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Car Accident Lawyer in Pensacola, Florida

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If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you could find yourself in a difficult position physically and financially. Besides serious, life-altering injuries, you could face expensive medical bills and reduced income from missed time at work. But if someone else’s negligence, carelessness, or reckless behavior caused your auto accident, with the help of a car accident lawyer, you may have a right to hold that driver financially liable for your losses.

At Cardoso Law, PLLC, our Pensacola car accident lawyers have the experience and resources to fight for the full payment you deserve. Our Pensacola car accident attorneys are your advocates and will always work with your best interests in mind. Best of all, you pay nothing unless and until we recover the compensation you deserve.

Contact us now to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with a Pensacola car accident lawyer.

How Our Pensacola Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You

Hiring a Pensacola car accident attorney after an auto accident will give you a better chance of securing the full compensation you deserve. We say this because navigating the insurance claims process and the legal system can be difficult, and you could make serious mistakes.

For example, the insurance company for the other party in your car accident could offer you a less-than-optimal settlement, paying out pennies instead of dollars. They might only offer money for medical bills you incurred up until a certain point. Or the insurer could trick you into making damaging statements that could destroy your chances of recovering any money at all.

Since 2009, Ryan Cardoso and Cardoso Law, PLLC, have recovered millions for car accident victims because we know how to negotiate with insurance companies to get a fair settlement. We have the skills to calculate losses to build the best car accident cases for maximum compensation. And when the insurers refuse to play fair, we get ready to take our clients’ car accident claims to court and seek a judgment on your behalf.

We credit our success to ensuring every car accident claim receives the attention it deserves. As a client, we view you as an extension of our family and community – because in Pensacola, you’re both to us.

Notable MVA / Auto Injury Case Wins — Pensacola, FL

$1.1 Million – Motor vehicle accident (with surgery) – A serious crash requiring surgical intervention; full policy limits recovered.

$350,000 – Motor vehicle accident (no surgery) – Settled at policy limits despite the absence of surgical treatment.

$325,000 – Motor vehicle accident (no surgery) – Another policy-limits recovery in a non-surgical injury claim.

$275,000 – Rear-end collision, low impact, no surgery – Even in a “low impact” case without surgery, recovered a substantial sum.

$210,000 – Rear-end collision, low impact, with surgery

*Every case is unique, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

What To Do After a Car Accident

After a car accident, you should take the following steps to improve your chances of recovering the maximum compensation:

  • Call 911 and Contact Law Enforcement – You should call 911 and contact law enforcement immediately to report the accident, document your injuries, document your property damage, and establish the other driver’s fault for the accident. 
  • Seek Medical Treatment – You should seek immediate treatment following a car accident and follow up with your treatment until you fully recover or reach maximum medical improvement.
  • Keep Related Bills – Make sure to keep track of any medical or vehicle repair bills related to the accident so your lawyer can use them when calculating your total losses.
  • Document the Scene – If possible, take photographs of the accident scene, including the damage done to the vehicles. You should also try to collect the names and contact information of eyewitnesses with whom your lawyer can follow up.
  • Memorialize the Accident in Writing – Write down everything you remember about the accident, including when, where, and how it occurred.
  • Consult a Car Accident Lawyer – It’s always in your best interest to discuss your case with a lawyer to learn more about your legal rights and your options for seeking the compensation you need.

Do I Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident in Florida?

Hiring a lawyer to handle your Pensacola auto accident case can help you navigate the complex legal process of seeking maximum compensation. It can also reduce your stress because you won’t have to deal with the insurance company yourself while recovering from your car accident injuries.

Your lawyer can investigate the accident, gather supporting evidence, calculate your damages, file your no-fault insurance claim, and negotiate a fair settlement with your insurance provider. Attempting to do this yourself, even if you’ve already recovered from your injuries, can be challenging and lead to you missing out on compensation you otherwise could have recovered.

For example, your insurance company may use various tactics to try to devalue or deny your claim, which an experienced lawyer will be aware of and know how to combat.

Understanding Your Rights Under Florida Law

Following a car accident in Florida, you have several rights under Florida law that are important to understand for the success of your case.

