According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, there are more than 200,000 car accidents in Florida every year. With 15+ million licensed drivers in the state, there is a large number of car accident injuries totaling around one hundred thousand annually, and thousands of them result in fatalities. In cases of a fatal car accident, the compensation awarded can be significantly higher due to the severe and lasting impact on victims’ families. Automobile accidents, including auto accidents, occur frequently and can have devastating consequences for those involved in St. Petersburg. Victims and families devastated by these events rely on their insurance(s) and state accident laws to help receive needed compensation for medical, financial, and property damages. They also depend on the litigation skills of an experienced St. Petersburg car accident lawyer to protect their rights and stop corporate insurance companies from minimizing or denying their claims.
If you have been involved in an auto accident recently, Frank P. Marsalisi with Marsalisi Law aims to help you make the most of your unfortunate situation. We offer the expertise of a dedicated car accident attorney to guide you through the legal process and fight for your rights. While we cannot undo the effects of a traumatic crash, we will personally attend to your case. We handle car crash-related injuries and accidents, including:
- Distracted Driving
- Head-On Collisions
- Hit and Run
- Lyft and Uber Accidents
- Multi-Vehicle Accidents
- SUV Rolleovers
- Whiplash Accidents
HOW A REPUTABLE CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER IN ST. PETERSBURG, FL CAN HELP
Florida law requires drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage on their insurance policies to help an injured victim seek necessary medical treatment after an accident. It is important to have an auto insurance policy with adequate insurance coverage, including uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, to ensure better financial protection in case the at-fault driver lacks sufficient coverage. Your insurance provider plays a key role in the claims process, as you must contact them to report the incident and access your benefits. This PIP coverage provides $10,000.00 worth of benefits to cover 80% of the victim’s medical bills and 60% of their lost wages. This PIP coverage is considered “No-Fault” insurance because the injured victim can utilize it no matter who caused the accident. However, take note that the PIP coverage does not pay 100% of the injured victims medical bills and lost wages. Additionally, an injured victim’s medical expenses and lost wages often exceeds the PIP benefits of $10,000.00. Therefore, an injured victim must make a claim against the negligent party to be made whole.
An injured victim may have a claim for the following:
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Costs of transport to and from doctor appointments
- Current and ongoing medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability and disfigurement
- Hiring household help for duties you can no longer do on your own
- Emotional distress
- Wrongful death
- Other costs directly related to your injuries
The painful consequences of a motor vehicle collision make it vital to contact a trusted attorney about your claim as soon as possible after experiencing an accident. Insurance companies aggressively defend car accident claims, often relying on insurance adjusters who may use tactics to minimize payouts or dispute liability. An experienced St. Petersburg car accident lawyer can counter these tactics, advocate for your rights, and help ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Therefore, it is necessary to hire an experienced car accident attorney to navigate the complexities of insurance claims and settlements, ensuring you receive fair compensation.
The car accident claims process involves several steps, including dealing with insurance providers, negotiating with insurance adjusters, and potentially filing a lawsuit. Securing a fair settlement is crucial, as it should accurately reflect your damages and injuries. Skilled attorneys help clients recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other losses, ensuring they do not settle for less than what they deserve.
COMMON CAUSES OF CAR ACCIDENTS IN ST. PETERSBURG
Car accidents in St. Petersburg can occur due to various reasons. Florida car accidents often result from different causes, and understanding these causes is crucial for determining legal responsibility and seeking compensation. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your car accident, your case might only require negotiation by a skilled St. Petersburg car accident attorney on your behalf. Yet, in other situations, your case may have to go to trial. Personal Injury cases can be quite complex due to the laws involved. The injured victim must prove four essential elements for their claim to be successful:
The driver of the vehicle owed a duty to the injured victim. The driver of the other vehicle breached that duty. This breach of duty caused damage to the injured party. The injured victim then must prove their damages.
