Lakeland Car Accident Attorney
If you were hurt in a crash and need answers, your Lakeland car accident attorney from Howell & Thornhill, P.A., is here to help. Your Lakeland personal injury lawyer will walk you through every step of the process and help you understand what to expect after a serious accident.
Our firm has been advocating for accident victims since 1975, and our Central Florida law firm has board certified lawyers, a distinction less than 2% of Florida lawyers have, a nurse, and a full-time investigator on staff to support your case with experienced insight. Reach out today so we can learn more about what happened and talk through how we may be able to help.
Common Collision Factors Our Lakeland Car Accident Lawyers See
Polk County traffic can shift quickly, especially during rush hour or along major roads with heavy commercial flow. Busy intersections, fast-changing lights, and aggressive driving all play a part in the kinds of crashes we handle every day. Our team uses tools like accident reconstruction to better understand what happened and how to hold the right party accountable.
Rear-End Crashes and Sudden Stops in Congested Traffic
Rear-end collisions are one of the most common crash types in the Lakeland area. They often happen along US-98, Memorial Boulevard, 540A, Harden Blvd., S. Florida Avenue, and other high-traffic corridors where drivers stop and start without much warning. People who are distracted, following too closely, or speeding through a slowdown often do not have enough time to brake safely.
Even low-speed rear-end crashes can cause serious pain, especially to the neck and back. Our Lakeland car accident lawyers look at traffic camera footage, crash reports, and vehicle damage to help explain how and why the crash happened. If needed, we also work with our certified accident reconstruction expert to break down timing, distance, and force.
Intersection Accidents Caused by Speeding and Running Red Lights
Intersections are where many of the most dangerous crashes happen. A driver running a red light or speeding through a yellow can cause a direct side impact to another car that was already moving through the green. When people take chances with speed or timing, others often pay the price.
Under Florida Statutes § 316.192, reckless driving is behavior that shows a willful disregard for safety, which can apply to many intersection crashes. We use accident reconstruction to identify which driver had the light, how fast they were going, and whether any traffic violations played a role. In many cases, footage from nearby businesses or traffic cameras helps tell the story. Our investigator searches gas stations, supermarkets, and other stores for videos of the crash. Many store owners are not cooperative, and his background in law enforcement helps when educating the owner to help our client prove the truth of what happened.
Crashes Involving Left Turns, Merging, and Unmarked Lanes
Left-turn crashes often happen because someone misjudges timing or distance. That split-second decision to turn without enough space can cause a T-bone collision or force another driver to swerve. These crashes are common near shopping plazas, schools, and intersections with limited visibility.
Merging accidents and crashes involving unmarked or faded lanes can also be difficult to untangle without help. We work with diagrams, photos, and accident reconstruction to understand who had the right of way and where confusion may have started. These cases often come down to small details, and our car accident lawyers in Lakeland, FL are ready to sort through them.
Types of Car Accidents Our Firm Handles Across Central Florida
Car accidents happen in all kinds of ways. Some involve stop-and-go traffic in town, while others happen at high speeds on the highway. The type of crash you were involved in helps us understand what injuries you may have suffered and what steps we need to take next. Here are some of the accident types we regularly handle for clients across Central Florida:
- Rear-end collisions in commuter traffic
- Multi-car pileups on the highway
- Head-on crashes on rural roads
- Large truck accidents on I-4
- Bus accidents involving school or city transit
- Motorcycle collisions at night
- Uber and Lyft accidents near hotels or businesses
- Delivery van crashes in residential zones
- Cases where the client was injured by a drunk driver
Each case starts with a closer look at the vehicle, location, and what caused the crash. A motorcycle collision in the dark is very different from a delivery van crash on a quiet street, and we build our strategy around those details. Our investigator works to find any available video of the crash. When someone is injured by a drunk driver, the process may also involve criminal charges, and we refer to Florida Statutes § 316.193 to help explain the penalties.
Serious Injuries Our Lakeland Car Accident Attorneys See After Commuter Collisions
Even at lower speeds, a crash during your morning or evening commute can leave you seriously hurt. Bumper-to-bumper traffic often leads to sudden stops, chain reactions, and injuries that may not show up right away. Our car accident attorneys in Lakeland, FL work with crash reconstructionists to figure out how fast the vehicles were going, where the damage happened, and how that force impacted your body.
Spinal Cord Trauma and Chronic Back Pain After Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions are one of the most common types of commuter crashes in Polk County. When your vehicle is hit from behind, the sudden jolt can cause damage to your neck, back, or spinal cord. Our team will use medical testimony to explain what kind of impact you experienced and how that force led to serious, lasting pain.
Facial Injuries, Burns, and Scarring After Airbag Deployment
When airbags deploy, they can save your life, but they can also cause painful injuries. Burns, bruising, broken noses, and deep cuts from shattered glass are not uncommon. Some clients are left with paralysis and scarring that changes how they move, how they look, or how they feel about daily life.
When Broken Bones, Surgery, or Internal Bleeding Create Life Disruption
Bone fractures, internal bleeding, and organ trauma often require surgery, rest, and follow-up care that disrupts your entire routine. Howell & Thornhill, P.A., connects medical reports with crash evidence to show exactly how your injuries occurred and why they meet the Florida Statutes § 627.737 threshold for non-economic damages in auto injury claims.
How Our Lakeland Car Accident Lawyers Build Stronger Cases
Every crash tells a story, and the details matter more than you might think. From the moment we take your case, our team starts looking for evidence that shows how it happened and why you should be compensated. At Howell & Thornhill, P.A., that process includes working directly with our nurse and our investigator to gather the important information.
