Car accidents in West Palm Beach can occur instantaneously. The ramifications, however, can be long-lasting. Sadly, for most car accident victims, injuries sustained are because of somebody else’s negligent actions – a distracted driver, carelessness of a drunk driver, or any other negligent actions of a driver. Here at Steinberg Law, we are aware that those couple of seconds can completely upend your life. Your job, family dynamic, and finances all take a hit.
Have you sustained an injury from a car accident in West Palm Beach lately? We at Steinberg Law have expansive experience handling car accident cases in West Palm Beach. We are compassionate, empathize with your situation, and will do everything in our power to hold the at-fault negligent party accountable. You can reach out to us at Steinberg Law by calling 877-783-4611 to book a no-cost and no-obligation consultation. Our experienced car accident lawyer in West Palm Beach will review your case to determine if you have a valid claim.
Car Accident Statistics in West Palm Beach, FL
Around 2.35 million auto accidents happen across the U.S. every year. West Palm Beach is a hotbed for vacationers and travelers to have fun. It is renowned for its pristine beaches, entertainment, recreation, nightlife, and numerous neighborhoods. Due to this, the highways and roads in the locale are packed with traffic. Although this may be good for the economy, it also presents a potential risk for Florida motorists traversing the crowded roadways.
While Palm Beach County is the third-biggest county in Florida when it comes to its population, West Palm Beach stands at number 21 by populous and 18 by locale. However, that doesn’t imply that the city doesn’t experience deadly and dangerous crashes. In 2020, Palm Beach County recorded 22,106 accidents. This is a reduction by more than 4,700 collisions – or around 18% fewer compared to the 2019 recorded amount of 26,817. Furthermore, there were 185 deaths and 12,832 injuries in 2020. Although injury numbers were down, deaths in 2019 were 174, showing a small rise.
Per statistics obtained by Florida DHSMV, 56.5% of all crashes that occurred in 2020 led to injuries or deaths. That suggests that over one in two crashes leads to an injury. It’s integral to keep in mind that various parties can get hurt in one accident. Fatal crashes present distinct legal problems for the plaintiff. If you or a cherished one has become a statistic in tragic car accidents in West Palm Beach, call an injury attorney to seek justice for injuries and/or losses suffered.
How Much Does a Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
Many personal injury lawyers in West Palm Beach, including Steinberg Law car accident attorneys, provide their legal expertise on a contingency fee plan. We don’t impose any fees or charges as the whole point of this plan is to alleviate the pressure off you. We adhere to Florida Bar contingency fee statutes. You only pay us after we get a favorable case outcome or reach a fair settlement with the liable party. If you’ve been hurt in a West Palm Beach auto crash, then look no further than here with us at Steinberg Law.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
No matter how responsibly you try to drive, accidents do occur and can happen to you unawares. When you’re unfortunate enough to get tangled up in one, it would be in your interest to know what steps to take next. Here are actions you should take following an auto accident in West Palm Beach.
Contact Police
In Florida, you are obliged to inform law enforcement immediately after a crash happens and results in injuries, death, and property damage exceeding $500. Following a car accident, you should call 911 right away and provide the dispatcher with any pertinent info they need. When law enforcement gets to the accident scene, answer all their inquiries and give an account of your injuries. This will enable the officer to draft an accurate police report that will be integral in your car accident claim.
Check on Other Involved Parties (Do Not Leave!)
If you physically can, don’t flee from the scene unless remaining there poses a risk to your well-being. Regardless of who is at fault for the accident, check on the other driver(s) and passenger(s) tangled in the wreck and assist where you can.
Exchange Info
Make sure to swap info like contact details, registration and license, insurance details, address, phone number, and any other pertinent info with the other driver. Also, politely request any available witnesses at the scene to remain and also get their contact details, including their phone numbers, addresses, names, and other pertinent information. The witness statement can be used to prove that your claim is valid and the other party was negligent.
Record the Scene
Get to safety first and take a lot of videos or photos of the accident scene and make sure that you capture damage inflicted on your property, injuries suffered, debris on the ground, road conditions, skid marks, weather conditions, and other important visual evidence that can be used to support your case.
Never Admit Fault
It’s only natural to feel empathetic following a car crash. Nonetheless, you should push those feelings back and never appear to come off apologetic or use words like “I’m sorry” because it will be treated as you admitting to guilt. Even if you were partly to blame for the collision, never admit it, especially to the insurance carrier.