You must prove these elements for all types of car crashes that happen in Florida. Some of the most common causes and types of car accidents in St. Petersburg include:
ACCIDENTS ON THE FREEWAY
Some of the most serious accidents one can experience occur on a major freeway. The combination of high-volume traffic, elevation changes of the roadways, vehicles prone to rollover like SUVs, and high speeds can create a devastating impact. These impacts can cause serious injuries that could leave you permanently injured or can even cause death. In such cases, understanding the process and implications of a car accident lawsuit is crucial for seeking compensation for injuries sustained, as car accident lawsuits play a key role in holding liable parties accountable and ensuring victims receive the compensation they deserve.
HEAD-ON CAR ACCIDENTS
Another potentially fatal type of accident is head-on collisions. These occur when a driver swerves into oncoming traffic or out of their lane to avoid another driver making sudden maneuvers. One might run into a guardrail or streetlamp when trying to swing around traffic in an aggressive move. Even medical conditions, like stroke or a heart attack, have debilitated motorists who crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with other vehicles or objects head-on.
LYFT & UBER ACCIDENTS
While ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft are convenient ways to get around, accidents can still occur. To know how to properly handle these situations, one should contact a lawyer.
DISTRACTIVE DRIVING
This is one of the leading causes of car accidents in St. Petersburg. Distracted driving can include texting, talking on the phone, eating, or any other activity that takes a driver’s attention away from the road. Even a momentary lapse in focus can lead to devastating consequences, making it important to identify at fault drivers in these situations.
SPEEDING
Excessive speeding significantly increases the risk of a car accident. Speeding reduces the amount of time a driver has to react to potential hazards, making it more difficult to avoid a collision. The faster a vehicle is traveling, the more severe the impact and resulting injuries can be.
DRUNK DRIVING
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a leading factor in car accidents in St. Petersburg and throughout the United States. Drunk driving severely impairs a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely, increasing the risk of an accident. The consequences of drunk driving can be catastrophic, often resulting in serious injuries or fatalities.
FAILURE TO YIELD
Failure to yield to other drivers or pedestrians can cause car accidents. This can include failing to stop at a stop sign or red light, or failing to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk. Such negligence can lead to dangerous collisions, especially at intersections.
RECKLESS DRIVING
Reckless driving includes aggressive behaviors such as tailgating, weaving in and out of lanes, or running red lights. These actions not only endanger the reckless driver but also put other road users at risk. Reckless driving can result in serious injuries or fatalities and often requires legal intervention to address the consequences.
ACCIDENTS ON BUSES OR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Due to the increased carrying capacity of public transportation, when accidents do occur they can affect many more people at once. Issues such as identifying parties at-fault, and liability when public entities are involved can be tricky to mitigate without the help of an experienced car accident attorney who can guide victims through the legal process and assess the value of their cases.
WRONGFUL DEATH
In 2018, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported that more than 3,000 drivers died in Florida vehicle crashes. This cold reality emphasizes the fact that it isn’t always possible for everyone to survive a car accident. Families that lose a loved one this way should contact an experienced wrongful death lawyer right away to get the case reviewed.
HIT AND RUN COLLISIONS
Florida Highway Patrol released its 2018 hit and run collision statistics, and the number was shocking. More than 98,000 hit and run crashes were reported in the Sunshine State last year. A hit and run collision involves a vehicle striking another car, person, or object, then fleeing the scene for whatever reason. Many times, they flee because they do not want to be caught and suffer the consequences of their wrongdoing. If you or a loved one is a victim of a hit and run collision, you should immediately contact an experienced St. Petersburg car accident lawyer to receive the compensation you deserve.
SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT
It’s not uncommon for victims to experience an inevitable level shock as their bodies naturally cope with the force and impact of a crash. Many car accident victims do not realize the severity of their injuries until the damage has emerged, sometimes hours, days, or even months after the accident occurred. For example, traumatic brain injuries are a type of serious injury that may not be immediately apparent after a car accident.
