Located just north of Clearwater and 45 minutes west of Tampa, the Gulf Coast community of Palm Harbor is known for being a quiet, friendly Pinellas County town with excellent microbreweries and food trucks. Despite the relative lack of hustle and bustle, car accidents are still a near-daily reality in Palm Harbor. In 2023, Pinellas County reported 14,819 crashes, causing 9,194 injuries and, tragically, 110 deaths.
Car accidents can lead to disabilities and financial and emotional distress. However, victims don’t have to go through the pain and suffering by themselves. A skilled Palm Harbor attorney can help victims recover from high medical bills, an inability to work, and other consequences of getting into a crash by filing a car accident claim.
Read on to learn more about filing a claim in Palm Harbor and how a car accident attorney can help.
The Car Accident Claim-Filing Process
Filing most auto accident claims in Palm Harbor involves the following steps.
- Document injuries and damages by taking pictures of the accident scene, any physical injuries, and damage to your car.
- File a police report by calling the cops and cooperating with their investigation. They will file an incident report, which you’ll need for your claim.
- Notify your insurance company that you were involved in a car accident as soon as possible.
- Gather evidence like accident photos, your police report, and medical documentation to use in your claim. Make digital copies and store physical evidence somewhere secure.
- Seek legal advice from a car accident attorney. You may be eligible for a free case review, which can help you figure out what to do next, including whether or not to hire a lawyer.
The Importance of Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer
Hiring a car accident attorney can be critical to getting a good outcome for your claim, depending on the specifics of 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
Triple board-certified attorney Tommy D. Roebig says, “Some auto accidents are very minor and straightforward and are easily settled without an attorney. But car accident lawyers can be vital if you were seriously injured, key facts about the crash are in dispute, or there are complexities like multiple parties or businesses involved, among other factors. Even if your case seems minor, it’s still worth reaching out for a free case review because your accident may not be as simple as you assume.”
It’s not just enough to hire a car accident attorney—victims need a lawyer who can deliver. Florin|Roebig backs up its excellence with several distinctions, including:
- Long-Term Experience: Florin|Roebig has served victims in Florida for over 35 years.
- A Track Record You Can Trust: More than $1 billion in case awards won for our clients.
- Multiple $1 Million Settlements: Florin|Roebig not only frequently wins high settlements for clients, but has set multiple records in the state of Florida for the highest contested jury verdicts.
If you need help with your car accident case, drop by our Palm Harbor location at 777 Alderman Road, or reach out through our website for a free case evaluation.
State Laws For Car Accident Cases
Palm Harbor follows Florida and Pinellas County laws, as well as city ordinances that can determine the outcome of your car accident case.
Traffic Laws
Traffic laws sit at the heart of determining who’s responsible for a car accident in Palm Harbor, be they state laws about drunk driving or texting while driving or Palm Harbor-specific ordinances indicating the speed limit on a local road.
If a driver committed a traffic infraction like running a red light or not yielding the right of way at a stop sign, they could be found negligent—careless. Insurers and courts usually use the presence of negligence to determine who’s responsible for a crash.
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
Florida—and by extension, Palm Harbor—has established a no-fault system where all state-registered vehicles are covered by PIP and PDL insurance policies. When an accident occurs, drivers must turn to their own insurance (a first-party insurance claim) to cover accident-related medical expenses, regardless of who was at fault.
However, there are cases where a crash victim can file a claim against an at-fault driver or, more commonly, their insurance company (a third-party insurance claim). This usually happens when someone is seriously injured.
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
Palm Harbor car accident victims can seek compensation in a few ways.
- First-party personal injury claims
- Third-party personal injury claims
- Personal injury lawsuits: You may need to file a lawsuit with the Pinellas County court if you can’t agree on compensation with an insurer. The additional pressure of a lawsuit usually ends in a settlement out of court, but if not, your case will go to trial and be decided by a judge or jury.
Lawyer Tommy Roebig advises, “If you need coverage through your first-party PIP claim, make sure to seek medical care within 14 days of your accident so insurance accepts the claim. Third-party claims take longer and are more difficult to negotiate, but they can result in far more compensation for more of your losses.”
Fault In Car Accidents
Fault describes whose actions directly led to the accident—usually determined by negligence, or the failure to take proper care while doing something like operating a motor vehicle.
In Florida, more than one party can be at fault. Your attorney will argue on your behalf to show that you bore little to no responsibility for the accident.
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Liability In Car Accident Cases
Liability describes the legal responsibility to compensate someone harmed in a car accident.
Car accident cases in Palm Harbor may use the following to help determine liability:
- Negligence: Negligence usually determines if someone is liable for compensation.
- Strict liability: This is when a party is liable even if they weren’t negligent and didn’t intend harm. It can happen in car accident cases when part of a car like the brakes or seatbelt doesn’t work as intended, which leads to an accident or makes the resulting injuries worse. In such cases, the manufacturer may be held strictly liable.
