Auto Accident Injury in Melbourne, FL
Have you suffered an injury due to a car accident in Melbourne? If so, your life may never be the same again. Injuries from a car accident can interfere with your ability both to work and to enjoy everyday activities. They can also be incredibly painful. As such, you need an auto accident attorney who understands the laws in and around Melbourne, FL that will fight for your legal rights and help you receive the financial compensation you deserve.
Auto Accident Injury Statistics in Melbourne, Florida
According to the National Safety Council, in 2019 about 4.4 million people suffered serious injuries in motor vehicle accidents, and an estimated 38,000 were killed. Statistics from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles show 401,867 crashes in 2019 alone. Over 8,800 of those incidents involved motorcycles, and nearly 5,000 involved alcohol use. In total, over 689,474 drivers experienced a traffic incident reported to state authorities.
What to Do After an Auto Accident
It’s important to be prepared in the event you are a victim of a car accident. Below are the steps to remember immediately after your crash.
Receive Immediate Medical Attention
What is the most important step that you need to take after a Melbourne car accident? You need to receive immediate and proper medical treatment. You may believe that the injuries sustained after an auto accident are minor. Proper medical treatment helps ensure that you have not sustained any internal injuries that you may not be aware of.
File a Police Report
Even if no one sustained injuries, you still need to call 911 and request law enforcement assistance. When officers arrive, jot down each one’s name and badge number. Answer their questions honestly, but don’t volunteer any unasked-for information, especially your thoughts on exactly what happened or who caused the car accident. Be sure to ask the officers for the number of their police reports. Also ask when and where you can get a copy of it, including how much it will cost you.
The City of Melbourne provides a copy of the sworn statement that requires notarization to become an official document. Copies of the report are free if they’re 10 pages or less. The city charges $0.15 to $0.20 for each copy beyond that, depending on whether you prefer single-sided or double-sided copies.
Gather the Appropriate Documentation
While waiting for officers to arrive after a car accident, collect information from all other drivers involved in the accident, including the following:
- Full name, address, phone number and email address
- Driver’s license state and number
- Auto insurance company name, policy number, and phone number
Use your cell phone to take pictures of each driver’s license, auto insurance card, your vehicle, and each additional vehicle involved in the car accident. Don’t rely on verbal communication. Having as much information as possible will only help you and your case later on. Try to keep this exchange as civil and friendly as possible. However, do not apologize for causing the accident or indicate in any way that you think you may have caused it.
Recovering Damages After an Auto Accident Injury
After surviving a car accident, the emotional and economic toll it takes can be staggering. You are not only dealing with the mental anguish that comes with being involved in a crash, but you may also be experiencing severe physical harm as well.
Common injuries associated with motor vehicle accidents include:
- Burn injuries
- Back and neck injuries, such as whiplash
- Brain and head injuries
- Broken bones
- Spinal injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
The nature of the injuries, neglect, or outright malice of an individual can affect the damages awarded. While there’s no guarantee that you will win anything in a Melbourne courtroom, you may consider recent settlements that made their way into the news. The City Commission of Tallahassee recently approved a $146,049 settlement for two individuals struck by a police car.
Hiring a Melbourne car accident lawyer ensures you have the financial ability to cover any losses that have occurred as a result of a crash. An auto accident attorney will also help you handle the paperwork that you will have to complete from insurance companies. This boosts your odds of receiving the insurance compensation you deserve.
Car Accident Laws in Florida
Liability Laws for Melbourne
When car accidents happen, it is essential to determine who bears responsibility for the resulting damage and medical bills. Determining fault impacts everything from your insurance claim and level of liability to the amount of confusion you may endure during the claims process. Florida is currently a no-fault state, which means that both parties in a car accident contact their insurance carrier regardless of who caused the incident. Florida Statutes require drivers to purchase at least a $10,000 personal injury protection (PIP) policy due to this law.
Statute of Limitations in Melbourne
Each state has its tort laws that determine the statute of limitations on a claim. In some states, this gives you just one year to file a claim in court, while some others may give you up to six years. If you’re involved in a motor vehicle accident in Melbourne, you have up to 4 years to file a civil case. Florida Statutes apply this to both personal injuries and the damage done to your vehicle.
This is why it is important to consult with an attorney immediately after your car crash. Don’t wait and risk losing out on any compensation they can recover.
Work With an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer Near Melbourne, FL
After a car accident, you have enough to worry about. We can help you find an auto accident attorney for your unique case. Get the financial restitution you deserve if you’re the victim of someone else’s conduct. We can even help you connect with legal help across Florida state lines.
Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to speak with an attorney in your area!
About the Author
Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.
With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations. Contact Aaron at [email protected] for article suggestions, collaborations, or inquiries.