Your Legal Ally After A Motor Vehicle Accident
A motor vehicle accident can happen in a split second and change your life forever. If you suffered injuries in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, you need to work with an experienced motor vehicle accident lawyer to obtain the compensation you deserve.
At The Barker Law Firm, our founding attorney, Brian Barker, has over 35 years of experience representing injured clients in St. Petersburg and Tampa, Florida. We understand how overwhelming the aftermath of an accident can be. Our goal is to shoulder some of your legal burden so that you can focus on healing.
Understanding The Causes Of Motor Vehicle Accidents
At The Barker Law Firm, our team can represent you in a wide range of motor vehicle accident claims, including car accidents, truck accidents and motorcycle accidents.
Automobile accidents happen every day in Florida. Crashes are often caused by negligent drivers who are distracted. Other common causes of motor vehicle accidents include:
- Speeding – Everyone is in a hurry to get somewhere. When drivers are in a hurry or late, they try to compensate by driving just a little faster.
- Ignoring traffic signals and signs – A driver trying to beat a yellow light before it turns green or failing to completely stop at an intersection where there is a stop sign before moving forward. You, as the driver who does not have a controlled traffic device or sign, keep driving as if the car coming through the intersection is going to do what it is supposed to do – stop. When they don’t, you have no warning that they are going to continue through the intersection, and suddenly, the vehicles collide.
- Talking or texting on their cell phones – Modern technology is a wonderful thing. Computers, GPS, cell phones and watches that do all kinds of things are great conveniences. In a car, though, these devices, such as cell phones and GPS devices, become distractions that take away the driver’s attention from traffic on the roadway, even if for just a split second. A lot can happen in a split second when your eyes are not on the road, causing an accident. Cell phone records can be obtained that will show whether a driver has been using their cell phone at the same time they were involved in a collision. When this information comes to light, attributing liability to the driver who was distracted by technology becomes easy.
- Weather conditions – Weather conditions affect traffic and often result only in traffic delays. But a driver who is not familiar with operating their motor vehicle in dense fog, rain, slick roads, high winds or other adverse weather conditions needs to adjust their speed and pay closer attention to traffic on the roadway. Even though the weather conditions may have caused a driver to not keep their vehicle under proper control, the driver is still the one who is held responsible for the accident.
Regardless of the cause of your accident, you deserve compensation for your injuries. At The Barker Law Firm, we will thoroughly investigate your case to determine the cause and identify the at-fault parties so that we can build a strong case on your behalf.
What To Do After A Motor Vehicle Accident
Immediately after a car accident, it is vital that you remain on the scene of the accident and call 911. You should also be careful not to admit fault for the accident or apologize to the other driver. They can use anything you say to them against you when you file your personal injury claim. Taking photos and gathering evidence are also important steps to take. After speaking with the police and obtaining the other driver’s insurance information, you need to seek immediate medical treatment, even if you do not think you have serious injuries.
Afterward, you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible to get started on your claim. Avoid speaking with anyone from an insurance company and do not accept any settlement offers.
You Deserve Compensation For Your Injuries
Even a seemingly minor car accident can cause serious injuries that have a lasting impact on your life. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may have to undergo expensive and time-consuming medical treatments.
Common injuries after a motor vehicle accident include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Amputations
- Lacerations
Depending on the circumstances of your case, you can file a personal injury claim to recover compensation for your medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, lost earning potential, pain and suffering and mental anguish.
How We Can Help You With Insurance Claims And Negotiations
To really protect yourself and your future after an automobile accident that is not your fault, you need to retain the services of a law firm that has represented injured clients and knows how to deal with insurance carriers.
Our attorney and legal team at The Barker Law Firm, will make sure that you get the compensation that you deserve for your injuries, your pain and suffering, medical expenses and lost wages. We will make sure that the insurance company for the at-fault party does not have the opportunity to take advantage of you and settle your claim for a nominal amount, which is likely significantly less than what your case is really worth.
Frequently Asked Questions About Motor Vehicle Accidents
The time after a motor vehicle accident can be overwhelming. Our attorney and legal team are here to answer your questions and address your concerns. In the meantime, please read some answers to frequently asked questions below.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Florida?
In Florida, you have two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury claim. It is vital that you contact an attorney as soon as possible after your accident to get started on your case.
Why should I not represent myself?
Representing yourself in a claim for an automobile accident is never a good idea. Insurance adjusters keep their jobs by settling the claims of people who are really injured due to the negligence of the insured drivers for as little money as possible. Once you sign a release, you no longer have a right to bring a claim for any injury that you sustained as a direct result of the accident. You will be responsible for payment of any outstanding medical bills and any time lost from work that results in a loss of income to you will not be compensated by the at-fault driver’s carrier. For this reason, it is important that when the other driver’s carrier contacts you, you decline to speak to them and do not provide any information about how the accident happened or how bad your injuries are.
I don’t think I have serious injuries; should I still seek medical treatment?
Yes. Oftentimes, you do not know immediately how bad your injuries really are. At the scene of the accident, adrenaline is often pumping, and you are emotional. You do not immediately realize that your neck, back or some other part of your body is injured. It is, in fact, sometimes a few days before you feel any real pain or limitations. There are also some injuries that require an MRI or other diagnostic testing to be identified.
Do I have to go to court?
Our attorney has settled many personal injury claims outside of court through negotiations or other alternative dispute resolution methods. However, he is not afraid to go to trial when necessary. Every case is unique, but you can trust that our team will always put your best interests at the forefront of every legal strategy.
Get Started On Your Claim Today
If you suffered injuries in an accident, you need a strong legal advocate by your side. When you work with The Barker Law Firm, you will never have to pay legal fees unless we win compensation for you. To learn more and schedule a free consultation, call us at 727-564-9473 or fill out our online contact form to get in touch with us.