Unfortunately, car accidents are very common in Florida. As the Florida population increases, so does the risk of negligence from other drivers, and the possibility of a vehicle crash.
If you’ve recently been involved in a car accident, it can be overwhelming. You may have suffered severe injuries requiring an expensive hospital stay followed by a long recovery process. You may have even lost a loved one.
Recovering after a severe car accident is not easy.
You may be asking yourself:
- How will you get back to work after a car accident?
- How are you going to take care of your family?
- Who is responsible for paying your medical bills after an accident?
- How do you repair or replace your car?
- Will this mean financial hardships?
You and your family are going to be faced with the question “what do we do now?”
During this time of uncertainty, McKyton Law Firm is here to walk you through the process of filing a car accident claim and helping you get compensated for your loss.
What Do I Do If I’ve Been in a Car Accident?
If you have been involved in a car accident in St. Petersburg, Florida, there are several steps that you need to take.
- Check for injuries. If anyone is hurt, call for medical assistance immediately.
- Stay at the scene. This is especially vital if you or a loved one has been injured.
- Move to a safe area. If you can do so, get out of the roadway.
- Contact the police. Always contact the police after an accident that results in property damage or injury. The police will complete an accident report with details of the accident scene.
- Collect information. Gathering evidence about the car accident will help protect your rights and make it easier to recover compensation. It’s important to collect the following:
- Names, contact information, and insurance for other drivers.
- Names and statements from eyewitnesses
- Photographs of property damage, the scene, and injuries.
- Names and badge numbers of responding officers.
- Notify your insurance provider. Inform them about the accident. Be honest and clear.
Consult a car accident lawyer. Speaking to an experienced car accident lawyer can help you determine the best path moving forward. They may also be able to help you pursue financial compensation for your injuries.
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(727) 894-3159
Common Injuries Sustained in Car Accidents in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg is known as the “Sunshine City” because of its beautiful weather. The area draws in tourists to golf, boat, fish, and visit the beaches. With so many people driving the streets of St. Petersburg, accidents are inevitable. In 2021, there were 9,428 people injured in 16,464 total car accidents.
Car accidents that result in serious injuries can leave victims with life-long problems and lasting effects. Injuries sustained in a car accident can range from minor cuts and bruises to loss of life. Some of the most common injuries from car accidents are:
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Back Injuries (spinal cord injuries, broken back, herniated discs)
- Neck Injuries (whiplash, neck sprain, broken neck vertebrae)
- Internal Injuries
- Fractured or broken bones
- Contusions and lacerations
- Soft tissue injuries
If you or a loved one have suffered any of the above injuries, seek immediate medical attention. Some injuries are “silent” injuries and can take days or longer to fully manifest. Seeking medical attention immediately is important not only for your well-being but to ensure that you have accurate medical records if you choose to file a car accident claim.
Common Car Accidents Injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Back Injuries (spinal cord injuries, broken back, herniated discs)
- Neck Injuries (whiplash, neck sprain, broken neck vertebrae)
- Internal Injuries
- Fractured or broken bones
- Contusions and lacerations
- Soft tissue injuries
When Do I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
The simple answer – immediately if you or a loved one have suffered injury or death due to the negligence of another driver. A car accident lawyer is essentially a personal injury attorney that includes vehicle injury claims as a part of their law practice.
Set up your consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer like Richard McKyton as soon as you have:
- Been seen and evaluated by a medical professional for any injuries.
- The car accident report filed by the police
- Gathered your evidence, such as photos of the scene, eyewitness statements and similar information (see above)
Contacted your insurance provider
If you have recently been in a wreck and are considering filing a car accident claim, now is the time to hire a car accident lawyer.
Do not wait! Witnesses forget, memories fade, and medical documentation is vital.
Act immediately.
When to Hire an Attorney
- As soon as you have been seen and evaluated by a medical professional for any injuries.
- When the car accident report is filed by the police
- Once you have gathered your evidence, such as photos of the scene, eyewitness statements and similar information and Contacted your insurance provider
Factors That Affect Your Car Accident Claim and How Much Compensation Can You Be Awarded
As your car accident attorney, it is our job at McKyton Law Firm to ensure that you understand what is permitted in a Florida car accident claim, compensation limits, and what you may be entitled to based on what you lost due to your accident.
Factors that influence car accident claims in Florida may include:
- What serious injuries you sustained and how many
- If someone lost their lives and what that loss means to those around them.
- Time missed from work
- If there is permanent scarring
Florida is a no-fault state meaning that the party with the higher level of negligence typically pays, or their insurance does. Even if you feel that you may hold a portion of the blame, seek the advice of an experienced car accident lawyer, especially if you were injured.
How Much Compensation Am I Owed?
Compensation is often referred to as recoverable damages. These are expenses and losses that you have incurred as a result of your accident. The amount of compensation depends on a variety of factors. Some of those factors include:
- Type and severity of the injury
- Financial situation before and after the accident
- Aspects of life that the accident impacts
- How likely you are to have a full recovery
- Physical appearance before and after (e.g., losing a limb may increase compensation)
Compensation can take several forms. There is economic and non-economic compensation that may be available to a car accident victim. Economic compensation comes in the form of medical bills, loss of income, and auto repair or loss. Non-economic compensation is pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment.
Having a strong car accident lawyer in your corner can influence how much you win. A car accident lawyer understands how to demonstrate the negligence of the other party and clearly explain the full extent of your loss to increase compensation awarded to you and your family.
Factors That Affect Your Car Accident Claim
- What serious injuries you sustained and how many
- If someone lost their lives and what that loss means to those around them.
- Time missed from work
- If there is permanent scarring
Why Do You Need McKyton Law Firm to Represent Your Car Accident Lawsuit?
Hiring a car accident lawyer is the quickest and easiest way to recover from your losses. Filing a car accident claim is a tedious process and battling your insurance company can be a burden on its own. You do not need the added stress of tackling this alone while recovering from a life-changing car accident.
McKyton Law Firm will guide you through the minefield caused by the accident and will fight to make sure that you receive compensation. We have been representing people in Pinellas County and St. Petersburg for more than twenty years. We are here to answer your questions, research the issues and fight for you!
Richard J. McKyton, P.A
Attorney At Law
(727) 894-3159
1229 Central Avenue
St. Petersburg, FL. 33705
St. Petersburg, FL. 33705
Contact McKyton Law Today!
Don’t let an accident send your family into financial ruin
(727) 894-3159
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why should I file a car accident claim?
The first thing that most people think of is medical bills, but there are other reasons to file a car accident claim. Those can include:
- Holding the negligent party responsible.
- Preventing something similar from happening to someone else.
- Obtaining compensation payments from areas of life impacted beyond medical bills.
- Making sure that others are aware of the risks of negligent road behavior.
- Ensuring that insurance companies pay according to their agreements.
- Bringing about industry changes, new laws, or protections.
- Punitive damages.
2. How long to do I have to file a car accident claim after my accident?
The time to file a car accident claim is limited. In St. Petersburg, FL, the statute of limitations for filing due to negligence is four years from the time of the accident. If you are suing for a traffic death, the deadline for a wrongful death claim is two years from the victim’s death. There are exceptions to these deadlines. Consulting a car accident attorney will help you avoid any missed deadlines.
3. How long can a car accident claim stay open?
The amount of time that a car accident claim can stay open depends on the case. There are several factors that can impact the length of a claim:
- The type and severity of injuries
- Whether the insurance company disputes liability for the cause of the crash.
- The parties involved in the case
- The willingness of the insurance company to negotiate a fair settlement.
- Whether you hire an experienced car accident lawyer to handle the claim.