Car Accident Lawyer Palm Bay, FL
If you suffered injuries during a car crash, it’s important to discuss your case with a car accident lawyer in Palm Bay, FL. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages and other losses. A lawyer can help you pursue a claim and protect your legal rights.
Car Accidents: Who’s at Fault?
It can be complicated to tell who’s really at fault in a car accident, but a car accident lawyer in Palm Bay, Florida can help you determine who was responsible for your injuries – and how you can get the compensation you deserve.
Traffic accidents happen all the time. Some are easier to figure out: If you were rear ended and the other driver had been livestreaming their commute, it’s a pretty cut-and-dry case. The same applies for a drunk driver t-boning your car when they run a red light. However, there are some instances where fault is more challenging to determine, and you might have to resort to legal action to ensure you don’t go bankrupt because of a bad car crash.
Most accidents are avoidable. Drivers on the road can all be safer, more attentive, and more courteous. However, in some rare cases, no amount of attention and experience can prevent a car accident. What happens when a car accident was caused by something completely out of everyone’s control? And how can a car accident lawyer help? Read on to learn more.
Vehicle Defects and Responsibility
There are rare cases in which a car crash wasn’t caused by anyone. It can be confusing and distressing to deal with vehicle defects or freak natural disasters (such as tree limbs suddenly falling on your vehicle), and at the end of the day there’s still a major financial obligation that needs to be taken care of. Those medical and repair bills won’t pay for themselves.
In the event of any kind of car accident, you’d expect your insurance company to cover your expenses. But insurance providers are notoriously slow to release those much-needed funds, and you might have some difficulty convincing them the accident wasn’t your fault – or anyone else’s. Fortunately, a car accident lawyer in Palm Bay, FL, can help you get to the bottom of your accident, and the right attorney can even find who was at fault if none of the drivers were responsible for the accident.
For example, if a sudden tire blowout caused you to lose control and get in an accident, your car accident lawyer may be able to track down any recall information about the brand of tire you were using. The right attorney can determine if a manufacturer defect led to your accident, and if they discover the tire was improperly manufactured, you can file a lawsuit to cover the cost of your accident.
It can be challenging and overwhelming to be involved in any kind of car accident. All the more reason to get in touch with an attorney you can trust, and a firm with a solid track record. Tuttle Law, P.A. is here to help.
What To Do After a Car Accident
A car accident can happen at just about any time, and they tend to happen when we least expect them. If you are involved in a motor vehicle collision, you will have a lot of thoughts running through your head. You may have a difficult time making a decision. Fortunately, there are several simple steps you need to follow if you are involved in a motor vehicle collision. Do not forget to contact a car accident lawyer in Palm Bay, FL, such as a member of Tuttle Law, who can assist you.
Call 911
The first thing you need to do is call 911. Even if you feel like the accident is minor, you never know if there are serious problems with your car underneath the hood. You always need to get an official police report on what happened at the scene of the accident. Furthermore, you may have suffered serious injuries and not know it. Therefore, you should always ask for emergency medical personnel to respond to the scene of a car accident as well.
See a Doctor
Even though it is helpful to reach out to a car accident lawyer in Palm Bay, FL, it is always better to go and see a doctor first. Your health has to come above all else, and you need to talk to a doctor even if you feel fine. You have a lot of adrenaline going through your system following a car accident, and this can cover up a lot of serious injuries. Make sure the doctor is thorough. Then, do not forget to ask for a copy of your medical records. You might need this information if you decide to file a car accident claim down the road.
Talk To a Car Accident Lawyer
Finally, once you are confident in your care plan, you need to reach out to a car accident lawyer. You might have a lot of property damage, and you may have medical bills you have to cover. If you are unable to return to work immediately, you may have a difficult time making ends meet. That is where a car accident lawyer in Palm Bay, FL, such as an attorney from Tuttle Law, can help you. Even though it can be stressful to be involved in a motor vehicle collision, this is not a situation you need to face on your own. A trained attorney can assist you.