First, you have the right to file a personal injury protection (PIP) claim with your insurance provider following an accident. PIP is a first-party insurance policy that covers 80 percent of your medical expenses up to your policy limit, which must be at least $10,000.

You also have the right to seek compensation through a personal injury lawsuit if your injuries meet the state’s definition of a serious injury. And even if you are partly at fault for the accident, you may still be able to obtain compensation. Florida uses a modified comparative fault system that allows victims to receive compensation for injuries for which they are 50 percent or less at fault.

Lastly, you always have the right to legal representation, and having a lawyer on your side is one of the best ways to protect your other rights.

Deployed airbag after a car accident

Compensation Available for Car Accident Victims in Florida

At Cardoso Law, our Pensacola car accident attorneys will work with you to seek damages. In a car accident injury claim, the term “damages” refers to the money you may recover for accident-related personal and financial losses. These include:

  • Medical bills – These are for treating car accident-related injuries, such as hospital stays, doctor visits, prescription medications, and physical therapy.
  • Lost wages – These account for the reduction in your work wages from the time you missed on the job while recovering from accident-related injuries. You also could be compensated for being forced to use vacation or sick time due to your serious injuries.
  • Future losses – These are projected values of losses you will probably incur because of the auto wreck. When our attorneys work on your car accident case, we will factor in the costs of medical care you will need and projected losses in your lifetime earning capacity.
  • Pain and suffering – These factors in the intangible costs of the physical pain, mental anguish, and emotional suffering you have and will endure.
  • Lost quality of life – These are intangible losses due to any injuries, disfigurement, disabilities, or psychological trauma that the accident caused. They account for a diminished overall quality or enjoyment of life.
  • Incidental expenses – These are out-of-pocket expenses you would incur for goods and services you would need because of the motor vehicle accident. They include the costs of in-home assistance and traveling to and from medical appointments.
  • Vehicle repair costs – These cover repair or replacement for your vehicle and other personal property or items if they sustained damage in the crash.

Is There a Time Limit for Filing a Car Accident Injury Lawsuit in Florida?

Florida law imposes a time limit for filing a car accident lawsuit, called the statute of limitations. It dictates that car accident victims have just two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit or settle a claim.

If a car accident kills someone, their loved ones have only two years from the date of their death to file a lawsuit seeking compensation (this is known as a wrongful death claim).

The court will dismiss your case if you fail to file a lawsuit within these time limitations. However, the statute of limitations contains some narrow exceptions to car accident claims that could benefit your particular situation. It’s best to contact a Pensacola car accident attorney immediately to learn whether your car accident claim could qualify for these conditions.

Most Common Car Accident Injuries in Pensacola, Florida

Warning triangle in front of an auto accident and two men

Some of these injuries, such as TBI, might not be known until long after the accident. For this reason, you should immediately contact a car accident attorney in Pensacola. A lawyer can work with medical professionals to assess whether your post-crash symptoms could lead to possible long-term complications.

The more common injuries sustained as a result of car accidents include:

  • Head injuries, such as skull fractures
  • Brain injuries, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-concussive syndrome,
  • Dislocated or broken bones
  • Neck injuries, such as whiplash
  • Back and spinal cord injuries, such as bulging or herniated discs
  • Soft-tissue injuries, such as whiplash
  • Facial injuries
  • Scrapes, cuts, and lacerations
  • Dental trauma
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Partial or total paralysis
  • Shoulder, arm, elbow, wrist, and hand injuries
  • Loss of limb/amputation
  • Bruises, burns, and puncture wounds
  • Abdominal injuries
  • Ruptured organs, such as punctured lungs and internal bleeding
  • Hip, leg, knee, ankle, and foot injuries
  • Psychological and emotional injuries, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

What Are the Frequent Causes of Car Accidents in Pensacola, Florida?

Most causes of auto collisions in Florida come from some form of human error. These include:

However, some instances are not related to other drivers’ actions. A car wreck could stem from a vehicle malfunction, such as a defectively designed or manufactured auto product. When this happens, the auto manufacturer could be liable. Also, the maintenance provider could have installed an auto part improperly, meaning they could be held accountable.

