Motor vehicle accidents can cause extensive harm, resulting in expensive medical bills, lost wages, and significant impairments that adversely affect the lives of victims. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) estimates that Florida car accidents cause $10.75 billion in damages each year. When someone else’s negligence causes you physical and financial harm, you should not have to pay the price.
After sustaining injuries, you might be wondering, “Who is at fault for my Orlando car accident?” Understanding Florida’s complex laws surrounding car accident liability is key to obtaining the compensation you need for your injuries and losses.
An experienced Orlando, FL, car accident lawyer from Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law can discuss your rights during a free, no-obligation consultation. Contact us today to get started, call us at (470) 801-3000.
How Our Personal Injury Law Firm Can Help Orlando Car Accident Victims
Our Orlando accident lawyers have over 100 years of combined experience helping car accident victims recover meaningful financial compensation in cases like distracted driving accidents, head-on, highway, hit-and-run, intersection, and rear-end crashes, among many others.
We don’t believe that you should have to pay for someone else’s carelessness. We fight hard to secure the compensation our clients deserve, which already amounts to tens of millions of dollars in recovery since opening our law firm in 2020.
When you hire a car accident lawyer from our law firm, we help by:
- Investigating the case to determine its cause and all potentially liable parties
- Reviewing all applicable insurance policies and helping you file claims
- Gathering evidence to establish liability and the full extent of your damages
- Protecting you from the tactics of insurance companies designed to minimize your payout
- Negotiating for maximum compensation for your claim
After someone else’s negligence has injured you, you should not have to worry about being mistreated by the insurance company. Contact our personal injury team in Orlando, Florida, today for a free consultation to learn about your legal rights for pursuing compensation.
Florida’s No-Fault System
Florida uses a no-fault system to resolve car accident claims. This system is designed to help provide fast payments to accident victims to help pay for the majority of their medical expenses and lost wages after a car accident while also preventing too many cases from clogging up the court system.
All motorists in Florida are required to maintain at least $10,000 of Personal Injury Protection (PIP). This coverage pays for up to 80% of your medical expenses and 60% of your lost income caused by a car accident.
However, many car accident victims find that this insurance is quickly exhausted if they have suffered a serious injury. Fortunately, Florida law allows accident victims to pursue compensation for the full extent of their losses, including economic and non-economic damages like pain and suffering, when their injury meets a certain threshold, which includes any of the following:
- Significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function
- Permanent injury
- Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Death
If you have suffered any of these injuries or lost a loved one in an auto accident, reach out to an experienced car accident lawyer for help. You have a limited time to file your insurance claim, so you must ask fast to protect your rights.
There are also other exceptions that could allow you to escape Florida’s no-fault rules. We can help you determine your best course of action during your free consultation.
Who Could Be Responsible for My Injuries After a Car Crash in Orlando?
Every car accident is unique. Different parties may be responsible for auto injuries, including:
- Negligent motorists, including car, truck, or motorcycle drivers
- Other road users, such as bicyclists or pedestrians
- Employers of negligent motorists who were working at the time of the accident
- Irresponsible bar or restaurant owners that overserved an intoxicated driver
- Product manufacturers that made a product with a manufacturing, design, or warning defect
An experienced car accident lawyer can review your claim and determine who is responsible for your injuries.
What Do I Have To Prove To Establish Fault in an Orlando Car Accident?
Most car accidents are based on the legal theory of negligence. To prove negligence, you must show the following four legal elements:
- Duty of care – You must show the defendant had a duty to act with reasonable care. Drivers have a duty to follow traffic laws.
- Breach of duty – A breach of duty is what the defendant did or failed to do that violated their duty of care. For example, a driver who is texting while driving is breaching their duty to follow the law.
- Causation – You must be able to show the breach of duty is what caused the accident. For example, a driver who was texting was looking down at their phone when they rear-ended you.
- Damages – Damages are the harms you suffered because of the accident, such as medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, or pain and suffering.
Your lawyer can help gather evidence to establish these elements.
Speak to Our Experienced Orlando Car Crash Lawyer During a Free Consultation
If someone else’s negligence injured you, you might have a right to compensation. You can begin your path to financial recovery by contacting Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law for a free consultation. We can answer questions you have, like “Who is at fault for my Orlando car accident?” and “How much is my case worth?” Call our experienced Orlando car accident lawyers today to get started.