.
Statute of Limitations
In Doral, you usually have two years to file a lawsuit after an accident under Florida’s Statute of Limitations. Once that time ends, you can no longer pursue compensation in court.
Comparative Negligence Standards
Florida courts practice a system known as modified comparative negligence, where both parties can be found somewhat at fault for a car accident, which can reduce the amount of compensation a victim gets. Someone found more than 50% liable cannot get compensation at all.
What Causes Car Accidents in Doral?
A 30-minute drive from Miami, Doral is known more for its luxury golf courses, resorts, and family-friendly residential neighborhoods than its nightlife. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its share of traffic.
Common Doral-specific car accident risks include:
- Airport traffic: With Miami International Airport and Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport both about 5 miles away, Doral gets a lot of traffic coming to and from the airport.
- Commuter traffic: Traffic can pile up in Doral thanks to commuters driving to and from work every weekday.
- Miami traffic: Many Doral residents brave Miami traffic (the 5th worst of any metro area in the US according to CBS News) for the nightlife, shopping, and entertainment, causing heavy congestion on the weekends.
- Dangerous Intersections: Heavily trafficked intersections in Doral, Florida can also cause problems. Doral has bad congestion during peak hours on major roadways like SR 826 (Palmetto Expressway) and NW 36th Street (Doral Boulevard), NW 87th and NW 36th Street, NW 107th Avenue and NW 41st Street, and NW 41st Street and NW 79th Avenue.
The Car Accident Claim-Filing Process
Filing a car accident claim in Doral can vary quite a lot depending on the details of your case, but it usually follows the same basic steps.
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- Document injuries and damages: When an accident happens, make sure you’re safe and your injuries are treated immediately, but as soon as it’s safe, try to get photos of the accident, your injuries, and any car damage. These can serve as crucial evidence in your case.
- File a police report: The cops should be notified of any serious accident in Doral. They will create an accident report, which should be available to anyone involved in the crash 7-10 business days after the accident.
- Notify insurance companies: Most Florida car insurance policies require you to notify them about accidents as soon as possible. You can often get compensation from your Personal Injury Protection policy quite quickly to cover injury-related expenses.
- Gather evidence: Keep all evidence related to your case such as medical bills and a copy of your crash report in a secure, easy-to-remember location like a desk drawer so you can reference it or share it with an attorney when needed.
- Seek legal advice: Contacting a car accident attorney to review your case can help you decide whether or not to file a third-party claim and what to expect compensation-wise. Having an experienced lawyer represent you could help get you the compensation you deserve.
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Doral Laws For Car Accident Cases
The laws and regulations surrounding car accidents can have a huge impact on your case. In Doral, these rules come from the state of Florida and Miami-Dade County.
Fault Determination Rules
The at-fault party is the person or entity who caused an accident. Determining fault usually means proving that the driver was negligent—that they failed to be as careful as they should have been and, as a result, caused harm.
Insurance Coverage Requirements
Every vehicle registered in Florida must have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Personal Damage Liability (PDL) car insurance:
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP): PIP covers 80% (up to $10,000) of all “necessary and reasonable” medical expenses for covered injuries.
- Personal Damage Liability (PDL): PDL covers $10,000 of another driver’s vehicle or property damage if you’re at fault in an accident.
The No-Fault System
As a no-fault state, Florida requires each party in most car accidents to seek compensation from their own insurer (a first-party insurance claim). If, however, your injuries are serious, you may be able to file a third-party claim against another driver’s insurer.
Third-party car accident claims in Doral have the following injury requirements:
- Severe and permanent loss of an important bodily function
- Permanent injury
- Severe and permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Death
Legal Remedies Available To Accident Victims
If you were involved in a car accident in Doral, you can seek legal remedies for compensation in a few main ways:
- First-party personal injury claims: This is usually the quickest and most straightforward path to compensation, but first-party claims offer a limited amount of money and do not compensate you for much beyond injury-related expenses.
- Third-party personal injury claims: If another driver was at fault for an accident that injured you, a third-party claim can get you compensation for higher medical bills, car damage, pain and suffering, and many other losses, but it may require a lot more negotiation and time.
- Personal injury lawsuits: In cases where you can’t reach a settlement (an agreement that you’ll be compensated for a certain amount) with a third-party insurance company, filing a lawsuit often gets the other party to come to the table with a serious offer. If not, you may end up going to trial where a judge or jury will hear your case and decide how much, if anything, you receive.
Seeking compensation can be complex and confusing, especially in the aftermath of devastating injuries and financial setbacks. Hiring a Doral car accident attorney can make the difference between getting full coverage for your accident-related expenses and compensation for your suffering and walking away with little to nothing.
Fault In Car Accidents
The party at fault for an accident was found to be responsible for the accident—usually due to negligence.
“Negligence—failure to exercise reasonable care—can take many forms,” Chad Florin explains. “Driving while distracted, driving drunk, running a red light, speeding… It’s a car accident attorney’s job to know the rules of the road in the area and explain exactly how the other driver’s irresponsibility caused our client harm.”
Liability In Car Accident Cases
In Doral, at-fault drivers may be held liable for your injuries, property damage, and other losses in an accident. That means they are legally responsible for compensating you.
Car accident cases in Doral may use the following to help determine liability:
- Negligence: If someone failed to take proper care on the road and hurt you in an accident, they were negligent, which usually makes them liable for certain losses you suffered.
- Strict liability: This is when an entity like a manufacturer must compensate an injured person even if they didn’t mean harm and were being careful. It often applies to cases where some part of a car malfunctions and causes an accident or something like a seatbelt doesn’t work as intended during a crash, causing more severe injuries.
- Vicarious liability: Sometimes one party is liable for the actions of another. For example, a business may be vicariously liable for an accident their employee caused while on the job.