Using Scene Documentation to Catch Details Others Miss
The moments right after a crash can be chaotic, but they are also full of important clues. Our team gathers black box data, surveillance footage, photos from the scene, and even nearby road conditions to figure out what happened second by second. These details can explain speed, direction, braking, and why the vehicles ended up the way they did.
We also examine the crash report filed by the responding officer. As outlined in Florida Statutes § 316.066, drivers must report specific details, but that does not mean every report captures the full story. That is why we dig deeper. If there are inconsistencies or missing information, we work quickly to fill in the gaps and support your version of events.
What Our In-House Investigator Looks For
A former special agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Tommy Ray is our full-time investigator with years of experience. Stores often erase videos or refuse to share the video. He works hard to gather evidence before it disappears.
Having this resource in-house means you are not waiting on an outside consultant or paying extra to father evidence. Having investigated many homicides, Tommy Ray is ready to put his skills to helping the truth of what happened in your crash.
Coordinating Medical Records and Crash Analysis
Your medical records help tell the story of what the crash did to your body. These records become even more valuable when we connect them to how the crash happened. We look at impact angles, vehicle speed, and your physical movement during and after the collision to show how each injury occurred.
This approach also helps us answer questions insurers like to ask, such as whether your injuries were pre-existing or caused by something else. We work to tie everything together so your car accident attorney in Lakeland, FL can explain clearly how your daily life changed after the crash. When we bring those pieces together, it gives your case the foundation it needs to move forward with confidence.
Insurance Issues That Complicate Car Accident Claims In Florida
If you are feeling confused about how insurance works after a crash, you are not alone. Between coverage limits, personal injury protection (PIP) rules, and slow-moving adjusters, it is easy to feel stuck. Our team at Howell & Thornhill, P.A. answers these questions every day and works to keep your insurance claims on track from the start.
Policy Limits, PIP Confusion, and Denied Coverage
Florida is a no-fault state, which means most drivers start by filing through their own insurance, no matter who caused the crash. That might sound simple, but in practice, it leads to a lot of confusion. Drivers may not know how much coverage they really have or what to do when medical bills go beyond those limits. Drivers want to know if this law will result in their insurance premiums increasing. Our lawyers address all these issues with our clients to put their mind at ease.
Some do not realize that Florida Statutes § 627.736 outlines PIP benefits and restrictions that can limit your recovery unless certain injury thresholds are met. On top of that, it is common for insurers to push back on coverage or deny claims based on technicalities. Whether it is a lapsed policy, missing paperwork, or questions about how the crash happened, these denials can delay care and add stress.
Why Insurance Delays Happen and What You Can Do
Delays in insurance claims are frustrating, especially when you are already dealing with pain or missed work. These delays often start with simple documentation issues. If a medical form is incomplete or a crash report is unclear, an adjuster may use that as a reason to pause your claim. Some drivers also wait too long to report the crash, which gives insurers more room to ask questions or challenge your story.
Our firm tracks every part of the claim so nothing gets overlooked. We follow up, gather missing records, and prepare responses if the insurer tries to reduce what they owe. When delays happen, we work to keep the case moving forward instead of leaving you stuck waiting.
Tactics Insurance Companies Use to Limit Payouts
Insurance companies may not be in a rush to pay full value, especially if they think they can get away with offering less in our opinion. Some adjusters might question your injury, point to an old medical issue, or suggest that your pain does not match the damage to your vehicle. These are common tactics used to limit payout amounts and protect the company’s bottom line.
Having handled tens of thousands of insurance claims, our team at Howell & Thornhill, P.A. knows how to push back when those games start. We come prepared with records, medical reports, and accident details that show exactly what you went through. The stronger the evidence, the harder it is for insurers to make excuses. Let our experience work for you.
Questions After a Car Accident That We Help You Answer
After a crash, it is normal to feel uncertain about what to say or do next. Many people have immediate questions about insurance, fault, and what steps will protect their rights. At Howell & Thornhill, P.A., we take the time to answer every concern and guide you through the parts that feel confusing. We do not have a call center or “case managers.” Our lawyers take the call. Call for a free consultation.
What Should I Do If the Other Driver’s Insurance Company Calls Me?
If you get a call from the other driver’s insurance company, it is important to be careful. Anything you say in a recorded statement can be used to reduce your claim or shift the blame. When clients reach out to us with questions after a car accident, we help them understand how to protect their case before sharing any details.
Can I Still Recover Compensation If I Was Partially at Fault?
Yes, you may still be able to recover compensation depending on how the fault is divided. Florida follows a modified comparative negligence system, which limits recovery if you are found to be more than 50% at fault, which is explained in Florida Statutes § 768.81.
What Happens If My PIP Coverage Runs Out?
Personal injury protection has its limits, and many clients come to us after those funds have already been used up. If that happens, we review what other options may be available based on your injuries and how the crash occurred. We also explain how disputes are handled under Florida Statutes § 627.7407 and help guide you through the next steps.
Get Help From Your Lakeland Accident Attorney at Howell & Thornhill, P.A.
If you are feeling unsure about what to do next, we are here to help you sort it out. Our team knows how frustrating insurance delays and unclear answers can be, and we are ready to take that pressure off your plate. You can contact us to talk with your car accident lawyer in Lakeland, FL with Howell & Thornhill, P.A., and get the support you need, right from the start.