Automobile Accident Attorney
You get hurt in an automobile accident in Polk County and have no idea how to respond. In the days after the incident, meet with our automobile accident attorney in Lakeland, FL. At this point, your lawyer can learn about you and your accident. They can let you know if you have grounds for suing any liable parties.
Since 1970s, Howell & Thornhill, P.A. has provided legal services and support to auto accident victims and others. Trust our automobile accident attorney law firm to help you deal with the aftermath of your car accident. For more information, schedule a free case consultation.
Automobile Accidents Can Happen on Many Roads in Lakeland, FL
You drive safely and follow the rules of the road. Even if this is the case, you have no control over the actions of others. Thus, you may be involved in a car accident in Lakeland at any time. High-traffic areas where auto accidents are commonly reported in Lakeland include:
- Memorial or Hwy 92
- South Florida Ave
- Bartow Highway or US98
- State Road 33
- Combee Road
Do not wait to get legal help if you are involved in an automobile accident at any of these places or elsewhere in Lakeland. Your lawyer can calculate your accident losses and fight for you to receive compensation from any responsible parties.
Why Choose Howell & Thornhill, P.A. for Your Automobile Accident Case?
Allow our team to guide you through the process of requesting compensation from anyone who caused your auto collision. Initially, we can learn about your auto accident and determine the best options available for seeking compensation.
We Can Track Down Footage of Your Automobile Accident
Our automobile accident lawyers can work with an investigator to track down videos of the incident and identify any liable parties. From here, we can discuss your legal options with you. If you want to take legal action, we can represent and advocate for you at each stage of your case proceedings.
A Record of Success for Automobile Accident Clients
Our automobile accident attorneys have helped people recover over $75 million while practicing in Polk County in the last five year salone. We have helped car accident victims and many others receive substantialt verdicts and settlements. In your auto crash case, we will commit the time and resources required to help you get the outcome you deserve.
Positive Client Testimonials Throughout the Lakeland Area
We have represented over 10,000 people throughout Central Florida. On top of that, we have received hundreds of positive client testimonials. We listen to our clients and remain accessible to address their legal concerns and questions. No matter what happens in your auto accident case, we are here to assist you.
What You Do After an Automobile Accident Can Have Lasting Implications for You and Your Family
Ideally, you should consult with an automobile accident lawyer within days of your crash. Your attorney may advise you to take care of your injuries. As you do, your lawyer can start building your case against any responsible parties.
Ultimately, if you do nothing after a car accident, you take responsibility for all associated losses. This means you may have to cover the costs of treating your accident injuries, auto repair expenses, and other bills from your accident out of pocket. Alternatively, if you proceed with an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit, you may get money for the harms and losses you have suffered.
In terms of Florida’s insurance requirements for drivers, you must carry no-fault coverage. Your car insurance policy has a $10,000.00 health insurance policy for medical bills. The billion dollar insurance companies favor this law that requires us all to purchase health insurance to cover us driving. However, the claim should not raise your rates if you do not cause the crash. Our firm will fight the insurance company for the driver at fault for the money to cover the bills over $10,000, your wage loss, and your suffering.
As a business, an insurance company may be more focused on its bottom line than on protecting your legal rights and best interests. If you ask the insurer of the party liable for your auto accident for compensation, the business may do everything possible to contest your claim. It may do so in the hopes that you will give up on your claim or accept a lowball settlement offer.
Your car accident lawyer can negotiate a settlement with an insurance company. They may go back and forth with this insurer and will keep you updated if they get a settlement offer. Yet, if no agreement comes to fruition, your attorney may encourage you to proceed with a lawsuit.
You Have a Limited Time to File an Automobile Lawsuit in Florida
If you want to file an automobile accident lawsuit, you have a limited window for doing so.
Per Florida Statute § 95.11, you typically have two years from the day of a car crash to sue any responsible parties for damages. If this window closes, you may be liable for your accident losses. Please act to safeguard your rights.
Filing an Automobile Accident Lawsuit Is an Opportunity to Recover Damages
Your personal injury lawyer can explain what a lawsuit entails. They want you to request compensatory damages that will serve you well now and in the future. Reasons a judge or jury may award damages to auto accident victims and their families include:
- Medical expenses in the past and for the rest of your life
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of income in the past and for the future years before retirement
- Auto repair costs
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Burial and funeral expenses in a death claim
Just because you ask for these or other damages does not guarantee that a judge or jury will award them. It is your responsibility to prove that a liable party is at fault for your auto accident, the accident caused the injuries, and the amount of the losses. Thankfully, your lawyer can craft an argument centered around negligence. Their argument may make it clear to a judge or jury why damages are warranted.
Negligence Has the Potential to Make or Break Your Automobile Accident Case
If you say someone is to blame for your automobile accident in Lakeland, you must be able to prove that they acted negligently. Your auto accident lawyer can argue that these elements of negligence were present at the time of the incident.
