The Central Florida city of Orlando is famous as the home of Walt Disney World, as well as Universal Studios and scores of other theme parks and attractions. That’s not to mention the University of Central Florida, the largest university campus in the United States. It’s little wonder that Orlando ranks as one of the most visited cities in the entire world.
But with its explosive population and nearly 3 million yearly visitors, it’s little wonder that Orange County reported 26,238 crashes in 2023, tragically causing 19,610 injuries and 168 deaths.
Car accidents happen every day in Orlando and are one of the leading causes of injury and death. Serious injuries may result in costly medical expenses, inability to work, a loss in quality of life, or even wrongful death. The effects of getting into a car crash often prompt victims to hire a car accident attorney to help them file a car accident claim so they can recover fair compensation for their injuries and property damage.
This guide will give you the facts about filing a car accident claim in Orlando, Florida, and how a car accident attorney can help.
The Car Accident Claim-Filing Process
The auto accident claim-filing process in Orlando usually involves the following steps.
- Document injuries and damages: Take pictures at the scene if you can—car damage, your injuries, and the accident as a whole. Seeking medical treatment can also help you document injuries.
- File a police report: Call the cops at the scene of the accident and answer their questions. They will file a crash report that you can request from the Orlando Police Department.
- Notify your insurance company: Inform your insurer as soon as possible that you were involved in an accident.
- Gather evidence: Make digital copies of any evidence like accident photos, your crash report, and medical documents, and store physical evidence somewhere safe.
- Seek legal advice: Contact a car accident attorney by taking advantage of a free case review. The sooner, the better. Legal experts can guide you on the next steps and help you decide if working with a lawyer is right for you.
Triple board-certified attorney Tommy D. Roebig says, “It never hurts to take advantage of a free case evaluation after an accident. Your case may be more complex than you assumed if it, for example, involved a business’s employees, defective car parts, or injuries that are more serious than you first assumed. An attorney can help you explore elements of the crash you never considered and make sure you’re not forgoing compensation you need and deserve.”
The Importance of Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer
Seeking compensation after a car accident in Orlando is rarely simple, even for comparatively straightforward accidents. A successful claim—especially if you’re seeking compensation from another party’s insurer—involves presenting strong evidence of what happened, what harm you sustained, and, potentially, how you weren’t responsible for the crash, yourself.
An experienced Orlando car accident lawyer is well-versed in this process, having a deep understanding of the state and local laws at play, how to negotiate with insurers, and how much compensation is reasonable for your case.
Hiring an experienced car accident lawyer can help you:
- Navigate complex legal issues
- Maximize compensation
- Help negotiate medical bills
- Protect your legal rights
It can be incredibly difficult and stressful to navigate the claims process without professional help, especially while recovering from an accident. The attorneys at Florin|Roebig, who’ve won an average of over $1 million in compensation for their clients, work on a contingency basis and won’t charge you if you don’t win compensation.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to our experts for a free case evaluation.
State Laws For Car Accident Cases
Orlando follows Florida and Orange County laws, as well as local city ordinances, which can all contribute to how your car accident case plays out.
Traffic Laws
Traffic laws are usually central to determining who was at fault in a car accident in Orlando. Insurers and courts want to establish if anyone was negligent (careless) to help establish the percentage of fault. They’ll look at traffic cameras, police reports, witness testimonies, and other evidence for signs of negligence, like driving under the influence, speeding, or texting while driving.
Insurance Coverage Requirements
All Florida-registered vehicles must have the following car insurance coverage:
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP): PIP covers 80% (up to $10,000) of all “necessary and reasonable” medical expenses for an injury covered under the plan.
- Personal Damage Liability (PDL): PDL covers $10,000 of another driver’s vehicle or property damage in an accident if you’re at fault.
The No-fault System
Orlando follows the Florida no-fault system, which requires all state-registered vehicles to be covered by PIP and PDL insurance. Anyone who gets into an accident is required to turn to their own insurance policies first (called a first-party claim) to cover injury-related expenses regardless of who’s at fault.
However, it is possible to file third-party claims—claims against another party’s insurer—if someone else caused the accident and the victim’s harm was severe.
Third-party car accident claims require injuries that cause at least one of the following:
- Severe and permanent loss of an important bodily function
- Permanent injury
- Severe and permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Death
Legal Remedies Available To Accident Victims
Orlando car accident victims can seek compensation in a few ways.
- First-party personal injury claims: First-party claims are great for minor straightforward crashes because you can usually get coverage fast with little hassle. However, coverage is limited in terms of the amount and what you can be compensated for.
- Third-party personal injury claims: Third-party claims can offer much more in compensation and can be made for losses like pain and suffering, but they’re usually much more difficult to win and it can take much longer to resolve.
- Personal injury lawsuits: If an insurer won’t offer you a fair settlement after you file a third-party claim, you may need to file a lawsuit with the Orange County court. This puts pressure on the insurance company to settle, but in rare cases, lawsuits will go to trial, at which point, your case will be decided by a jury or judge.
Fault In Car Accidents
In Florida car accident cases, fault describes the party or parties who directly caused the accident.
Attorney Tommy Roebig explains, “Florida courts or insurers usually look for signs of negligence to determine everyone’s percentage of fault. If you’re assigned a portion of the fault in a car accident case, you could have your compensation reduced or may not be able to collect compensation at all, so insurers will try to find reasons to assign fault to you. Your attorney will argue on your behalf to maximize your compensation.”
