Car Accident Lawyers in Fort Walton Beach
If you or someone you care about has been in a car crash
in Fort Walton Beach, it is highly recommended that you get help from an
experienced accident attorney. At Whibbs, Stone, Barnett, Attorneys at Law, we
aggressively defend the rights of accident victims and will fight for the
compensation you deserve from the responsible parties.
Contact our office today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
Dealing with Insurance Companies After a Crash
For a minor car wreck, you may not run into any issues filing a claim with your insurance company to recover your losses. Assuming you have property damage and just one or two medical bills, your claim may be simple to resolve. But when you’ve been involved in a serious accident in Fort Walton Beach, the expenses and damages will skyrocket.
Insurance companies are in the business of making a profit, meaning they have established procedures that are meant to minimize any financial payouts and losses. Among these procedures are denying legitimate accident claims and issuing lowball settlement offers. For them, this is purely business, and it doesn’t matter that these actions are hurting you and your family.
One of our goals as your personal injury attorneys is to make sure that you are treated fairly from start to finish. We will deal with the insurance company on your behalf, discuss settlement when the time is right, and ensure that you receive the compensation you need and deserve. Don’t accept any offer of settlement from an insurance company without first discussing it with an attorney.
Florida’s Negligence Laws
After being injured in a crash, most Florida residents believe that they need only file a claim with their own insurance company to have their damages covered. While Florida is a “no-fault” state, you’ll only receive coverage up to certain limits. What if you are seriously injured and have permanent limitations?
When it’s been determined that another party’s careless, reckless, or negligent act caused your accident, that party should be held responsible for damages. Florida operates under a pure comparative negligence standard. This means that, even if you were partially responsible for the accident, you could still recover damages, but they would be limited by whatever amount you were negligent.
Say you were involved in a crash at an intersection and you were found to be 20% responsible for the accident. If your damages were $100,000, your recovery would be reduced by that 20%, and you would only be able to collect $80,000. Because of this, it’s important to avoid admitting fault when discussing the accident and equally vital that you seek legal counsel as soon as possible after a crash.
Serious Injuries Associated with Florida Car Wrecks
A serious car crash injury can be life-changing. It can leave you with reduced mobility, crippling pain, and have a severe impact on your quality of life. Some injuries can make it difficult if not impossible to continue working, and you could also have issues that impact you mentally and emotionally.
When another person’s negligence has resulted in this type of harm, you should be financially compensated for every way that this impacts your life and future. While all car accidents have the potential for severe injury, some are more common than others. For instance, whiplash is something that is generally unique to motor vehicle accidents and can range from mild to severe. Some of the other serious injuries associated with car wrecks include:
- Back, neck, and spine injuries
- Brain injuries
- Fractured and broken bones
- Severe burns
- Organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Amputation and dismemberment
- Permanent scarring
What to Do After a Car Accident
The minutes, hours, and days just after a serious wreck can be nerve-wracking. Getting into a crash was not something you had planned, and it has now become an event that could re-shape your future. Here are a few steps you can take just after a crash to protect your rights.
- Seek medical care. Either call an ambulance from the scene or seek medical attention as soon as possible after the crash. Even if you don’t feel hurt, it’s possible that a serious injury could show up later, and you’ll want documentation of medical care to protect your case.
- Call the police. Even if no one appears to be injured, the police should be notified. If they don’t come to the scene, call them and file an accident report.
- Collect information. Just after a crash is the best time to collect information that could help your case. This includes the other driver’s information, witness names and contact info., and pictures of the scene.
Whether you followed these steps or not after your accident, you should speak with an experienced Florida car accident lawyer as soon as possible. We will conduct an independent investigation of your crash, and help you figure out if someone else was responsible for your harm.
Speak with a Fort Walton Beach Car Accident Attorney
Some minor car accidents cases can be handled without the help of a lawyer. However, having legal counsel in your corner can impact the amount of your settlement. The Insurance Research Council released a study revealing that auto accident victims that hired an attorney received 3.5 times more than those who negotiated with the insurance company on their own.
At Whibbs, Stone, Barnett, Attorneys at Law, our number one priority is to provide you with accurate and honest legal information. After a serious car crash, we want to see you get back on your feet and receive the compensation and justice you deserve. Our personal injury attorneys will use their years of experience and guiding hand to represent your interests, whether it be through settlement negotiations or in the courtroom.
If you’ve been injured in a car crash, we will review your case and explain your rights at no cost to you. We also don’t charge a fee for representation unless we win your case. Contact our office today at (850) 500-1111 or reach out to us online to schedule a free consultation.