Contact Tuttle Law Today
At Tuttle Law, we know that car accidents are frustrating, frightening, and painful. And we know that the accident is only the tip of the iceberg. You’ll have to fight with insurance companies, pay your medical bills, and cope with lost wages while you try to focus on recovery. And of course, you’ll have plenty of paperwork to fill out.
Fortunately, you don’t have to deal with your car accident alone. Reach out to Tuttle Law, P.A. today, and see how a car accident lawyer in Palm Bay, Florida can help you get your life back on track.
Common Mistakes Palm Bay Drivers Make After a Car Accident
It’s easy to make legal mistakes after a car accident. These errors are understandable because you’re probably feeling confused and you may be injured as well. Having a car accident lawyer in Palm Bay, FL, handle your case can be a big help. What should you avoid doing when you’ve been in a fender bender?
1. Driving Away
You don’t necessarily have to call the police after an accident, but you do need to exchange insurance information with the other driver. This means providing your driver’s license number, insurance policy number and contact information. You should get this info from the other driver as well.
You must call the police before leaving the scene in the case of major accidents, especially if anyone was seriously injured. Contact a car accident lawyer in Palm Bay, FL, right away if you’re not sure what steps to take.
2. Not Going to the Hospital
If you have a busy lifestyle, it can be tempting to just shrug off an accident and go back to work. At Tuttle Law, we often recommend that our clients visit a doctor after any car accident, even ones that seem relatively minor. It doesn’t take much for whiplash to occur in a car accident.
Injuries don’t always appear right away. If you want to receive compensation, you need a doctor to diagnose and treat these injuries. A car accident lawyer in Palm Bay, FL, can provide specific recommendations for your case.
3. Not Going Along With Your Doctor’s Instructions
Another common mistake is not following the treatment recommendations your doctor provides. To help your insurance claim get approved as quickly as possible, it’s important to follow medical treatments to the letter, including waiting the necessary time before returning to heavy work.
Not doing what the doctor says could make your injuries worse and cause the insurance company to reject coverage. On the other hand, a car accident lawyer in Palm Bay, FL, can point to your medical records as evidence in your case, potentially helping you get a better settlement offer.
4. Talking Too Much About the Accident on Social Media
Sometimes, insurance companies or other drivers use your social media posts against you. They may try to take your statements as an admission of guilt, blaming you for causing the accident. This could reduce your compensation.
Don’t talk to anyone (except our team at Tuttle Law) about what caused the accident, your injuries or your activities after the crash. Never admit fault.
Suffering Whiplash in a Car Accident
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries people suffer during car accidents and occurs when your head is jerked back and forth suddenly. Common symptoms of whiplash include neck pain and stiffness, dizziness, headaches, shoulder pain and numbness in the hand.
Sometimes these symptoms don’t show up immediately. In fact, it isn’t uncommon for car accident victims to not show whiplash symptoms until days after the accident. That’s why it’s essential to seek medical attention promptly after a vehicle accident. If you delay medical care, you may experience debilitating pain and more limited range of motion. Additionally, failing to see a doctor promptly can also jeopardize your legal claim. The negligent party’s insurance company may argue that you aren’t truly hurt if you didn’t seek medical care right away.
Providing Proof of Whiplash
In order to receive compensation for your whiplash injury, you must provide the court with sufficient proof, such as medical records. These records may include hospital and doctor’s office records that outline your symptoms, test results and treatments you have received thus far.
A car accident lawyer in Palm Bay, FL may also advise you to write about your injury in a journal. Describe the symptoms you’ve been experiencing and how they have negatively affected your life. For example, if your neck pain keeps you up at night, jot that information down.
