Were you hurt in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence in Pinellas Park, FL? If so, you may be able to hold the at-fault individual responsible for your medical bills and other damages.
A Pinellas Park car accident lawyer at Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help. With over 300 years of combined experience, our legal team is well-equipped to handle your claim. We’ll get you fair compensation covering the full extent of your losses.
Call us at (727) 349-1728 or contact our law office online to schedule a free consultation. We’ll discuss the collision, your injuries, and your legal options for financial recovery.
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How Can an Attorney Help After a Car Accident in Pinellas Park, FL?
Car accident claims can get complicated, especially if severe injuries, multiple parties, or questions of fault are involved. Legal representation is often the best way to achieve the maximum recovery possible.
However, your choice of attorney matters and can significantly impact your case. You need to select an advocate with the skills, resources, and dedication to fight for you after a crash in Pinellas Park, Florida.
Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers was established in 1955 and was Tampa Bay’s first personal injury law firm. Our legal team has three centuries of combined legal experience, and we know how to get results for our clients. We’ve acquired over $675 million in settlements and awards.
If you hire our Pinellas Park personal injury lawyers to help with your car accident claim, we’ll:
- Investigate all facets of your collision, including how it happened and who shares liability for it
- Accurately calculate your damages, including future and non-economic losses
- Work with leading experts to prove complex aspects of your case, if necessary
- Negotiate on your behalf and protect you from victim-blaming
- Represent you in court if we fail to secure a fair settlement
You don’t have to deal with a legal battle while you’re struggling with painful injuries. You can trust our Pinellas Park personal injury attorneys to do the heavy lifting while you focus on your health.
Contact our law firm today to set up a free, no-obligation case evaluation to see how we can help.
How Common Are Car Crashes in Pinellas County?
In 2022, the FLHSMV reported 15,680 car accidents in Pinellas County, FL. They caused 9,224 injuries and 123 fatalities.
Out of those accidents:
- 4,470 were hit-and-run crashes
- 418 involved impaired driving (alcohol and/or drugs)
- 578 involved bicycles
- 437 involved motorcycles
- 474 involved pedestrians
As of June 3, 2023, Pinellas County has experienced 6,255 collisions, injuring 3,870 and killing 46 people. The county typically makes up around 4% of the state’s total auto accidents.
What Causes Most Car Accidents in Pinellas Park, FL?
Car accidents are typically avoidable. They usually happen when a driver isn’t paying attention or acts negligently.
The following are common causes of motor vehicle accidents:
- Texting, eating, and other forms of distracted driving
- Driving under the influence
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Running traffic lights and stop signs
- Aggressive driving, such as tailgating or brake checking
- Unsafe lane changes or turns
- Speeding
- Inexperienced drivers
Some collisions result from other scenarios. For example, a road defect – such as construction debris or malfunctioning traffic lights – could contribute to an accident. Regardless, it’s important to understand what caused your crash to identify every party who shares financial responsibility.
Our Law Firm Can Help After Any Type of Car Accident
Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers have helped car accident victims after all types of crashes, including:
- Rear-end collisions
- Rollovers
- Head-on crashes
- Highway accidents
- Parking lot accidents
- T-bone collisions
- Sideswipe collisions
- Hit & run accidents
- Multi-vehicle accidents
- Single-vehicle collisions
No matter how your collision occurred, we’re here to help you settle your car accident case and get the compensation you need to move on.
What Is the Value of My Pinellas Park Car Accident Claim?
Because every accident claim is unique, each must be independently evaluated based on specific facts.
The value of your Pinellas Park car accident case will depend on several factors, including:
- The severity of your injuries and how they affect your daily life
- The medical bills and other financial losses you’ve incurred (and are expected to incur in the future)
- Your lost wages
- Whether you’re able to return to work in the same capacity as before the collision
- The pain and mental trauma you’ve endured
- Whether you’ve suffered a permanent disability or impairment
- Whether you share fault for causing the car accident
- Whether you mitigated your damages
Many other things can impact how much your personal injury case is worth, depending on the circumstances. We’ll help you identify your losses and calculate the value of your damages.
What Compensation Can I Get After a Collision in Pinellas Park, FL?
Pinellas Park car accident victims can pursue compensation for their economic (monetary) and non-economic (non-monetary and subjective) losses.
Your economic damages may consist of:
- Medical expenses, including hospital bills, ER visits, and nursing care
- Future medical costs
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Loss of income and benefits
- Diminished earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses, such as childcare and travel expenses
- Property damage
Your non-economic damages could include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- PTSD and vehophobia
- Inconvenience
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of quality of life
Contact our experienced attorneys for help calculating your damages after a car accident in Pinellas Park.
Can I Recover Compensation If I Share Blame for My Car Accident in Pinellas Park?
Florida law implements a modified comparative fault rule. In a personal injury claim, everyone who contributed to the accident is assigned a percentage of blame.
You cannot recover compensation from another party if your fault exceeds 50%. However, if your portion of responsibility is 50% or less, your damages are reduced accordingly.
For example, you were speeding when a drunk driver T-boned your vehicle. The court finds that you were 20% to blame for the accident. You’d only be entitled to 80% of your awarded compensation.
Insurance companies and other defendants use comparative negligence to reduce their financial liability. However, they don’t always have evidence to prove their allegations. If you’re being blamed for a crash, contact our Pinellas Park car accident attorneys for help.
How Do I Prove My Car Accident Case in Florida?
Florida drivers must carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance coverage. PIP is no-fault insurance, meaning you can file a claim with your insurance company regardless of who caused the crash. However, the policy only covers a portion of your medical bills and lost income.
If you sustained serious injuries or your expenses exceed your policy limits, you can potentially pursue legal action against the other party. However, you’ll have to show that they were at fault to recover compensation.
You do this by proving the elements of negligence:
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
The following types of evidence are helpful in a car accident claim:
- Accident report
- Medical records
- Surveillance footage
- Photos and videos of the accident scene
- Eyewitness statements
- Expert witness opinions and accident reconstruction
Contact our experienced car accident attorneys for help proving your case.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Whether you were involved in a fender bender or a serious collision, you can suffer various types of injuries.
We’ve helped car crash victims who have sustained:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Soft tissue injuries
- Chest injuries
- Airbag injuries
- Burns
- Back injuries
- Whiplash and other neck injuries
- Amputation
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
- Paralysis and other spinal cord damage
- Nerve damage
You may also be suffering from psychological trauma from your accident. You could be entitled to compensation for the full extent of your physical and emotional damages.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Car Accident Attorney in Pinellas County?
We understand that in the aftermath of a collision, you may be struggling to pay bills and make ends meet. That’s why our car accident attorneys in Florida work on a contingency fee basis.
That means you owe us nothing out-of-pocket when you hire us to handle your case. You will only pay attorney’s fees at the conclusion of your case if it’s successful. We’ll simply deduct our fees from your awarded compensation.
This arrangement allows you to secure quality legal services without worrying about the cost.
How Long Do I Have To File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Florida?
Under Florida’s statute of limitations, you typically have two years from the collision date to file a personal injury lawsuit. If it was fatal, you have two years from your loved one’s date of death to file a claim for wrongful death.
There may be exceptions, so call our car accident lawyers in Pinellas Park to preserve your legal rights. If you miss the applicable deadline, you’ll lose your ability to hold the at-fault driver accountable.
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation With Our Pinellas Park Car Accident Lawyers
If you were injured in a car accident in Pinellas Park, Florida, you may have several options for obtaining compensation. The legal team at Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers will evaluate your case and identify every source of recovery.
Contact our car accident attorneys in Pinellas Park today for a free initial consultation to learn more.
