Some car accidents occur due to negligent driving. Even minor crashes can have a great impact on an individual’s life. If you or a loved one were injured in a car accident, you can seek compensation through a car accident claim or personal injury lawsuit.
Car accident claims are often complex. However, the Port Orange car accident lawyers from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine are familiar with all the intricacies of the law surrounding personal injury claims, and we can help you collect the restitution you deserve. Call our Port Orange personal injury lawyers now for a free consultation.
You Can Recover Damages After a Car Accident in Port Orange
Depending on the severity of your injuries, you can recover a variety of damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover quantifiable monetary losses that you incurred as a result of the car accident. They include but are not limited to:
- Lost Wages: Compensation for earnings lost due to the inability to work while recovering. This includes missed salaries or wages during the recuperation period.
- Reduced Earning Potential: Compensation if the accident victim’s ability to earn money in the future is impacted, often due to long-term disabilities or chronic conditions resulting from the accident.
- Lost Benefits and Pension: Covers the loss of workplace benefits and pension contributions that would have been accrued if not for the accident, addressing long-term financial security impacts.
- Current Medical Expenses: Reimbursement for immediate medical costs incurred due to the accident, such as hospital bills, emergency care, surgeries, and medications needed for initial recovery.
- Future Medical Expenses: Anticipated costs for ongoing medical care related to accident injuries, including rehabilitation, future surgeries, therapy, and necessary medical equipment.
In very rare cases, victims can seek punitive damages from the at-fault driver. If your case qualifies for this compensation or any other form of economic damages, we will be sure to pursue it.
Non-Economic Damages
The effects of a car accident do not stop at financial losses. An accident has the potential to reduce your quality of life significantly, rendering you unable to continue enjoying the things that you used to before the crash. Non-economic damages compensate you for the intangible losses which cannot be assigned a monetary value. These include:
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical and emotional distress caused by the injuries sustained in the accident, including ongoing pain and discomfort.
- Loss of Consortium: Refers to the deprivation of the benefits of a family relationship due to injuries, including affection and sexual relations, typically claimed by the spouse or partner of the injured person.
- Disability and Disfigurement: Covers long-term or permanent physical changes resulting from the accident, compensating for impairments and changes in appearance that affect quality of life.
- Loss of Companionship: Compensation for the loss of emotional support, friendship, and intimacy that family members, especially spouses and children, experience due to the accident’s impact on the victim.
- Mental Anguish: Addresses severe emotional distress caused by the accident, including symptoms of depression, anxiety, trauma, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Wrongful Death Damages in Auto Accidents
Car accidents are among the leading causes of death in the United States. According to the 2022 Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) report, there were 397,620 car crashes in Florida alone, including 3,320 fatal accidents and 12,747 crashes leading to incapacitating injuries.
If you lost a loved one in a car accident, we can file a wrongful death lawsuit for you. Your family may recover:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Your loved one’s medical bills
- Loss of income
A Port Orange Car Accident Lawyer With Our Firm Can Help You
You do not need a car accident lawyer for fender benders and minor accidents without injuries. A car accident attorney with our firm can handle all the legwork, allowing you to focus on recovering and taking care of injured loved ones.
Gather Evidence of Negligence and Damages
In some circumstances, proving liability can be daunting, especially if you are still in recovery. A Port Orange car accident lawyer from our firm can do all the legwork for you. Depending on your case, we might take the following steps:
We can help collect evidence to prove the liability of the negligent driver. This might include crash scene photographs, surveillance footage, witness statements, and police reports, among others.
We can also gather evidence to show the damages you incurred as a result of the accident. We can speak to your medical provider to understand the extent of your injuries and the cost of treatment. You ought to be compensated for all the financial and emotional losses that stemmed from the accident, and our attorneys can put the figures together for you as you recover.
Negotiate With the Insurance Company
Insurance adjusters may contact you and offer a quick settlement soon after your accident. Keep in mind that an initial offer may not fairly cover your losses. The insurer may not have even taken your future medical expenses into account.
Our Port Orange car accident lawyers can assess any offers you receive and prevent you from leaving any money on the table. We can negotiate for fair compensation, so you do not suffer further losses down the road.
File a Car Accident Lawsuit and Represent You in a Trial
It is usually in both party’s best interests to settle insurance claims before they get to court. However, some situations call for further legal action, and your lawyer might advise that you file a lawsuit. Some reasons why that might be the best call include:
- You and the defendant disagree on key issues such as liability and the damages owed
- You incurred damages that exceed the other party’s insurance cover limit
- You were involved in a multi-vehicle crash
No matter the reason, our Port Orange car accident lawyer can handle the entire legal process and help you recover the compensation you deserve.
How Long Do You Have to File a Report After Your Car Accident in Port Orange?
According to Florida Statutes § 316.066, a report should be filed within 10 days of a car accident. For minor accidents, Florida law does not require you to call the police. However, it is in your best interest to do so, just in case injuries start to manifest after the crash.
Most drivers will call the police after an accident happens. If that happens, you don’t need to file a report as the responding officers will file a report themselves.
How Long Do You Have to File a Lawsuit for a Car Crash?
According to Florida Statutes § 95.11(3)(a), you generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. Under Florida Statutes § 95.11(4)(d), you also have two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Our legal team can begin working on your case immediately to help you meet these deadlines. Still, the sooner you call, the better. It takes time to build a case, and you deserve the best chance of recovering compensation.
We Can Help With Your Car Accident Case in Port Orange
If you were involved in a car accident in Port Orange, our car accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can help you pursue your rights and collect the restitution you deserve. Call a member of our team today for a free consultation.
We Can Help.