In addition, a dangerous or defective roadway could lead to a car crash and numerous victims. In these instances, a governmental agency (for the city, county, or state) could be responsible for the auto accident, as it may have failed to maintain infrastructure properly.

What Are Common Types of Car Accidents in Florida?

While no two motor vehicle accidents are alike, many share certain characteristics. The types of car accidents include:

  • Head-On Collisions
    These occur when two vehicles crash in front of each other. These are rare, but they tend to have catastrophic consequences, such as traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries, and numerous medical expenses.
  • Rear-End Collisions
    These happen when the front end of one car crashes into the rear end of the vehicle in front of it. These are among the most common car accidents and usually stem from distraction, impairment, or other forms of driver negligence.
  • T-Bone Accidents
    These will occur when the front end of one vehicle crashes into the side of another. They often happen when a driver confuses or ignores the right of way at intersections, leading to serious injuries and a lot of medical expenses.
  • Sideswipe Accidents
    These happen when the side of one vehicle collides or swipes against the side of another vehicle. Common causes include unsafe lane changes and failure to check blind spots.
  • Rollover Accidents
    These involve a vehicle tipping over to the side or rolling over to its roof during an auto wreck. These crashes occur when a driver attempts to turn the vehicle at a high speed, or the friction between the road and the tires causes the vehicle to tip and roll over.
  • Multi-Vehicle Accidents
    Also called pile-ups or chain-reaction collisions, these are accidents in which several motorists are involved. As a result, there can be conflicting reports about what occurred, and the issue of responsibility can become complex.
  • Single-Vehicle Crashes
    These involve one vehicle colliding with a fixed object, such as a ditch, pole, or building. Although the vehicle’s driver is typically at fault, there could be other factors, such as improperly maintained roads or defective vehicle parts.
  • Low-Speed Accidents
    These collisions are often referred to as “fender benders,” because they usually result in minor vehicle damage. Yet low-speed accidents can still cause injuries such as whiplash or complications that might not manifest until much later.
  • Hit-and-Run Accidents
    In these accidents, a driver flees the scene instead of staying to check on who they hit or provide contact information. An attorney can help you file a car accident claim through your own uninsured motorist (UM) policy and serve as a liaison between you and police officials investigating the crash.
  • Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Accidents
    Sometimes, the driver who caused the crash doesn’t have insurance or enough coverage to pay for everything. This is where optional uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage comes in. It’s covered under your insurer, but because you might encounter challenges getting them to pay it, you may need an attorney.
  • Uber/Lyft Accidents
    Accidents that involve rideshare drivers bring complex liability issues. It can be challenging to determine who is at fault and whether the rideshare driver’s insurance company or the insurance that Uber or Lyft provides should pay compensation. This is why your best bet is to have a lawyer review your car accident case.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Car Accidents

Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions our lawyers receive from clients about car accident cases.

What is the average settlement for a car accident in Florida?

Determining the average settlement for a car accident in Florida is difficult because so many factors contribute to a case’s value. Some of the most common factors that can influence your settlement include:

  • The severity of your injuries
  • The cost of your medical treatment
  • Your insurance policy limits
  • The value of your lost wages
  • Whether you sustained a permanent disability
  • The parties involved in the accident
  • Whether you share fault for the accident
  • The negotiating skills of your attorney

Rather than focusing on the average car accident settlement, it’s better to speak to a car accident attorney about your particular case to learn what it may be worth.

What damages can I recover in a car accident settlement?

After a car accident, the two types of damages you can recover are economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages are compensation for your losses with tangible value, including medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. Your PIP claim typically covers medical expenses and lost income up to your policy limit. Property damage liability (PDL) claims cover your costs related to property damage caused by the at-fault party, also up to your policy limit.

Non-economic damages are compensation for your losses with intangible, personal value, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, and permanent disability. You cannot recover non-economic damages through a PIP claim. However, if your injuries meet the state’s serious injury threshold, you can seek these damages through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party.