Duty of Care
Someone has a duty of care if they have a legal obligation to avoid actions that could put others at risk. For example, a motorist has a duty to act reasonably and follow at a safe distance. If the motorist texts and drives then the motorist breaches this duty of care when they rearend another driver’s vehicle.
Breach of Duty of Care
A violation of a duty of care occurs when someone fails in their duty, and hence does something dangerous. Consider a motorist who is speeding on Interstate 4, US 98 N, Hwy 92, S. Florida Ave.,, or elsewhere in Lakeland. This motorist is choosing not to comply with the posted speed limit. As such, they are breaching their duty of care to other drivers and riders sharing the road with them.
Causation
If your automobile accident lawyer argues your case to a judge or jury, they must highlight how the crash caused the injuries. It is not just bad luck that you suffer from neck pain; rather, it is from the violent impact to the rear of your vehicle.
Damages
Your lawyer can provide pay stubs, medical bills, medical records discussing future medical care, and other evidence to illustrate your damages. They can share details about the impact on your life in the claim for pain and suffering as well as loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life.
Who Is Responsible for Your Car Accident Depends on the Circumstances of Your Case
You have questions after your car accident relating to liability. Talk with our Lankeland auto accident attorneys, and we can give you insights into who may be responsible for your car collision. Parties that can be liable for a car crash include:
- Driver at fault
- Owner of vehicle that caused the crash
- Employer of driver at fault
- Car manufacturer
- Mechanic
- Government entity
- Underinsured motorist carrier
Your lawyer can discuss your car accident with people who saw it happen, analyze traffic camera footage of the crash, and read the police report from the incident. This can help your attorney understand the facts of your case. Your attorney can find out who is responsible for your accident and start building your case against them.
Car accident scene photos and videos, witness statements, and other evidence can strengthen your case against any responsible parties. Auto accident lawyers may search far and wide for proof. They can use their proof to prepare an argument that will resonate with a judge or jury.
You Can Still Seek Damages If You Are Partially at Fault in an Accident
According to Florida Statute § 768.81, you may be subject to modified comparative negligence.
If you are found to be 1-50% liable for your auto accident, the court can reduce your damages by your percentage of fault. Alternatively, if you are more than 50% liable, you may be ineligible for damages.
You Can Ask for Compensation from Anyone Liable for a Family Member’s Fatal Auto Accident
It is tragic to lose a family member in a fatal auto collision. You and your loved ones may struggle emotionally and financially as you cope with your loss. If someone is responsible for your family member’s accident, you can hold them accountable for their actions.
It can be beneficial to speak with wrongful death lawyers if you lose a family member in a fatal automobile accident. These attorneys are empathetic and compassionate. They want you to care for yourself and your family during this difficult time. As you do, your attorney can give you information about wrongful death claims and lawsuits and why you may want to move forward with either of these options.
Sadly, a wrongful claim or lawsuit does not change the past. It does allow you to pursue justice from anyone who harmed your family member. At the same time, your claim or lawsuit can help get compensation that you and your family can use to stay afloat financially despite the tragic loss..
Your lawyer can handle the legal matters in your wrongful death case. They can keep you informed if a liable party or their insurance company makes a settlement offer. Or, if a trial is required, your attorney can make sure you enter the courtroom feeling confident about your case.
Expect Challenges If You Are Involved in an Accident With an Uninsured Motorist
There are times when auto accidents happen, and the motorists involved in them do not have car insurance coverage. If you get hurt by someone without insurance, it may be tough to recover damages from them. Thankfully, Lakeland automobile accident attorneys ensure you do not have to face this challenge alone.
If the other driver involved in your car accident is uninsured or underinsured, you may be able to recover for your losses and harms if you have underinsured motorist coverage. This coverage protects you if the other driver has nothing for your injuries. Ask our lawyers to check what type of insurance coverage that you, the owner of the car, and your family have.
Settlement Negotiation and Trial After an Automobile Accident
Prior to your trial date, your attorney can engage in settlement negotiations with the liable party. If the insurer for the driver at fault has concerns about the strength of your case, they may be inclined to offer a fair settlement. On the other hand, if they believe they have a strong case, they may commit substantial time and resources to dispute your compensation request.
Settlement negotiations may be ongoing until your case reaches trial. Your lawyer will notify you if a settlement offer is made. You can evaluate a settlement proposal with your lawyer. Although your attorney can help you assess a settlement, you make the final decision on it. If you believe a settlement is insufficient, your attorney can continue to negotiate or take your case to trial.
Your lawyer takes nothing for granted in your Lakeland automobile accident case. They may collect an abundance of proof to make it clear to the court that you are in no way liable for your accident. If your lawyer’s argument is successful, you may receive damages.
Contact Our Automobile Accident Attorney Law Firm in Lakeland, FL
At Howell & Thornhill, P.A., our team includes trial specialists certified by the Florida Bar, a distinction less than 2% of Florida lawyers have in the area of civil trial practice. We provide legal guidance to auto accident victims and their families. Our Lakeland automobile accident attorney law firm remains on your side throughout your case proceedings. To learn more and to set up a free case review, contact our law firm today.