If you need a St. Petersburg auto accident lawyer then please consider speaking to Personal Injury Attorneys McQuaid & Douglas. A St. Petersburg car accident attorney can provide valuable assistance about the complexities of a personal injury claim following an auto accident.

Regardless of the severity of the crash, your health is the top priority for our team. Our goal is to eliminate the stress of dealing with the insurance companies, the mountain of paperwork and to help you understand the process.

Our clients are often frustrated after they have been in an accident and are overwhelmed by the frequent calls and questions by the insurance companies. Once we are hired, we direct the insurance companies to deal with us directly. We also provide assistance finding medical providers that specialize in auto accident injuries. We have found that with a little bit of assistance, our clients recover more and get better medical care. That is why it is important to speak to a St. Petersburg car accident lawyer.

Sean McQuaid and Jonathon Douglas are experienced St. Petersburg Personal Injury Attorneys that have been working to recover financial compensation and help people all around the Tampa Bay area. Insurance adjusters know and respect our firm and know that our clients are well prepared and our claims are legitimate. If you’re in need of a St. Petersburg Car Accident Lawyer, then you’ve found the helping hand that you need in the Personal Injury Attorneys McQuaid & Douglas. With our support, we will make sure that you recover the maximum sum you deserve, with the minimum amount of stress.

It’s crucial that you know what steps to take during this time, so here is some advice from the experts:

What to do after a St. Petersburg Auto Accident?

The actions taken immediately after a car accident can prove pivotal in the outcome of a case. Here are some important tips to keep in mind, if you find yourself in this unfortunate situation:

• Move to safety and get medical assistance if needed. Nothing is more important than your health.
• Contact law enforcement.
• Obtain essential information, such as the other driver’s insurance details, and take your own photos of the scene.
• Gather contact information for witnesses. (Police often leave witnesses of their reports or don’t get the correct contact information)
• Do NOT make a handshake agreement with the driver of the other car.
• Do NOT admit any fault. (Now is not the time to determine who was at fault. Admitting any fault can be used against you later. Your understanding of the accident might even be wrong.)
• Do NOT leave the scene of the incident. Even if you were not at fault for the accident, leaving the scene could qualify as a “hit-and-run,” which is a crime in St. Petersburg and could damage your claim for compensation.
• Never refuse to mention injuries to the police or paramedics. Any evidence of medical injuries can be vital in your compensation claim.

Common Injuries Suffered After Car Accidents

Car accidents can cause severe injuries, ranging in severity from minor to life-threatening. Some injuries can also cause long-term pain and suffering or even disability. Common car accident injuries include:

• Soft tissue injuries
• Lacerations
• Fractured or broken bones
• Burns
• Internal organ damage
• Spinal cord injury
• Traumatic brain injury

Compensation Available After a Florida Car Accident

Car accident compensation is awarded according to the types of losses experienced. These losses can be categorized as follows:

• Economic — These include current and future monetary losses caused by the accident, which may include:
  • Medical bills
  • Cost of long-term medical care or treatment
  • Vehicle repair or replacement
  • Lost income and income potential
  • Any other out-of-pocket expenses related to the accident

• Non-economic — These relate to the loss of quality of life caused by the accident and may include:
  • Pain and suffering
  • Inconvenience
  • Disability
  • Disfigurement

Florida follows a “no-fault” car insurance system. Under this system, a driver must file a claim with their own insurance to get car accident compensation for economic losses, even if the other party was at fault for the accident. A driver is only eligible to file a claim against the other driver’s insurance if their injuries meet one of the following qualification criteria under Florida state law:

• Significant and permanent loss of bodily function
• Permanent injury
• Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement
• Death

In these cases, besides claiming compensation for economic losses, a driver may also claim non-economic losses, which are not available in no-fault claims.

Whether you are filing a claim under your insurance or the other party’s, the burden falls on you to prove the severity and extent of your losses. An experienced personal injury attorney in St. Petersburg can help you gather the evidence you need to pursue maximum compensation for your losses.

How Is Fault Determined in Florida Car Accidents?

