Auto Accident Injury in Miami, FL

Have you suffered an injury due to a car accident in Miami? 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 Miami, FL that will fight for your legal rights and help you receive the financial compensation you deserve.

Auto Accident Injury Statistics In Miami, 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. The department of Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports that 700,000 drivers were involved in crashes in 2018, resulting in over 235,000 injuries. Out of these injuries, nearly 8,000 involved motorcyclists. Unfortunately, over 500 individuals died as a result. Pedestrian injuries only slightly exceeded those of motorcyclists, but resulted in nearly 250 more fatalities.

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 an auto 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 report. Also ask when and where you can get a copy of it, including how much it will cost you.

An investigating officer will conduct a Florida Traffic Crash Report, Long Form at the scene of the incident. Details may involve death or injury to involved individuals, hit-and-run, severely damaged vehicles and/or property, and commercial vehicles. In less severe instances, you may be able to self-report a crash in place of an officer writing and submitting the report. Processed crash reports may take up to 10 days to become available for order. Reports are available online, by mail, or in person at the Florida Highway Patrol station closest to the crash site.

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

In 2018, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4.4 billion was the projected total cost of traffic crash deaths. Over 21%, or $900 million, of this cost involved motorcyclists. Overall, the state incurred an expense of $46 million in medical costs. In 2018, Miami-Dade county experienced over 43,000 crashes resulting in property damage and more than 30,000 crashes which caused injury.

Hiring a 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.

Auto Accident Laws In Florida

Liability Laws for Miami

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 “no-fault” laws require everyone who registers a vehicle to maintain automobile insurance, with at least $10,000 personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 property damage liability (PDL). This “no fault” system is intended to lower the cost of auto insurance by taking small claims out of the courts. Drivers may sue for severe injuries if the case meets certain conditions, known as the tort liability threshold.

Statute of Limitations in Miami

Each state has its own 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. You have four years from the date of a traffic accident to take action in the state of Florida. However, you are given just two years to take action in pursuit of damages for a wrongful death. 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 Auto Accident Lawyer Near Miami, 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 that you deserve if you’re the victim of someone else’s conduct.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in Florida!

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.