That’s why it’s critical for car crash victims to seek medical attention as soon as possible. “Silent” injuries can be traumatic and cause long-term health issues if they’re not treated effectively. Early treatment of your car crash injuries is the key to your future health and wellbeing. If you need to file a personal injury claim in St. Petersburg, FL, seeking immediate medical attention is necessary for a strong case.
Silent injuries can rapidly turn serious, and in some instances, become fatal. Physical therapy is often an important part of ongoing treatment and recovery after a car accident.
INTERNAL BLEEDING
The trauma that a high-impact car crash has on the body can lead to damaged organs and/or blood vessels’ internal bleeding. A collision force often involves blunt trauma, where a body part collides directly with an object at high speed, causing blood vessels to crush and tear.
The most common causes of internal bleeding are:
- Head trauma
- Injuries near the heart and lungs
- Damage to the spleen or liver
“TALK AND DIE” SYNDROME
After blunt head trauma, car accident victims may appear fine, able to walk and talk normally. Neuroscience experts warn that even seemingly mild head injuries need careful monitoring, as they may lead to “talk and die” syndrome a condition where initial clarity hides serious internal bleeding within the skull. This bleeding, often accompanied by a skull fracture, can escalate quickly, causing swelling and severe complications. Without timely treatment, this injury can become fatal, making early detection and medical evaluation essential.
WHAT TO DO AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT IN ST. PETERSBURG, FL
Although auto accidents are a daily occurrence, nobody expects to be involved in a crash when they leave their home for the day. Car crashes are extremely common in places like St. Petersburg, where residents and visitors rely on driving a vehicle as their primary means of transportation. Yet, accident victims are often taken aback when they end up in a crash and are rarely confident about what their next steps should be. Hiring a St. Petersburg car accident attorney is crucial after experiencing a car accident, as they can effectively advocate for injured clients against insurance companies, ensuring that claims are valued fairly and maximizing potential compensation. Accident victims can take advantage of a free consultation and a free case evaluation to discuss their legal options without any financial risk. Even crash victims who have an idea about what to do are often so shaken up from the crash that they struggle to think clearly or remember how to handle the situation.
Frank P. Marsalisi, understands many of the thoughts and feelings that victims go through after being involved in an accident because he has worked with so many victims over his career. While he can obtain the information he needs to build a strong case, there are a few post-accident tasks you can complete to help boost your claim. In some cases, if insurance coverage is not enough to cover your damages, it may be necessary to file a personal injury lawsuit or pursue a personal injury lawsuit to seek full compensation. They include:
SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT
If the negligence of another party caused your accident, you could be entitled to compensation under Florida State Law. While it is important to file your claim quickly, your first priority after a crash should always be to seek medical treatment from a qualified physician.
This will not only provide you with the best chance at making a full and speedy recovery but will help support your injury claim significantly. Receiving medical attention right away is essential evidence that you were injured. Timely and professional medical documentation will help link your injuries directly to the crash, making it more challenging for an insurance company or at-fault party to claim that your damages were triggered by something other than the accident.
Remember to acquire a copy of your medical records so that you have personal documentation detailing your treatments after the crash and the progress of your recovery. These are critical pieces of evidence in Personal Injury claims. Hiring a St. Petersburg car accident attorney can significantly impact the compensation you may receive, as they offer various services, including free consultations, to assist you in navigating the complexities of your claim.
GATHERING EVIDENCE
Modern-day car accident victims benefit from cell phones with high-definition cameras that allow them to take detailed photos right at the scene of the crash. If you are able to do so, try to take pictures of your damages before leaving the scene. Take photos of:
- Your vehicle
- The other driver’s vehicle
- Any other vehicles involved
- Your visible injuries
- Debris or brake marks on the roadway
- Any other property damage
- The overall scene of the accident
- Anything else you think might be relevant
You can never take too many photos after an accident because you never know what might be beneficial or crucial later.
COLLECTING CONTACT INFORMATION
Look for anyone who may have witnessed the incident, including other drivers, pedestrians, or business owners. Ask these witnesses what they saw and take notes of their story or record their account on your smartphone if you have their permission.