- Vicarious liability: When one party is liable for the actions of another, vicarious liability is at play. It most commonly happens in crash cases when an employer is vicariously liable after an on-the-job employee causes an accident.
Understanding Consideration Of Negligence And Degree Of Fault
Since March 24, 2023, Florida has followed a modified comparative negligence standard, which means:
- More than one party can be at fault in a crash.
- Your degree of fault reduces your total compensation.
- If you’re more than 50% at fault, you can’t get compensation.
For example, you may be found 15% at fault by an insurer or court for not having your headlights on in heavy rain when the crash happened. If you were awarded $100,000 in compensation, you could only collect $85,000.
An experienced car accident attorney will collect and present strong evidence to show how the other party was at fault so you take home as much compensation as possible.
Ways The Accident Can Impact Your Life
Being involved in a car accident can be a life-changing experience. It can be difficult to pay the medical bills, go back to work, care for loved ones, and live a normal life.
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 Palm Harbor may include:
- Emergency services
- Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
- Medical care providers
- Insurance companies
- Therapy and support groups for accident survivors
- Victim advocacy services
- Government agencies
- Nonprofit community safety organizations
- Car accident attorneys
Florin|Roebig is dedicated to the Palm Harbor community, where our main office is located, and proud to be a resource for car accident victims and the community at large, providing a mock trial space for clients and hosting multiple charitable events for children’s organizations.
If you’re suffering after a car accident in Palm Harbor, don’t hesitate to take advantage of our legal experts to better understand your situation and your options. Reach out today for a free case evaluation.
What To Do After A Car Accident
Palm Harbor is known for being a quiet, friendly community, but car accidents can be dangerous anywhere. Always look after your and your loved ones’ well-being first after an accident, even if that means you can’t follow all of the best practices we outline below.
After a car accident in Palm Harbor:
- Check for injuries: If you’re injured, seek medical attention immediately to give yourself the best recovery outcome and to create a record of your injuries.
- Contact law enforcement: Call the police to report the crash and have an incident report filed.
- Gather information: Get contact information from any witnesses and note the location of any nearby cameras that may have captured the accident.
- Document the accident scene: Take pictures and video of the scene as a whole in a way that helps indicate what happened.
How Florin|Roebig Can Help With Your Car Accident Claim
Florin|Roebig has several car accident lawyers who can guide you through the process of filing a car accident claim and offer you the legal representation you deserve. After you reach out to us for a free case evaluation, our talented legal team can start your car accident claim.
Florin Roebig car accident lawyers offer many services, including:
- Case evaluation
- Legal representation
- Negotiation with insurance companies
- Litigation support
Our reputation as skilled, successful lawyers has earned us several honors and accolades, such as:
- Being voted one of the “Best Law Firms in America” by US News and World Report, 10 years running
- Being listed as one of the best legal teams in America by “Best Law Firms In America”
- Being selected to the “Elite Trial Lawyers” list by The National Law Journal
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an attorney charge for a car accident in Palm Harbor?
Most car accident attorneys in Palm Harbor charge about a third of your compensation (25-40%). However, they generally won’t charge fees if you don’t win your claim.
How much can someone sue for a car accident in Palm Harbor?
There is no upper limit to how much someone can sue for a car accident in Florida. Amounts can vary greatly depending on the extent of your injuries and other losses, who is being sued (an insurer, business, individual, etc.), and other factors.
How long does it take to settle a car accident case in Palm Harbor?
It can take anywhere from a month or two to over a year to settle a car accident case in Palm Harbor. This can depend on the complexity of the case, how long it takes you to recover from your injuries, how willing the insurer is to settle, and many other factors.
Top-Rated Palm Harbor Car Accident Attorneys
If you were involved in a car accident in Palm Harbor, speaking to an experienced attorney about filing a strong car accident claim is the first step to making things right.
Our car accident lawyers serving clients in Palm Harbor include:
- Wil H. Florin, B.C.S.
- Tommy D. Roebig, B.C.S.
- Chase P. Florin, B.C.S.
- Neil P. O’Brien, M.B.A.
- Shaun M. Cummings
- Luca G. Esposito
- Chad K. Florin, M.B.A., LL.M.
- John J. Hart
- Parker Y. Florin, LL.M.
- Taylor D. Roebig
- Michael A. Ossi, O.C.
- Lawrence J. Najem, O.C.
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 our office below
Location and contact information:
777 Alderman Road
Palm Harbor, FL 34683
Filing a car accident claim can help ease the many burdens that can come in the aftermath of a car accident and help you get back on your feet with your health and finances. In the state of Florida, the responsible party is required to pay for their negligence, and hiring the right attorney can lead to the best possible outcome.
Located right in Palm Harbor, the legal team at Florin|Roebig can help you file your local automobile accident claim to get the compensation you deserve. Schedule a confidential and free consultation with our award-winning firm today.