Maximizing your compensation often involves seeking both types of damages, which an experienced car accident lawyer can handle for you.

How is pain and suffering calculated in Florida?

Florida doesn’t have a set way to calculate compensation for pain and suffering in car accident claims. However, one common way to calculate this compensation is to multiply your economic damages by a number between 1.5 and 5, depending on the severity of your injuries.

More severe injuries (such as traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries) generally lead to more pain, suffering, and other non-economic losses. But calculating a fair value for those losses requires a lawyer with experience handling car accident cases, knowledge of how your injuries will impact your future, and the ability to empathize with you and understand your struggles.

Compensation for pain and suffering can significantly increase the total value of your personal injury claim, so it’s crucial to seek it if you sustained a serious injury.

How much does an attorney charge for a car accident in Florida?

Many Florida car accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means you don’t pay anything unless your attorney secures compensation for you, making it a risk-free way to receive the legal support necessary for a strong, successful insurance claim.

Attorneys who work on a contingency fee basis typically charge between 33 & 1/3 and 40 percent of your recovered compensation. And any respectable attorney will be happy to discuss their fees with you before you commit to hiring them to handle your case to ensure there are no surprises later on.

Asking about an attorney’s fee structure is something you should always do during your initial consultation.

How long do most car accident settlements take in Florida?

The time it takes for your car accident case to settle depends on various factors, including the severity of your injuries, liability disputes, and whether the insurance company negotiates in good faith.

If you sustained severe injuries, it can be in your best interest not to settle your case until you reach maximum medical improvement. This is the point at which your condition won’t improve with additional treatment. Your lawyer can then more accurately assess your future medical costs.

In some cases, settlements may also take longer due to insurance companies disputing liability, particularly if you must step outside the no-fault system due to serious injuries or property damage. If the insurance companies involved in your case use delay tactics to try to get you to settle for less, that could extend the length of your case.

Depending on these factors, a car accident settlement typically takes several months to a year or more.

Is Florida a no-fault state?

Yes, Florida is a no-fault state when it comes to seeking compensation for injuries following an auto accident. This means you first file a PIP claim with your auto insurer, regardless of who is at fault for the accident.

However, Florida uses a fault-based system to seek compensation for property damage. You must file a claim against the other driver’s insurance company (specifically, their property damage liability policy) to pursue compensation for your vehicle repair bills.

Should I call a lawyer or insurance first?

The first call you should make following a car accident is to the police. The police should come out to the scene and file an official accident report so you can obtain a copy for your insurance claim.

Next, you should call a lawyer. A Pensacola car accident lawyer can provide valuable guidance on the steps you should take before contacting your insurance company, and they can even talk to them on your behalf.

Finally, you must report the accident to your insurer to be able to file a PIP claim and seek compensation for your injuries.

What if the other driver is uninsured?

If the other driver is uninsured, that shouldn’t affect your ability to recover compensation for your injuries because Florida is a no-fault state. You’ll still file a claim against your PIP insurance policy even if the at-fault party isn’t insured.

However, if the other driver is uninsured, that could impact your ability to recover compensation for your property damage. Some counties in Florida have fairly high rates of uninsured drivers. And if you get in an accident caused by one of them, you won’t be able to file a claim against their property damage liability insurance to recover compensation.

Fortunately, you can still file an uninsured motorist claim with your insurer if it is included in your policy. Uninsured motorist coverage provides compensation when the at-fault party either doesn’t have insurance or flees the scene and cannot be identified.

Contact a Car Accident Attorney in Pensacola Today

Contact a Car Accident Attorney in Pensacola Today

If you were injured in an auto accident in the Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent Metro Area, along the Emerald Coast, or anywhere in the Florida Panhandle, we’re here to help. Our Pensacola car personal injury attorneys are committed to excellence and will fight to hold the negligent parties accountable, and we’ll ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries. Best of all, we work on a contingency fee basis – meaning you pay nothing until we win your case. Contact our Pensacola auto accident lawyer today for a free consultation.

personal injury attorney Ryan Cardoso discussing with a client