Car Accident Lawyer Serving Port Salerno

Port Salerno is a part of Martin County, Florida, and is known for its art galleries, seafood markets, and crafts. As of 2020, the city has a population of over 11,300 people (the population growth fluctuates drastically annually).

With a high population, there is increased road traffic, which increases the risk of auto accidents. Car accidents can range from fatal ones that cause loss of life to others, which land their victims in the emergency room. Victims may suffer serious injuries, and their vehicles may be damaged beyond repair.

While some accidents are caused by human error, others are caused by the government or local authority body not maintaining road safety standards. Accidents may occur due to faulty roads, missing road signs, reckless driving, speeding and distracted drivers.

If you or someone you love has been seriously harmed in an auto accident that was caused by the carelessness and negligence of someone else, you may be eligible to pursue a claim for compensation of your damages. Contact the legal team at Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers. We offer a free initial consultation and guidance as to your legal options.

Car accidents occur due to a range of reasons, and while some circumstances are unusual, others are unfortunately very common and lead to hundreds of thousands of car crashes across the United States annually. These include:

1. Rear-End Collisions

In basic terms, a rear-end collision is one that occurs when a vehicle crashes into another vehicle from behind. They are one of the most common causes of car accidents due to drivers being reckless and not complying with road regulations. This includes driving too fast, tailgating other vehicles, or sudden stops or turns by the vehicle in front without any prior indication. Rear-end collisions range from a slight scrape on your car’s bumper to rollovers and other serious accidents.

2. Distracted Drivers

In 2018, nearly 3,000 people were killed in the United States due to auto accidents caused by distracted drivers. Distracted drivers may be using their phones while driving, talking to other people in the car, eating/drinking/smoking, or not being entirely mentally present. Any action that distracts the driver’s attention from the road can be a cause of a crash. Distracted driving is particularly common among teens and younger drivers, who are relatively new to driving.

3. Head-on Collisions

Head-on (or frontal) collisions are caused by drivers crashing into each other from opposite sides. These accidents are more likely to be fatal and are usually the outcome of mechanical failure in the car, drivers driving under the influence, distracted driving, taking a wrong turn, or avoiding road regulations. Elderly drivers are more likely to be involved in head-on collisions.

4. Hit and Run Accidents

Hit-and-runs are accidents where the party at-fault leaves the accident scene, knowing that an accident has occurred. In some cases, the party who leaves may not even be aware that an accident has occurred. Hit and run accidents may be trickier as the at-fault party may be difficult to find.

5. Accidents from Road Hazards

In some cases, road accidents are not the fault of any drivers or pedestrians involved but may result from road hazards, improperly labeled construction sites, and so on. Accidents in these cases are likely to be extremely fatal and can lead to very serious injuries. Rollover accidents, head-on collisions, and collisions with other vehicles such as motorcycles or trucks are possible. In these types of cases, the government entity responsible for maintaining the road may be the liable party.

Car crashes may be fatal, or the victims may survive but with a number of injuries ranging from surface burns and bruises to deep cuts, broken bones, and lifelong physical and mental alterations. Common injuries caused by car accidents include:

1. Hand and Wrist Injuries

Regardless of whether the car accident was minor or very serious, the pressure of the accident exposes victims to a high risk of suffering from hand and wrist injuries and, in some severe cases, even amputation in cases such as vehicle rollovers, etc. Some wrist injuries may also involve broken bones, and the patient may require surgery for proper recovery.

2. Traumatic Brain Injuries

The trauma and pressure of a car accident can lead to brain injuries, even if the vehicle’s airbags are deployed. Brain injuries include concussions, skull fractures, cracked skulls, internal bleeding, and so on. The symptoms range from dizziness and blurred vision to bleeding from the head and/or ears, loss of cognitive functions, affected speech, and so on. The recovery process is long and painful, and in some cases, patients only recover partially.

3. Crush Injuries

Auto accidents range from rear-end collisions to road hazards leading to crashed vehicles and more. The impact of the accident may quite literally crush victims under the weight of the vehicle of the debris resulting from the accident. These injuries range from injured spleens, damaged kidneys, destroyed lungs, and more, which may even lead to fatalities and loss of life.

4. Broken & Fractured Bones

While human bones are quite strong, a car crash can either crush your bones, fracture them, or dislocate them. Bone dislocation is likely to occur in the wrists, legs, and hip joints. Surgery involves extensive bone grafting and even physiotherapy in some cases. The process is quite painful and expensive.

If you’ve been a victim of personal injuries and property damage in a car accident, you can file a claim for damages which may include:

1. Past and future medical bills

Medical expenses begin from your first trip to the emergency room right after the accident. This may be followed up by tests such as MRIs, surgical procedures, observational periods at the hospital, follow-up surgery, prescription medication and physical therapy. In some cases, patients with lifelong injuries like paralysis may require at-home care.

