Located in Balm Beach County, West Palm Beach, Florida is known for its large selection of restaurants, shops, arts, and nightlife, and for being a short drive away from several stunning beaches. Unfortunately, heavy tourist traffic and difficult weather conditions like heavy rain and storms at certain times of the year contribute to a higher rate of car accidents. In 2023, Palm Beach County reported 26,243 crashes, which caused 16,247 injuries and 182 deaths.
Being in a car accident and incurring injuries from it has the potential to completely change the life of the accident victim. The pain and stress of being injured can lead to long-lasting consequences, as can medical expenses.
Thankfully, many people injured in motor vehicle crashes qualify to file a car accident claim, which can provide essential monetary compensation. Keep reading to learn more about the claim filing process in West Palm Beach and how a car accident attorney can help you get the best outcome.
The Car Accident Claim-Filing Process
Filing most auto accident claims in West Palm Beach involves the following steps:
- Document injuries and damages by taking pictures of vehicle damage and the accident scene and keeping injury-related medical documents like hospital bills.
- File a police report by contacting the cops and cooperating with their investigation. They’ll file a report, which you can access through the West Palm Beach Police Department’s online portal.
- Notify your insurance company that you were in an accident at once to make sure you’re complying with their policy and to get instructions for filing a claim.
- Gather evidence, including accident photos, the police report, and medical bills, which you’ll need to support your claim.
- Seek legal advice from a car accident attorney before filing your claim. You can usually get a free case review to discuss your legal options, including whether you should hire a lawyer.
- File your claim along with any supporting evidence. If you hire a lawyer, they can make sure your claim is solid and may file on your behalf.
The Importance of Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer
A skilled and experienced West Palm Beach car accident attorney can provide the person who was injured with some financial support and emotional relief. Engaging with a lawyer means that harassing phone calls and letters can be routed through them instead. The right West Palm Beach car accident lawyer can also help individuals secure the compensation they deserve following an accident.
Hiring an experienced car accident lawyer can help you:
- Navigate complex legal issues
- Maximize compensation
- Help negotiate medical bills
- Protect your legal rights
Record-setting verdict attorney Chad K. Florin, M.B.A., LL.M., says, “You’re not legally required to hire an attorney to file a car accident claim, but doing so can increase your compensation considerably, especially if you’re dealing with serious injuries or an unusual circumstance like a case involving a faulty car part or a company employee. It’s a good practice to contact a lawyer and consider your options after a car accident, even if you think it’s minor.”
If you’re thinking about filing a car accident claim, the attorneys at Florin|Roebig are here to help you maximize your chances of success. We have secured an average of more than $1 million in compensation for our clients and have won several record-breaking verdicts throughout Florida. Reach out to our experts today with a free case evaluation.
State Laws For Car Accident Cases
West Palm Beach follows Florida state laws, Palm Beach County laws, and local city ordinances which can factor into your car accident case in many ways.
Traffic Laws
Traffic laws are often vital to proving negligence—the failure to take proper care while doing something like driving and most car accident cases revolve around proving someone’s negligence caused an accident. Evidence such as traffic cameras or witness testimony may show that someone broke a traffic law like speeding or texting while driving at the time of the crash and, therefore, was negligent.
Insurance Coverage Requirements
All Florida-registered vehicles must have the following car insurance coverage under the state’s no-fault law:
- 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
An at-fault driver is whoever is legally responsible for causing the accident. Florida’s no-fault law not only requires certain insurance coverage but also requires all drivers who get into an accident, regardless of fault, to turn to their own insurance to cover medical bills.
That said, you may be able to file a claim against the at-fault driver or their insurance company in some circumstances, such as to cover vehicle damage or more serious injuries.
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
West Palm Beach car accident victims can seek compensation in a few ways.
- First-party personal injury claims: These are claims filed with your own insurance company. They are generally limited in the amount they pay out and the kinds of losses they’ll cover but are fairly quick and straightforward to obtain.
- Third-party personal injury claims: These are claims filed against someone else—usually the insurance company of the at-fault driver. They may be harder to win and take longer to secure, but tend to cover a wider array of damages and have a larger payout.
- Personal injury lawsuits: If you can’t agree on fair compensation with the insurance company, you may need to file a lawsuit with the Palm Beach County court. This will begin the trial process, which can end up being settled in court by a judge or jury, but will usually end before it gets to that point, with the insurer coming to the table with a better offer.
Liability In Car Accident Cases
Liability describes the party legally responsible for compensation after someone is harmed in an accident.
Car accident cases in West Palm Beach may use the following to help determine liability:
- Negligence: Most car accident cases determine liability based on who was the most negligent.
- Strict liability: Sometimes someone is liable regardless of whether they were negligent or intended harm. In car accident cases, this may happen with a manufacturer whose defective car part contributes to an accident or makes the resulting injuries worse.