Consideration of Negligence and Degree of Fault
Florida’s comparative negligence law means that you can be partially at fault in an accident that caused you harm. The degree of fault determines how much compensation you walk away with. So if you’re 30% at fault and are awarded $100,000 in damages, you would ultimately be given $70,000. If you were 51% at fault, you could not receive any compensation.
The best Doral car accident lawyers will arm themselves with strong evidence to prove the other party is liable for the harm you suffered in an accident, demonstrating their negligence and clearly outlining how that negligence led to your injuries and other losses.
Ways The Accident Can Impact Your Life
Car accidents have the power to cause significant harm, extending beyond physical injuries and financial burdens into emotional harm as victims grapple with chronic pain, trauma, and a life that may look very different from the one they lived before the accident.
Common struggles after a car accident include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Loss of intimacy with a spouse or partner
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Death of a loved one
It’s not easy to pick yourself back up after a serious auto accident, but there are services and resources in Doral that can help.
Look for the following types of car accident resources in Doral, FL:
- Emergency services
- Medical care providers
- Insurance companies
- Therapy and support groups for accident survivors
- Victim advocacy services
- Government agencies
- Nonprofit community safety organizations
- Car accident personal injury attorneys
Car accident compensation is there to help you through a trying time in your life and Florin|Roebig aims to be a resource for you as well. If you’ve been injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, the team at Florin|Roebig is happy to offer a complimentary case evaluation to answer your questions and help you through this challenging time.
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What To Do After A Car Accident in Doral
Car accidents often come as an unexpected shock, making it hard to think clearly, especially if you’ve been hurt, but following as many of these tips as possible could make your car accident claim much stronger down the road.
After a car accident in Doral:
- Get somewhere safe: Doral traffic can be dense and hectic in places. If possible, get yourself out of oncoming traffic when it’s safe to do so.
- Check for injuries and seek medical attention: If you feel any pain or discomfort, seek medical attention as soon as possible. It’s a good idea to get examined after an accident even if you think you’re fine.
- Contact law enforcement: In Doral, you must report a serious car accident. You’ll want a copy of the police report the cops file for any claims you make later.
- Gather information: If able, get the contact information of any witnesses at the scene of the accident and note any cameras that may have captured what happened.
Document the scene: Take pictures of the crash and any damage to yourself or your property.
List Of Top-Rated Car Accident Attorneys Serving Doral
The Florin|Roebig law firm is built on experience, compassion, and skill, and all of our attorneys are professionals you can trust. For more than 30 years, Florin|Roebig lawyers have been serving clients throughout Florida and helping them recoup their losses from a multitude of personal injuries, including injuries sustained in car accidents.
Some of the highly esteemed members of our legal team who could help you file a car accident claim in Doral include:
Wil H. Florin, B.C.S.
Tommy D. Roebig, B.C.S.
Chad K. Florin, M.B.A., LL.M.
John J. Hart
We Are Nationally Awarded Lawyers
Other practice areas the law offices of Florin|Roebig specialize in which are available to the Doral area include:
Wrongful death
How Florin|Roebig Can Help With Your Car Accident Claim
For over three decades, the dedicated legal team at Florin|Roebig has tirelessly advocated for car accident victims in Doral and throughout Florida, securing over $1 billion in total compensation for their clients.
Florin|Roebig car accident lawyers offer many services, including:
- Case evaluation
- Legal representation
- Negotiation with insurance companies
- Litigation support
Getting help from a seasoned car accident attorney can relieve a lot of the stress associated with pursuing a claim and boost your chances of securing a favorable settlement. Florin|Roebig offers free case reviews so you can get a better idea of your legal options and decide if working with an attorney is right for you.
Florin|Roebig Advice for After a Car Accident
Navigating life after a car accident can be incredibly challenging for you and your family, but there are steps you can take to help ease the burden of recovery.
Here are a few practical tips for navigating the aftermath of a car accident:
- Dealing with insurance companies: Many people end up getting less than their injuries warrant from car insurance companies, but a lawyer can give you a good idea of how much you should personally expect your settlement to be and negotiate with insurers to reach that number.
- Protecting your legal rights: Be careful what you say around the other parties in a car accident or insurers because apologizing or saying something that makes it seem like you contributed to the accident could be taken as an admission of fault, leading to less compensation, no compensation, or even liability. It’s best to speak to a lawyer if you’re concerned about your role in a crash.
- Managing medical expenses: Don’t let worries about expenses stop you from getting treatment for your injuries. You can often use your own PIP insurance to cover expenses quickly and if someone else was at fault for your accident, seek more compensation from a third-party claim. Experienced attorneys may also negotiate with care facilities on your behalf to lower your costs.
- Preserving evidence: Get as much evidence as you can at the scene of an accident—pictures of the crash, damage to your car, photos of your injuries, witness contact information, and more. Keep everything in one place for easy reference.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does an Attorney Charge For a Car Accident in Doral?
Car accident attorneys like Florin|Roebig usually work on a contingency basis, meaning they take a percentage of your compensation—about 33%. If you don’t get compensation, they don’t charge you.
Should I Hire an Attorney After a Car Accident in Doral?
If you were injured and you suspect someone else was at fault, it’s usually a good idea to hire a lawyer. The more severe your injuries and other losses, the more hiring an attorney may pay off, but it’s always worth reaching out and getting a free case evaluation to get a professional opinion.
How Is Pain and Suffering Calculated in a Car Accident in Doral?
Florida courts look at your total car accident-related medical bills and multiply them by a number to calculate how much compensation you should get for pain and suffering. That multiplier number is based on how badly you were hurt, how fast you recovered, the impact your injuries have on your daily life, how much you’re suffering, and other factors.