2. Temporary or Permanent Disability

Injuries in car accidents can be extremely severe and may leave victims disabled for a period of time or forever. The disabilities range from partial or complete paralysis to impaired general motor skills, speech impediments, and cognitive problems. These disabilities may require extensive surgery for recovery, and if the disability is permanent, the victim may require lifetime medical care and attention. In addition to the trauma of this new lifestyle, the victim also has to deal with mounting medical bills.

3. Lost wages and/or benefits and Reduced earning potential

Car crash victims need to take time off from work (if they are employed) to recover from the trauma and physical injuries. During this time, their flow of income will have stopped, and even after recovery, they may have disabilities that reduce their earning potential. Your past earnings will be considered with your current wages, as well as the duration that you were unable to work to determine your rightful compensation.

4. Vehicle or Property Damage

If you’ve been in a car crash, apart from physical injuries, your entire vehicle may also be wrecked. You may also suffer from property damage for any valuable items that were in your vehicle. The extent of the damage may range from a partially damaged car that can be repaired or a car that turns into scrap metal. You may be entitled to recover the repairs for your vehicle and the cost of car rental. If your car is considered a total loss, you may be entitled to recover the fair market value for your vehicle.

The aftermath of being in a car accident is highly unfortunate, here are some suggested steps you may choose to follow:

If you’ve been in a car accident, even if you’re physically able, do not leave the scene of the crash. Start off by calling 911 and reaching out to the Port St. Lucie Police Department (the two cities come under the same district) to fill a crash/accident report. Don’t leave the accident scene until the authorities arrive.

If you have been injured, a team of paramedics will tend to your wounds. If the injuries are very serious, they will take you to the hospital for emergency care. The Cleveland Clinic Martin Health is one of the closer options with 24-hour emergency care to treat your injuries.

Before leaving the scene of the accident, take plenty of videos and photos of the vehicles involved, the condition of the accident site, surveillance cameras, road signals or signs nearby, and so on.

If there were any witnesses to your accident, take down their statements as well as their personal contact details such as a phone number and an email address so that you can reach out to them.

Undergo a complete medical examination by a medical professional. You can go to your own personal doctor, emergency room or to an urgent care clinic.

After you’ve been treated for your injuries, make sure to collect all the necessary medical records, bills, and other documentation (this includes emergency care). Also, get a hold of the driver’s exchange and a copy of the filled accident report.

From here on, you should speak to a personal injury lawyer who is skilled in handling car and auto accident cases. At Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers, our team of attorneys are available to guide you as to your legal options and to help you fight for the compensation you deserve.

If you are contacted on behalf of the at-fault party by an insurance agency, avoid giving a recorded statement or signing anything without speaking to your lawyer first.

The amount of time you have to bring a lawsuit against the party at-fault is determined by the Florida Statute of Limitations. The statute applies different time limits for different circumstances, including:

• A 2-year time frame from the date of the accident to file a claim for any personal injuries and/or property damage.
• If a car accident loses their life in the accident, then their family members can file a wrongful death suit within 2 years of the accident or the victim’s death (the two dates might be different).

If you do not file your lawsuit within the time frame, it is likely your case will be dismissed and you will likely be unable to pursue your claim.

If you choose to pursue a claim for damages against the party/s responsible for your condition, there are many legal steps involved, and your personal injury attorney will be there through them all:

During this phase, your legal team will begin collecting the documentation, evidence, and statements necessary to build your case. This includes:

• Gathering photos and videos from the scene of the accident. If available we may also be able to gain access to surveillance camera footage.
• Obtaining the traffic crash report
• Speaking to witnesses and compile statements
• Gathering your medical reports and bills for past treatment and obtaining future financial projections for injury-related treatment from an expert in the field.
• Collecting documentation of lost wages and potential loss of earnings.
• Handling all communications and with the at-fault party’s insurance company

We will represent your interests and aggressively negotiate to try and obtain a fair and just settlement. If necessary, we will proceed with filing a lawsuit in court.

At Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers, our experienced attorneys will make sure your voice is heard, and we will be there with you every step of the way in dealing with the responsible parties and their insurance company.

Suffering in a car accident was an incident you couldn’t avoid, but you can begin recovering from the financial and physical blow caused by it by pursuing a claim for damages. Start out by reaching out to Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers at 772 – 800 – 8000 or contact us through our website.

Your first consultation with us will be absolutely free. We can answer your questions and provide a case evaluation. If you are unable to come to our offices, we’ll come to your home or hospital, seven days a week. Our team of personal injury lawyers have decades of experience in handling car and auto accident cases and have already retrieved millions in settlements and verdicts for our valued clients.

If you wish to obtain free legal guidance for any matters, you can head on to our YouTube Channel.

Car accidents can leave you with severe physical and mental injuries as well as costly property damage and can uproot your entire life. Instead of suffering in silence, hold the people involved accountable and obtain a settlement that will help you get back on your feet after your unfortunate accident.