Other Common Injuries After Being in a Car Accident
There are many different injuries someone can sustain after being involved in a car accident. Some of the most common include:
- Broken bones and bruising
- Cuts and open wounds from glass or other sharp objects
- Dislocated joints
Some of the more serious injuries that can occur from a car accident include:
- Internal bleeding
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Severely injured limbs
- Severe blood loss
No matter what your injury is, it is important to seek medical attention right away. The sooner you can get help the faster someone will be able to treat your injury properly and hopefully make it less severe than it could have been. It will also offer better evidence in court, as a judge will see that your injuries were serious enough to require medical attention. Your health should always be your top priority. You should not have to skimp on appointments because they are too expensive. The person who was “at fault” in the accident needs to pay for your treatment so that you can heal back to the same person you were before being in the car crash.
Consulting a Lawyer
Seeking compensation for a whiplash injury can be quite complex, so it’s wise to have an experienced car accident lawyer on your side. He or she can help you gather the appropriate evidence and locate witnesses who can testify on your behalf.
During your first consultation with a lawyer, expect to answer many questions about your case. If you have documents pertaining to your case, like a police report or medical records, bring them with you. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions of your own.
If you recently got hurt in a car crash, you should schedule a consultation with our car accident lawyer in Palm Bay, FL today. At Tuttle Law, P.A., our lawyers are ready to help you.
How to Talk to a Doctor After a Car Accident
If you were injured in a car accident, one of the next things you should do is seek medical attention. Even if your injury does not seem too severe now, it is still critical to get checked out by a doctor. Otherwise, you could jeopardize your health. It could also make it more difficult for your car accident lawyer in Palm Bay, FL to help you obtain fair compensation. Here are some tips for communicating with a doctor after a car accident.
- Talk about your medical history. When you see a doctor regarding your car accident injury, he or she will ask you several questions about your medical history. It is important to be completely honest and provide as many details as possible. Your health history can have a big impact on your injury. For instance, if you suffer from diabetes, you may take longer to heal from an injury. Your doctor will keep this in mind and look out for signs of infection and other complications.
- Discuss your symptoms. It is also important to let your doctor know about the symptoms you have been experiencing after the accident. Try to be as specific as possible. For example, if you feel sharp pain in your lower back every time you get up, tell your doctor that. The more your doctor knows about your symptoms, the better he or she can help you.
- Explain how you got injured during the car accident. When visiting a doctor, you should also discuss specifics about the car accident. For instance, the other driver may have been speeding and crashed into the back of your vehicle. Be careful not to exaggerate any details because that could hurt your credibility in your car accident claim.
- Ask about your treatment plan. Treatment for car accident injuries can be long and expensive, so you should find out about what yours will entail. Ask your doctor how long your treatment will approximately take and how much your surgeries, medications and other healthcare expenses will cost.
- Ask when you can return to work. In most cases, you will have to take some time off work following a car accident injury. Your doctor should be able to give you an estimate of when you can go to work and if you will have certain restrictions.
What to Remember at the Scene of the Accident
When you are involved in a car accident, do not forget to take the right steps that will offer you the best possible chance of compensation Here are a few things you can do to help better prepare to have a good case in court:
- Ask for medical assistance. If you feel that you need emergency service, that is the first thing you need to tend to. If not, take note that you need to see your doctor after you are done sorting through all of the logistics. This needs to be done within a day or two of the accident to make sure everything is alright.
- Call the police. Having a police report for a car accident case can make or break your case. It will offer an unbiased perspective on what likely happened, as well as document things like what the weather and road conditions were like that day. A police report could also contain witness statements, but you should also collect those on the day of the accident if you are able to.
- Take photos of the scene of the accident. These can also come in handy during a court case in the future. Get several different angles to paint the full picture of what happened. It can also show fault if you get the right photographs. Your lawyer will know whether or not different shots are relevant for your case and what should be used as evidence.
Three Myths About Car Accident Lawsuits
The best time to plan for a car accident is before you’re ever in one. The actions you take after the accident happens can make an enormous difference in the kind of monetary damages you could be given in a car accident injury lawsuit. Here are three harmful myths about car accidents.
