Fort Pierce Car Accident Lawyer

Were you injured in a car accident in Fort Pierce, FL?

At Tuttle Larsen Injury Attorneys, every car accident case begins with a free and confidential case review.

If you were injured in a motor vehicle collision in Fort Pierce, the medical treatment you receive immediately after the crash becomes the main evidence in your claim. Our Fort Pierce, FL car accident lawyer collects that medical evidence and the proof of fault that an insurer requires before it pays a fair settlement.

Our attorneys have more than 55 years of combined experience, and our car accident results range from $200,000 to $1,675,000. We handle these cases on a contingency fee, so call us to arrange your free case review.

Car Accident Lawyer Fort Pierce, FL

A car accident lawyer proves two things for an injured client. The first is that another driver caused the crash, and the second is the full extent of the client’s injuries. The lawyer then presents both to the driver’s insurance company and files a lawsuit if the insurer does not pay a fair amount.

Drunk-driving crashes killed 11,904 people nationwide in 2024, which is about 30 percent of traffic deaths, according to NHTSA drunk driving data. Impairment is only one cause of serious collisions, and speeding, distraction, and failure to yield cause many others. Our Fort Pierce car accident attorneys identify what caused the collision and document every injury that resulted from it.

Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle in Fort Pierce, FL

Car accident claims differ according to how the collision happened and whose insurance applies. We handle each of the case types below.

• Highway and interstate crashes. Collisions at highway speed cause the most serious injuries. We obtain data from the vehicles involved to establish speed and braking.
• Rear-end collisions. The driver who strikes a vehicle from behind is usually at fault. Neck and back injuries from these crashes can take months to resolve, and we document the full course of treatment. Insurers often describe these injuries as minor, and treatment records answer that description.
• Intersection collisions. Side-impact crashes at intersections raise the question of which driver was required to yield. We answer it with signal timing, video, and witness statements. These crashes frequently injure the occupant seated on the side of the impact.
• Sideswipe and lane-change collisions. A driver who changes lanes without checking for other vehicles is negligent. Damage along the sides of the vehicles shows which one left its lane. A sideswipe at speed can push a vehicle off the road or into another lane.
• Drunk driving accidents. A driver who was impaired at the time of a crash is liable for the injuries that result. We use the arrest report and test results in the civil claim, which is separate from the criminal case.
• Uninsured driver claims. Many drivers carry too little insurance to pay for a serious injury. We review our client’s own policy for uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and present that claim.
• Truck accidents. A collision between a car and a commercial truck involves the trucking company and its insurer as well as the driver. We pursue each of them for the injuries to the car’s occupants.
• Motorcycle accidents. Car drivers who fail to see a motorcycle cause serious injuries to the rider. We represent riders and their passengers in claims against those drivers.
• Bicycle accidents. A cyclist struck by a car has a claim against the driver’s insurance. We document the collision and the cyclist’s injuries as thoroughly as we do for vehicle occupants.
• Wrongful death. We represent the families of people killed in car accidents and pursue compensation for their financial and personal losses. These claims include funeral expenses and the support the family has lost.

Fort Pierce Car Accident Infographic

Why Choose Tuttle Larsen Injury Attorneys as my Car Accident Lawyer in Fort Pierce, FL?

Who Handles Your Claim

A personal injury lawyer in Fort Pierce, FL documents a crash victim’s medical treatment as carefully as the crash itself, because the injuries determine most of a claim’s value. Jesse H. Larsen has represented injured clients in Florida since 2010. Car accidents and wrongful death cases are a central part of his practice. His law degree is from the University of Richmond School of Law, and he currently serves as president of the Indian River County Bar Association.

Our assessment of fault and of the available insurance is part of the first meeting. A car accident lawyer at our firm stays with the claim from the first insurance notice until it is resolved. We handle car accident cases on a contingency fee.