Do not forget to collect witness names and contact information so they can be contacted again in the future if needed.
WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT
Sometimes, police are dispatched to crash scenes without a victim or at-fault driver calling them. However, most often, it is up to the victim or other driver to contact local law enforcement. Even if you do not feel like your accident was that serious, you should still call the police.
The officer who arrives on the scene will complete an official accident report documenting the scene and occurrence. This report will include any traffic citations issued to the other driver and may contain the officer’s opinion on who could be to blame for the crash.
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT
After a car accident in St. Petersburg, there are a few steps to take to ensure your rights are protected, as well as to support an injury claim should you need one.
FILE A POLICE REPORT
After medical treatment, it’s critical that you provide a statement for a police report. Law enforcement may be present at the scene of the accident. If not at the accident scene, you can provide a statement to the police at the hospital or in the immediate hours after your accident. Florida law requires accident victims to submit a long-form police report within ten days of the car accident. The information you provide in this report is critical documentation for a potential lawsuit that may follow.
DO NOT SPEAK TO OTHER DRIVERS
After a car accident, it’s essential that you do not make any admissions to the other driver that can be used against you in the future. They may tell you that they’re sorry and act concerned, or they might coerce you to admit the accident was your fault. You never know what the other drivers’ motives are, so the best approach is to keep silent and wait for the proper authorities to handle it.
DO NOT IMMEDIATELY SETTLE WITH YOUR INSURER
While Florida law requires that you speak with law enforcement, you do not have to speak with the other driver or the insurance company’s attempt for you to accept a settlement. Before agreeing to the final settlement amount, have your claim reviewed by an experienced lawyer in St. Petersburg, FL. Insurance companies are in the business of making money, and people who work in the claims department are aware that accident victims are often overwhelmed immediately after the accident. It’s not uncommon for insurers to push for a quick settlement and use your lack of knowledge of the laws and your vulnerability their advantage.
At Marsalisi Law, protecting clients’ rights is our top priority. The experience of a car accident is unsettling and difficult for anyone to go through alone. Victims must face a variety of difficulties relating to their health, finances, and future wellbeing. Frank P. Marsalisi takes his client’s legal situations personally and is committed to obtaining full and just compensation for all damages they sustain.
HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO FILE A CAR ACCIDENT CLAIM IN FLORIDA?
According to Florida’s statute of limitations, a car accident claim must generally be filed within four years of the accident, or else it will be inadmissible. This deadline applies to most Personal Injury cases and is set up to guarantee that a claim is filed in a timely manner. If your claim is not filed within this four-year period, you risk waiving your rights to monetary restitution.
Although four years may seem like a long time, preparing your claim can take a significant amount of time and the sooner you start, the better. Also, this date is subject to change in light of certain factors. The victim’s age, the circumstances surrounding the accident, and the type of injuries received may affect your case’s statute of limitations.
CONTACT OUR EXPERIENCED ST. PETERSBURG CAR ACCIDENT LAWYERS TODAY SO WE CAN HELP YOU WITH YOUR CLAIM
At Marsalisi Law, you’ll find the most dedicated personal injury lawyer in St. Petersburg, Florida. Our team specializes in managing all aspects of car accident claims, including recovering compensation for victims and navigating non-economic damages. Attorney Frank P. Marsalisi is here with you every step of the way during this challenging and stressful time. Your rights and wellbeing are a top priority in every step he takes. If someone you love has been injured due to a car accident, don’t hesitate to contact Frank right away to begin taking steps to safeguard your rights and potential recovery.
Here at Marsalisi Law, we expect no payment unless we win! Our contingency fee basis makes it possible for you to focus on more important things, including doctor appointments and therapy visits to work on feeling better. Our lawyers will take the burden of filing a claim and dealing with the insurance company off your shoulders.
You don’t deserve to suffer and struggle because of someone else’s negligence. If you need help in Spanish, Frank P. Marsalisi is fluent and can help you file a claim. Contact our office today at 727-334-0684 to get the help you need and start the journey to financial, emotional, and physical healing today.
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