Myth: All Drivers Have Insurance
Fact: According to the Insurance Information Institute, in 2019, about 12.6% of drivers in the U.S., or about one in eight, were uninsured. In Florida, that number jumps to 20.4%, or one out of five. If one of those drivers causes a car accident, it would be extremely difficult to pursue a civil claim against them; they simply don’t have enough money to pay for your medical bills, much less your lost wages, loss of enjoyment of life, disability or any punitive damages. A car accident lawyer in Palm Bay, FL, such as Tuttle Law, may recommend you carry uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance for your own car to mitigate any financial burdens you might bear from an accident like this.
Myth: You Don’t Need To See a Doctor After a Minor Accident
Fact: You should see a doctor after every car accident you’re in. Even minor accidents can cause injuries. Some injuries, such as internal bleeding or brain injuries like concussions, may not show symptoms until it’s too late. Adrenaline in your system can hide symptoms like pain. Medical records can help you pursue a successful personal injury lawsuit after a car accident. A car accident lawyer in Palm Bay, FL, can help you get access to those records.
Myth: You Don’t Need a Lawyer To Get a Good Settlement
Fact: To get the most lucrative payout from the other driver’s insurance company, or even from your own insurance in the case of an uninsured or underinsured motorist causing the accident, you need a car accident lawyer in Palm Bay, FL, such as Tuttle Law.
Trying to do it on your own is like trying to make a high-class French dinner without a recipe. You might accidentally stumble into making something palatable, but it wouldn’t be the high-class dinner you were aiming for.
For example, you might know that you can sue for medical expenses. But did you know you can also sue for pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of future wages, loss of enjoyment of life, future medical bills, household expenses and costs related to cancelling future plans like vacations? Attorneys can help you get the best financial outcome after any car accident.
Seek Legal Assistance
If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident, contact a car accident lawyer in Florida from Tuttle Law, P.A. right away. We can go over all of the details of your case to see whether it is worth pursuing and give you advice on how to move forward from there.
What are the auto accident laws in Florida?
If you are a driver in Florida whether you are a regular driver or not, you should have a comprehensive understanding of the laws that govern the road in Florida. Florida law requires that all drivers stop at the scene of an accident and they must help anyone who is injured, and an accident must be reported to the police if it causes injuries or damages in the excess of $500 minimum. If injuries have occurred, you must stay at the scene of the accident exchange information with all parties involved, and if you believe that you may have a court trial or a case on your hands you should take down contact information for any witnesses who saw the accident take place and take photos of the damage to all vehicles that were involved so that they may be submitted with the accident report to the insurance company.
All Florida drivers must have car insurance and they must be able to provide proof of insurance in their vehicle at any given time. Florida logic gates at the minimum insurance drivers must have is $10,000 for personal injury protection and another 10,000 for property damage liability.
Florida is a no-fault state which means that everyone’s insurance company pays for their own accident, it does not matter who was at fault in Florida when an accident occurs. If an accident causes more damage than what your insurance policy is going to cover you may be able to hire a car accident lawyer to sue the offending person in a personal injury lawsuit.
Florida law does dictate that you have to report every auto accident to your insurer right away and not doing so can. keep you from receiving compensation from your insurance company. Insurance companies often make fault determinations right after they receive the detailed information of your crash in the existing police that accompanies it.
You should not sign a release from the insurance company that says you will not pursue additional claims for the accident because you cannot be sure of the claim amount being enough to cover injuries and damages to yourself and your property. So to further protect yourself and leave the venue of personal lawsuit open do not sign saying you will not pursue further compensation from another source.
If you have been injured or received property damage from an accident that involved another party driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or otherwise have proof of negligence in their driving such as texting or speeding, you will have up to two years from the time the accident happened to file a personal injury lawsuit. Your lawyer is going to be able to tell you these time frames and ensure that everything is filed in a manner that is correct so that nothing is delayed.