What Our Car Accident Clients Have Recovered

Our clients have recovered millions of dollars, and car accident cases account for most of our reported results.

• One car accident case ended with a recovery of $380,000.
• Two clients each recovered $350,000 after car accidents.
• Other car accident recoveries include $335,000, $327,577, and $325,000.

Results differ from case to case because injuries, fault, and coverage differ. A Fort Pierce car accident lawyer evaluates a new claim on its own facts.

Understanding Car Accident Cases

What Are Important Aspects of a Car Accident Case?

The injuries are the center of a car accident claim. Fractures and other visible injuries are documented at the hospital. Other injuries are harder to prove. Concussions, spinal disc injuries, and whiplash often produce symptoms days after the crash, so an early medical evaluation matters even when the first symptoms are mild.

Consistent treatment is equally important. An insurer treats a gap in treatment as evidence that the injury has healed or was never serious. Insurers also review prior medical records and attribute symptoms to older conditions. A car accident attorney answers that argument with the opinions of the doctors who treated the injury. Photographs of bruising, swelling, and surgical scars add to the medical record, and so do notes about pain and limits on daily activity.

Florida’s filing deadline for a negligence lawsuit is two years. Avoiding the mistakes people make in the first weeks, such as delaying treatment or admitting fault, protects the claim during that period.

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Car Accident Cases

A driver who causes a collision through carelessness must pay for the harm that results. Under Florida’s negligence statute, an injured person’s compensation is reduced by that person’s own share of fault. A person whose share is greater than 50 percent recovers nothing.

• Medical damages include hospital care, surgery, medication, and physical therapy.
• Future medical damages cover treatment that doctors expect the injured person to need.
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity are recoverable as income losses.
• Pain, permanent impairment, and the loss of normal activities are compensated as noneconomic damages.
• Property damages cover the repair or replacement of the vehicle.

Punitive damages are available when a driver’s conduct was intentional or grossly negligent, which can include drunk driving.

What Is The Car Accident Case Timeline?

The length of a car accident case depends mostly on the length of the medical treatment. The stages are the same in most cases.

• The claim is reported to the insurers, and we take over communication with them.
• We gather the crash report, photographs, and medical records as treatment continues.
• We prepare a demand when the treating doctors can state the long-term outlook.
• The insurer responds, and we negotiate toward a settlement.
• The case goes to the St. Lucie County circuit court when the insurer will not settle fairly.

What Should You Bring to Your Car Accident Consultation?

A few records are enough for the first meeting.

• The crash report identifies the drivers, their insurers, and the investigating officer.
• Discharge papers and medical bills show the treatment you have received.
• Photographs show the vehicles, the scene, and visible injuries.
• Your insurance policy shows the coverage available on your side.
• Injured passengers should bring the name of the driver they were riding with and that driver’s insurer.

At the review, a car accident attorney identifies the responsible driver and the insurance that covers your losses. The consultation is free and confidential.

Most Dangerous Locations for Car Accidents in Fort Pierce, FL

The roads below carry much of the traffic in and around Fort Pierce.

Streets

• Kings Highway is a north-south route west of downtown, near the interstate and turnpike interchanges.
• South 25th Street is a multi-lane road through residential and commercial areas.
• Midway Road crosses the southern part of the Fort Pierce area between U.S. Highway 1 and Interstate 95.

Highways

• Interstate 95 passes west of downtown, with interchanges at Orange Avenue and Okeechobee Road.
• Florida’s Turnpike meets Okeechobee Road west of the city.
• U.S. Highway 1 runs through the commercial center of Fort Pierce.

Reach Out to Tuttle Larsen Injury Attorneys to Schedule a Consultation

Treatment records, bills, and the crash report are the starting point for a Fort Pierce car accident claim. Our car accident attorneys review them with you at no charge and handle the claim on a contingency fee. Our attorneys return calls from crash victims promptly. Contact us to get started with a Fort Pierce, FL car accident attorney.