Seek Medical Attention
Let the responding EMTs examine you even if you don’t feel any pain. The initial shock of the accident may be confusing and the adrenaline may give you a false sense of well-being but are seriously hurt. Going to the emergency room will provide you with a permanent medical record documenting your injuries liked to the accident. These records will be integral when determining the settlement amount you are owed.
Call a Car Accident Lawyer!
Get in touch with a personal injury attorney who deals with car accidents in West Palm Beach before you speak with the insurance company. The skilled auto accident lawyers at Steinberg Law will defend your rights and your financial future by providing guidance on your possible legal options and how you can recoup compensation for injuries and losses suffered.
What is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident?
It’s important to bear in mind that the average car accident settlement amount in Florida varies significantly. That is largely due to how different the cases can be. The average settlement for auto crashes in Florida starts from $10,000 to $60,000. Obviously, your claim and the compensable amount you stand to get may fall over or below this average figure depending on the particular details and factors surrounding your case.
To ascertain that you receive fair treatment and restitution following a car wreck, allow us to provide you with effective legal aid. At Steinberg Law, our qualified legal team has experience dealing with car accident cases and will assist you to value your claim and take into account all essential factors associated with your case. Regardless of how complicated your case may appear, you can rely on our aptitude to make sure that you receive an appropriate settlement amount.
When Should I Get a Lawyer for my Auto Accident?
Generally, car crashes involving severe injury or damage provide sufficient grounds to seek the assistance of an attorney. So you should ideally enlist a lawyer when you want to file a claim against the responsible driver(s), protect your own claim, or when it’s time for negotiations with the insurance carrier.
Before you decide if you require professional aid in a superficially trivial lawsuit, you should bear in mind that lawsuits could get complex and the ramifications of litigation can be very severe. A professional auto accident lawyer can compile a solid and convincing defense case or prosecution that many non-attorneys cannot comprehend. Reach out to Steinberg Law immediately following an accident if you want to recoup the full damages you are entitled to.
Why do I Need a Lawyer?
Here’s why you should enlist an attorney following a car crash in West Palm Beach:
Case Preparation / Filing a Lawsuit
When you enlist an attorney, you’ll be sure that they will deal with the legal parts of your case. At Steinberg Law, we will acquire pertinent proof showing a liability for the car accident. We will get medical records, the police report, and witness information, and make sure that we file the requisite paperwork within the deadline period.
Settlement Negotiation
We know the tricks insurers and insurance adjusters use in an attempt to reject, delay, or devalue your claim. We will take charge of the negotiations and ensure you aren’t swindled out of your deserved compensation.
Trial Preparation & Representation
If negotiations with the insurance carrier don’t pan out, we are prepared to take them to court and prove your case before a jury. We will build an airtight case backed with convincing proof that guarantees a favorable case outcome.
How Much Can I Expect to Receive for My Damages?
Computing the number of damages you can expect to receive isn’t as clear-cut as you may presume. There’s no accurate figure that a car accident can be allotted given how each auto accident is different. There are many factors surrounding every case, and the settlement amount you can expect to receive will be contingent on them. Contributing factors may include:
- The extent of your injuries
- The insurance coverage of both drivers
- Percentage of accident liability
- Nature of accident injuries (long-term or permanent)
- The sort of medical treatments and procedures you receive
- Negotiations between your attorneys and insurers
What Type of Damages Can I Recover?
If you’re among the thousands of residents in West Palm Beach who have been hurt in a car crash, you may be eligible to pursue reimbursement for damages suffered. Recoverable damages include:
Economic
These damages are intended to compensate you for any monetary loss you may have incurred because of an accident. They should ideally cover lost income, loss of earning capability, property damage, both present and future medical costs, the cost of modifying the car or household to accommodate a disability, and rehabilitation expenses.
Non-Economic
These damages reimburse the injured victim for how the injuries and accident have affected their lives. They are much more difficult to quantify and can’t be given a definitive figure. They compensate you for pain and suffering, emotional trauma, loss of consortium, loss of life enjoyment, anxiety and depression, and disability or permanent disfigurement.
Punitive
Dissimilar to other damages meant to return you to your initial financial, physical and emotional position, punitive damages are awarded to the plaintiff to act as punishment to the offender. Although these damages are seldom given, one can receive them when it is found that the defendant behaved in a manner that is reckless, malicious, or gross negligence.
How is Fault Determined In a West Palm Beach Car Accident Lawyer?