- Vicarious liability: In some cases, a party in a car accident case is liable due to the actions of someone else. This may happen when an on-the-job employee causes and accident that injures someone and their employer must pay compensation.
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Understanding Consideration Of Negligence And Degree Of Fault
Florida courts adopted a modified comparative negligence standard on March 24, 2023, which meant that multiple people could share negligence after a car crash and their percentage of negligence would lower their total compensation. Anyone who was more than 50% at fault for an accident couldn’t get compensation at all.
For example, if you were ruled to be 20% at fault for an accident you were injured in and your compensation totaled $100,000, you could only collect $80,000.
Ways The Accident Can Impact Your Life
Car accidents happen in West Palm Beach every day, leading to injuries, expensive medical bills, and even death in some cases.
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 West Palm Beach 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
If someone is injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, Florida law entitles the victim to compensation for all related losses. Reach out for the help you need to get the compensation you deserve. The experts at Florin|Roebig are standing by to help you understand your legal rights through a confidential and free case evaluation.
What To Do After A Car Accident
In the direct aftermath of an accident in West Palm Beach, it’s important to prioritize your and your loved ones’ safety by getting out of traffic if you can and seeking medical attention immediately if you’re injured. However, if you’re able, following a few best practices can help you later with your claim-filing process.
After a car accident in West Palm Beach:
- Check for injuries and seek medical attention immediately if necessary.
- Contact law enforcement to report the crash and get the police to file an accident report.
- Gather information that may be hard to collect later like witness contact details.
- Document the accident scene by taking pictures and video.
Attorney Chad Florin says, “I can’t overstress the importance of seeking medical care quickly after an accident, even if you think you’re okay. You may be more badly injured than you thought or your injuries may get worse without medical intervention. You can also hurt your chances of securing a strong compensation amount or getting certain coverage if you don’t seek medical attention promptly.”
How Florin|Roebig Can Help With Your Car Accident Claim
At Florin|Roebig, we take pride in providing assistance to those who have been injured as a result of the negligence of another. Our experienced, successful, and compassionate car accident lawyers are skilled at getting the compensation our clients deserve.
The law offices of Florin |Roebig have a number of auto injury lawyers ready to provide assistance to personal injury clients in Southeast Florida and throughout the state, including:
- Wil H. Florin, B.C.S.
- Tommy D. Roebig, B.C.S.
- Chase P. Florin, B.C.S.
- Chad K. Florin, M.B.A., LL.M.
- John J. Hart
The skilled car accident attorneys at Florin|Roebig don’t settle for less than their clients deserve. They have won some of the biggest compensation awards in Florida, such as a $42 million jury verdict which was the second highest of the year, and a $16 million jury verdict.Florin Roebig car accident lawyers offer many services, including:- Case evaluation
- Legal representation
- Negotiation with insurance companies
- Litigation support
With over 30 years of experience and selection as one of the “Best Law Firms in America” by U.S. News & World Report since 2010, Florin|Roebig is dedicated to providing its clients with high-quality legal representation.
We Are Nationally Awarded Lawyers
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an attorney charge for a car accident in West Palm Beach?
Most car accident attorneys charge between 25% and 40% of your compensation. If you don’t win compensation, they won’t charge.
How much can someone sue for a car accident in Florida?
Some cases have gotten into the tens or even hundreds of millions in Florida, but there is no cap on the amount someone can sue for car accident injuries in the state. That said, the amount you’re likely to get varies widely depending on the extent of your injuries and many other details.
Should I get a lawyer after a car accident in West Palm Beach?
If you were in a car accident, you should definitely contact a lawyer via a free case review as soon as you can to explore your legal options. Lawyers can be beneficial to many car accident victims, but they’re especially important if you were badly injured or are dealing with an unusual case.
How to Get Help from Florin|Roebig Attorneys
The law offices of Florin |Roebig have several experienced auto injury lawyers who, combined, have won their clients over $1 billion in compensation. They are ready to assist car accident victims who visit their office located right in West Palm Beach or through other means.
Our car accident lawyers serving clients in West Palm Beach include:
- Wil H. Florin, B.C.S.
- Tommy D. Roebig, B.C.S.
- Chase P. Florin, B.C.S.
- Chad K. Florin, M.B.A., LL.M.
- John J. Hart
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.
Palm Beach Office
777 South Flagler Drive
Suite 800 – West Tower
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
The period following a car accident can be filled with pain and confusion for accident victims and their loved ones. Consulting with car accident attorneys in West Palm Beach ensures that injured victims have an experienced and skilled legal team in their corner.
At Florin|Roebig, our car accident lawyers have the proven expertise and dedication to lead clients to success. Whether the accident occurred yesterday or last year, contact us today for a free consultation to learn how we can position our clients so their claims are a success.
