Ft. Lauderdale Car Accident Lawyers Fighting for Fair Compensation for Victims

For most people, a car accident is a major crisis. Many victims suffer painful injuries, leading to medical expenses and lost wages. Your PIP insurance can cover some of your economic losses up to your plan limits, but then what? If your bills far exceed your plan limits and you face long-term treatment costs, pain and suffering, and more, you need an ally who will help you navigate Florida’s complicated personal injury laws. RTRLAW is here to stand up for your rights and help you get the compensation you deserve from the liable parties. We offer free, no-obligation case evaluations so you can learn about your legal options risk-free. Call 954-370-5152 or 833-HIRE-RTR (833-447-3787) to speak with a knowledgeable car accident lawyer today.

What Are Common Causes of Car Accidents?

Everyone wants to avoid a crash if they can. Sometimes accidents can occur through sheer bad luck, such as wildlife jumping onto the road in front of a vehicle. However, the majority of car accidents are attributable to driver error. According to the U.S. General Services Administration Office of Motor Vehicle Management, around 98% of auto accidents are caused by human error. Even if you follow all the rules of the road, there is still a chance that you could end up in a catastrophic crash due to another driver’s negligence. Some of the most common contributing factors in auto accidents include:

• Speeding.
• Driving while distracted, including driving while using a cell phone.
• Disobeying traffic signs or signals.
• Failing to consider weather or traffic conditions while driving.
• Driving in the wrong direction or the wrong lane.
• Driving while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or prescription medications.
• Not using turn signals.
• Tailgating.
• Merging incorrectly.
• Improper maintenance of tires or brakes, leading to equipment failure.

Studies by TeenSafe in 2018 show that tailgating contributes to more than one-third of all crashes on the road. Drivers can significantly reduce their risk of auto accidents by leaving three seconds of space between themselves and the car ahead whenever possible. If you’ve been involved in an accident despite being a responsible driver, a car accident lawyer from RTRLAW can explain your rights and help you recover damages.

What Injuries Can Auto Accident Victims Suffer?

Modern car manufacturers spend millions on testing and study to make advancements in vehicle safety features. Unfortunately, even with all the new technology cars come equipped with, car crashes can still cause significant damage to vehicle occupants. Shockingly, it is estimated that nearly two million drivers in car accidents experience permanent injuries every year. This number doesn’t even factor in all of the acute injuries that can also require medical treatment and cause you to miss work. The most frequently seen car accident injuries include:

• Back injuries
• Face and skull damage
• Neck and spine injuries, potentially leading to paralysis
• Broken bones
• Burns
• Lacerations and contusions
• Damage to internal organs
• Severed limbs
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Whiplash

In the case of severe injuries, fatalities can occur, and family members may seek to file a wrongful death claim for the loss of their loved one. Survivors of accidents can face hefty medical bills from hospital stays, surgeries, rehab, and home health services. A complete temporary or permanent loss of income is possible if your injuries prevent you from performing the duties of your job. Even small accidents can cause serious financial issues as bills and lost wages begin to pile up. Having a skilled Ft Lauderdale personal injury lawyer on your side is critical to assist you in your fight to get fair compensation for your injuries.

How Can a Prompt Medical Evaluation Protect Both You and Your Claim?

If you’ve been involved in a minor car crash or appear to have escaped unscathed from a more serious accident, you may decide that you don’t need to see a doctor afterward. However, this is one of the biggest mistakes a car accident victim can make. Following an accident, your body produces adrenaline, which can mask the symptoms of many injuries. Some injuries, such as damage to the back and neck, are notorious for delayed pain and stiffness because injured tissues will swell as time passes. Other non-visible injuries, including brain hemorrhaging and internal bleeding, can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. Seeking immediate medical care ensures you get the necessary treatment as soon as possible.

The benefits of a prompt medical evaluation do not end there. Your ER or urgent care visit provides official documentation of the injuries you sustained in the crash and links them to your accident. Without this documentation, the insurance company may try to deny your claim by positing that your injuries were either unrelated to the accident or were not as debilitating as you say since you did not see a doctor right away. A doctor’s evaluation directly after the accident can head off these frustrating and time-consuming tactics by creating a paper trail. Just be sure to adhere to all treatment plans and keep follow-up appointments to show that you are making a good-faith effort to heal. If you have concerns about getting quality medical treatment after your car accident, contact RTRLAW to discuss options for medical payment plans until you receive your settlement and more.

What is PIP Insurance?

Florida is a no-fault state for car accidents, meaning that accident victims can seek compensation for their economic losses, including medical expenses and lost wages, through their own auto insurance. This is in contrast to at-fault states, where victims generally seek reimbursement from the at-fault party’s insurance company. For a no-fault system to work, every driver in the state must carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance coverage as part of their auto insurance. 

PIP coverage is the primary insurance for paying your medical expenses from a car crash, even if you have health insurance. PIP also provides payments for your lost wages for a specified period of time after your accident. It will also pay family members in the event their loved one dies in a tragic crash. The benefit of PIP is that it can provide timely payments for your expenses without the hassle of filing and negotiating a claim with another driver’s insurance. 

However, the downside is that PIP coverage has limits on how much it will pay. It often tops out around $10,000, but the upper limit can vary depending on your coverage. If your bills exceed this amount, you may be unable to file a lawsuit against the driver responsible unless your injuries are considered permanent. A permanent injury is defined as either involving the persistent loss of an essential bodily function, damages reasonably expected by medical professionals to be life-long, or an injury that results in significant disfigurement or scars. However, there is a lot of a gray area in this definition and filing a lawsuit often requires the opinions of medical experts on whether the injury is truly permanent. If you have suffered a car accident and are struggling to fully recover damages for your injuries, an experienced car accident attorney from RTRLAW will fight for your rights and help you get the compensation you deserve.

Why Contact RTRLAW After Your Motor Vehicle Accident?

If you’ve been involved in a Florida car accident, you deserve to have someone on your side to be a strong advocate for your recovery. Whether your own insurance is balking at paying your full PIP benefits or you have exceeded your PIP coverage due to significant injuries and need to explore your options for recovering compensation from the at-fault parties, RTRLAW can assist you. We provide strong, compassionate representation for car accident victims, and we will bring our legal knowledge and resources to bear on your behalf. We also handle wrongful death lawsuits for the families of victims killed in car accidents. You do not have to fight alone. Our experience and success in Florida personal injury law can be a valuable asset to your claim. Contact us today at 954-370-5152 or 833-HIRE-RTR (833-447-3787) for a free consultation on your car accident case.