Florida uses a “pure comparative fault” rule to determine liability in a car accident. This means that each party involved in the accident is assigned a percentage of fault, and their compensation award is reduced by that amount.

As an example, let’s say you were involved in an accident when another driver ran a red light. Since you were speeding as you were passing through the intersection, you are assigned 30 percent fault, and the other driver is assigned 70 percent. Under Florida’s pure comparative fault rule, your $10,000 in losses would be reduced by 30 percent, and you would receive $7,000.

Several factors can determine fault, but proving negligence is most important. An experienced Florida car accident attorney can help prove negligence by collecting any of the following:

• Police reports
• Eyewitness statements
• Photos or videos from the accident
• Expert witness testimony

Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Claims in Florida

The statute of limitations is the time limit for filing a lawsuit. In Florida, you have four years from the date of the accident to file a car accident lawsuit. From this point, you will not be eligible to claim any compensation for your losses. Contact a Florida car accident lawyer at Personal Injury Attorneys McQuaid & Douglas today to get your case started.

Car Accident Settlement Negotiations Explained

Auto accidents rarely ever go to a full trial because they are costly and unreliable. Civil settlements are most common and allow both parties to come to an agreement as a final decision.

Demand letters provide a way of requesting compensation while avoiding litigation and court appearances. As your dedicated personal injury lawyers, we will write a demand letter that explains the claim in detail. This will include the theory of liability, the injuries sustained, the medical bills, lost wages, and any future losses. Upon your approval, we will send the demand letter to the insurance company with a monetary settlement request.

After the demand letter is sent to the insurance company, it is reviewed by the adjuster assigned to the claim. If the money in the demand is not paid, then either negotiations begin or a lawsuit is filed. Your lawyer will first push for an agreement without litigation, but insurance companies can be unreasonable and force the cases into litigation.

Why You Should Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in St. Petersburg, FL?

Car accidents are complex legal matters because of the resources that insurance companies bring to minimize or deny your claim. Insurance companies have teams of investigators, adjusters, and lawyers and are extremely difficult to deal with if you don’t have legal help. Here’s why the assistance of a St. Petersburg Car Accident Attorney is crucial for a successful outcome:

Personal injury attorneys allow you to focus on recovering, working, and being with your family. You’ll avoid stressful phone calls from insurers as they’ll be dealt with by your car accident lawyer.

We know that injuries cause problems that last far longer than insurance companies say they do. Missed wages, psychological distress, future medical costs, and more are all often overlooked. We’re aware of this and will factor it into your claim.

• We ensure all evidence is preserved correctly. Evidence can get lost quickly; we will work to make sure it is safe.
• We know which evidence can sway your case. Under Florida law, recovering compensation is only possible if it is clear that another person’s negligence caused the accident.
• Insurance companies will exploit your lack of knowledge, often manipulating you into making a mistake. They want to pay you as little as possible. Our experience will avoid these pitfalls so we can get you the money you deserve.
• A lawyer can get to work immediately. Acting fast will give you the upper hand even if the at-fault driver turns out to change his/her story.
• The longer you wait without a lawyer, the more time the insurers gain to devalue your claim.
• Evidence proves that vastly greater compensation is paid out when using a lawyer compared to taking on the case alone.
• We’ll be your advocates from start to finish and handle all legal work and procedures for the optimal outcome.

Types of Car Accident Claims and Lawsuits

Settlements

Auto accidents rarely ever go to a full trial because they are costly and unreliable. Civil settlements are most common and allow both parties to come to an agreement as a final decision.

Demand Letters

Demand Letters provide a way of requesting compensation while avoiding litigation and court appearances. We will write a ‘Demand Letter’ that explains the claim in detail. The demand letter includes the theory of liability, the injuries that have been sustained, the medical bills, lost wages and any future losses. This letter is then sent to the insurance company, with a monetary settlement request.

Car Accident Settlement Negotiations Explained

After the demand letter is sent to the insurance company, it is reviewed by the adjuster assigned to the claim. If the money in the demand is not paid, then either negotiations begin or a lawsuit is filed. Your lawyer will first push for an agreement without litigation, but insurance companies can be unreasonable and force the cases into litigation.