Vehicle Accidents

Our team of experienced personal injury attorneys will vigorously fight on behalf of victims and their families who are injured in vehicle accidents.

Auto Accident Attorneys in Bradenton

If you’ve experienced an auto accident, the impacts can be overwhelming. Pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, and a general disruption of your life are the common results of an auto accident.

You should not have to suffer because of another individual’s negligence, but do not assume that contacting your insurance company will eliminate the burden. Understand that insurance companies are in business to make money, so the less the company pays in policyholder claims, the more profitable they will be.

You may be driving to work, on your way to dinner with friends, making your way across town to pick up the kids, or just heading to the grocery store. Whatever the errand, there exists a basic assumption that if you obey the traffic laws and you operate your vehicle responsibly, you should be able to complete your trip without incident. Unfortunately, the negligent behavior of certain drivers occasionally subjects others to the risk of auto accidents.

Common scenarios for negligent drivers:

Rear-end collisions, t-bone collisions, sideswipes, etc.
Inattentive drivers
Speeding and reckless driving
Awareness deficit
Texting and cell phone usage
Disregarding hazardous conditions
Impaired and imperiled driving

Vehicle Accident FAQs

What should I do if I am involved in a car crash?

You must insist that the crash be reported to law enforcement so that a law enforcement officer can complete the appropriate forms. You shouldn’t try to negotiate a payment agreement with the other party to settle damages.

Other suggestions include:

Make sure the investigating officer records complete insurance information for all parties on the crash report. Report the accident to your insurance company immediately. If the other party is insured or uninsured, be sure to report that information to your insurance company so that they can pursue compensation, as they have more information resources at their disposal.

If I didn’t cause this accident, why does my insurance have to pay anything?

The Florida No-Fault Law provides that a Florida resident involved in an automobile accident must seek medical and wage loss from his/her own insurance company regardless of who is at fault in the accident. This is true even if you are involved in an accident while a passenger in someone else’s vehicle. You must initially file for medical and wage loss benefits with your own insurance company.

Do I have to buy insurance?

As a Florida State resident, you must be able to show you can take financial responsibility for any incidents in which you and your vehicle are involved. Florida’s Financial Responsibility Law and Florida’s No-Fault Law both outline coverage you need to meet financial responsibility requirements and legally operate your vehicle.

Whether you plan to drive it or not, if you own a vehicle with a state license plate you must cover it with the minimum liability insurance requirements. Returning your license plate to a driver license or tax collector office is the only way to legally cancel your insurance.

Since my vehicle is inoperable, I need a rental car. Who is going to pay for that?

Even though it is extremely frustrating to you as the accident was not your fault, the other driver’s insurance company will do a liability investigation to make sure their driver was at fault and that they owe you for the claim. This investigation will almost certainly include getting a statement from their insured. They may also want to speak with any witnesses and get a look at the police report if one was made. This all takes time, so rarely will another driver’s insurance company agree to provide you with a rental car in the first 24 hours after an accident.

If you have rental car reimbursement coverage on your own automobile insurance, you should consider getting a rental car under your own policy rather than waiting for the other driver’s insurance company to complete their investigation. If they determine their insured was at fault, they will reimburse your insurance company.

What type of auto insurance coverage is required for a person causing a crash?

The Florida Financial Responsibility Law requires that any person at fault in a crash resulting in bodily injury and property damage to others must have in effect at the time of the crash full liability insurance coverage. This coverage includes minimum limits of bodily injury liability of $10,000 per person, $20,000 per crash, $10,000 property damage liability per crash, and personal injury protection limits of $10,000 per person per crash.

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TERMS: Although we will provide a free evaluation of your potential claim, it is understood that this service does not establish an Attorney/Client relationship. Unless arrangements are made for further consultation and a formal retainer agreement is signed by both you and one of our attorneys, our firm cannot assume any responsibility for taking any steps necessary to properly pursue your potential claim. It is also understood that the evaluation you will receive is an opinion based upon the information provided and that there may be additional information not provided by you that may change that opinion.

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Vehicle Accidents

Auto Accident Attorneys in Bradenton

Common scenarios for negligent drivers:

Vehicle Accident FAQs

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