To determine fault, you have to definitively prove how the at-fault party behaved negligently. You and your attorney will need to prove four key elements of negligence for the defendant to be held accountable. Elements considered include:
Duty of Care: The plaintiff must definitively show that the accused had a duty to provide reasonable care to them.
Breach of Duty of Care: The next thing is demonstrating that the accused didn’t exercise reasonable care towards you, and from that, an accident occurred.
Causation: Next, you have to demonstrate that your damages and injuries were directly caused by the car accident – due to the negligence of the defendant.
Damages: You need to show that because of the accident, you suffered damages. These include non-economic and economic damages as stipulated above.
How Long do I Have to File a Claim in West Palm Beach, FL?
According to Florida Statute 95.11, you’ve got four years following the accident date to file a personal injury claim entailing negligence. If this period lapses, you will have forfeited your right to pursue a claim.
Claims brought against the state or any government entity must be filed in writing for a period not exceeding three years following an accident. The time limit for Local municipalities may be even reduced, with the time limit for some within months of a crash.
Claims encompassing death must be submitted within four years following the person’s death unless the claim is against the state, which needs to be filed within two years of the wrongful death.
How Can a Lawyer Help me File My Insurance Claim?
To have a successful claim, it is integral that you have a grasp of the claim process. Here’s what a typical claims process entails:
Consultation: Nobody is better placed to file and handle your insurance claim than an attorney as they have the necessary experience. A lawyer will assist you in reporting and filing a lawsuit against the responsible party.
Investigation: Attorneys will utilize their extensive resources and expertise to investigate the accident and collect as much evidence as possible.
Claim denial or approval: The insurance carrier will provide an investigation report stipulating whether your claim has been rejected or accepted.
Negotiations: If your claim is approved, the insurance carrier will make you an offer. You can reject it, accept it, or negotiate for an improved sum ideally with the aid of a seasoned lawyer.
File a lawsuit: If negotiations don’t bear any fruit, we’ll file a claim in a West Palm Beach court compelling the at-fault to pay compensation.
What Can I do if Insurance Denied My Claim?
Even if you have a valid car accident claim, the insurance carrier may still find a reason to reject it. The good news is that if you feel that your claim has been unjustifiably denied, you can contest that decision with the aid of an attorney. Your attorney will appeal the decision and see to it that you are reimbursed up to the last coin.
Do I Have a Case?
The best way to know if you’ve got a valid case is to consult with a seasoned car accident attorney in West Palm Beach, FL at Steinberg Law. Our skilled accident attorneys will review your case at no cost and establish whether your case with hold up in a court of law.
What if the Other Driver Doesn’t Have Insurance?
If you find the at-fault driver doesn’t carry insurance, you can recoup recompense from your own insurer, but only if your coverage encompasses underinsured and uninsured drivers. On the other hand, you file a lawsuit against the driver to get reimbursement from them directly.
How Can I Obtain an Accident Report in West Palm Beach, FL?
To obtain your accident report, first, ensure that your report has been filed by the responding officer and is available. You’ll also have to file your own driver’s report of the incident. You’ll have to buy your report online if you want to acquire your crash report. A good website for this is BuyCrash.com. You’ll have to request a duplicate using your name and your VIN or report number. When you have these, the process will be as straightforward as paying online, and it will be emailed to you.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Here are the most common injuries we see after an auto accident:
Brain Injuries
Back Injuries
Neck Injuries
Head Injuries
Internal Injuries
Facial Disfigurement
Leg & Knee Injuries
Spinal Cord Injuries
Wrongful Death
Types of Car Accidents We Handle
Here are some of the many types of car accidents our lawyers are capable of handling for you:
Driving Under the Influence Accidents (Drinking & Drugs)
Distracted Driving
Head-on Collisions
Hit & Run Accidents
Rear-End Accidents
Reckless Driving
Rideshare Accidents
Rollover Accidents
Speeding Accidents
Uninsured Motorist
Speak With Our Car Accident Lawyer in West Palm Beach Today!
If you or somebody close to you has been the victim of a car accident in West Palm Beach, you have may be entitled to seek reimbursement for injuries and losses suffered. Navigating a personal injury claim against the negligent party and/or the insurance carrier can be daunting, especially when you’re still recovering. Don’t undergo the claims process by yourself whereas our West Palm Beach car accident attorneys at Steinberg Law can assist you to recoup maximum compensation.
Please contact Steinberg Law now at 877-783-4611 to arrange a no-cost and no-obligation initial consultation and case review.