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Liability In Car Accident Cases
When someone is liable in a car accident case, they’re legally responsible for compensating someone who’s been harmed due to the accident.
Car accident cases in Orlando may use the following to help determine liability:
- Negligence: In most car accident cases, someone’s negligence will determine if and how much they’re liable for.
- Strict liability: Strict liability is when a party is responsible for compensation even if they weren’t negligent and didn’t intend to cause harm. In auto accident cases, this usually happens when a manufacturer’s defective part (brakes, airbag, etc.) contributes to an accident or makes injuries worse.
- Vicarious liability: Vicarious liability is when one party is responsible for compensation because of the actions of someone else, such as when a business is liable because their on-the-job employee caused a crash.
Consideration Of Negligence, Degree Of Fault
Since March 24, 2023, Florida courts have used a modified comparative negligence standard. Under this standard, more than one person may be assigned a percentage of fault for an accident. Your percentage of fault will decrease any awarded compensation by the same percentage, and anyone found 51% at fault or higher can’t get any compensation.
For example, if you were found to be 15% at fault because you failed to signal during a turn and you were awarded $100,000, you could only collect $85,000.
Ways The Accident Can Impact Your Life
Whether you’re visiting or living in Orlando, getting into a car accident can have devasting consequences, leading to painful and debilitating injuries, an inability to work, trouble with finances, and challenges adapting to your life after the crash.
Some 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
Car accident resources in Orlando may include:
- 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 attorneys
Filing a claim after getting in an automobile accident can help you recover from the damages you’ve incurred. Consider hiring a skilled accident attorney at Florin|Roebig who will take your side and demand that your claim is heard.
Our auto accident lawyers will guide you or your loved one through the process of filing a car accident claim and represent your best interests, ultimately maximizing the amount of compensation you deserve. Reach out today for a free case evaluation.
What To Do After A Car Accident
After an Orlando car accident, it’s important to make sure you and your family are safe, especially if you’re in a high-traffic area like Interstate 4 (I-4), Downtown Orlando, International Drive, or anywhere near popular theme parks.
However, if you’re able to follow the best practices below, it could help you protect your legal rights and navigate the claims process more easily.
After a car accident in Orlando:
- Check for injuries and seek medical attention immediately if you need it. Doing so will get you the best health results and will help you document your injuries.
- Contact law enforcement to report the crash and get the police to file a crash report.
- Gather information such as witness contact details.
- Document the accident scene by taking photos on your phone.
How Florin|Roebig Can Help With Your Car Accident Claim
After being involved in a car crash, you or your loved one may struggle with a range of expenses, including therapy, medical treatments, physical rehabilitation, and more. All of these costs can become overwhelming while you try to recover from your accident. That’s why the car accident lawyers at Florin|Roebig are here to represent you in your fight for justice.
Florin Roebig car accident lawyers offer many services, including:
- Case evaluation
- Legal representation
- Negotiation with insurance companies
- Litigation support
All of our attorneys are highly experienced and several are board certified. One of our most impressive case awards includes a $2.6 million settlement for a client in a car accident trial. Call the offices of Florin|Roebig today if you’re ready to get the settlement you deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an attorney charge for a car accident in Orlando?
Most car accident attorneys in Orlando charge between 25% and 40% of your compensation. If you don’t get compensation, they won’t charge you.
Should I hire an attorney after a car accident in Orlando?
It’s a great idea to reach out to a car accident lawyer after an accident in Orlando. Hiring an attorney is especially important if your crash involved serious injuries, several parties (possibly including businesses), or if certain facts of the case are being disputed.
What happens if I get into a car accident at Disney World or another theme park?
If you were on Disney or another theme park’s property when your accident happened, you may be able to sue the theme park or an affiliated company depending on the nature of the crash, such as if the accident was caused by an employee like a bus driver. However, many car accidents on theme park property won’t involve the companies. It’s best to contact an attorney to help you handle more complex cases like this.
List Of Car Accident Attorneys Serving Orlando
If you want to file an auto accident claim in Orlando, hire the best car accident lawyers to help. The law offices of Florin|Roebig have an experienced team of legal experts who know how to use every detail of your case to optimize your claim. Our attorneys work on a contingency fee, meaning they don’t get paid unless you win compensation.
Our car accident lawyers serving clients in Orlando include:
- Wil H. Florin, B.C.S.
- Tommy D. Roebig, B.C.S.
- Luca G. Esposito
- Kavan P. Smith
- Nicholas S. Costantino
We Are Nationally Awarded Lawyers
How to Get Help from Florin|Roebig Attorneys
If you are interested in seeking legal advice from our legal team, you can contact our offices to schedule an appointment.
- Our website, florinroebig.com, has an option for requesting more information.
- You can call our phone number 24/7
- For more information regarding our services and free consultations, you can email us at [email protected]
- Or you can reach us at an office near you below.
Jacksonville Office
1506 Prudential Drive
Jacksonville, Florida 32207
Palm Harbor Office
Primary & Administrative Office
777 Alderman Road
Palm Harbor, Florida 34683
Getting into a car accident can be a very traumatic experience, leaving you with high expenses and physical and emotional damages. Don’t take on the insurance companies by yourself. Hire an experienced car accident attorney serving Orlando who will offer expert legal advice and help you file a strong claim.
