Were you or a family member injured in a car accident in Mary Esther, FL? If you’re like many crash victims, you may be feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. An experienced Mary Esther car accident lawyer at Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers can help you make sense of the legal process. You may deserve compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other injury-related damages.
Our attorneys have over 75 years of combined experience in personal injury law. Accident victims in the panhandle have been trusting us to lead the fight for compensation for over four decades.
While you focus on your recovery and getting your life back on track, let us handle the heavy lifting. We know how to deal with the insurance company and are ready to negotiate for the full compensation you deserve. Call (850) 809-0170 our law offices in Mary Esther, Florida, to schedule a free consultation today.
How Can Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers Help Me Recover Compensation After a Car Accident in Mary Esther, FL?
Serious car crashes often impact victims in unexpected ways. Painful injuries can affect your quality of life for the foreseeable future–or for a lifetime. The accident can trigger sky-high medical bills that can haunt you for years to come. Unfortunately, insurance doesn’t cover everything, and you may be unable to work.
Hiring an experienced Mary Esther personal injury attorney can be the quickest path to recovery. Our team at Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers knows how to hold the at-fault party accountable for your injuries. Members of our team are board-certified in civil trial law by the Florida Bar. We’ve also earned an AV Preeminent rating for our success.
When you trust our law firm, you’ll have an experienced legal advocate to:
- Evaluate the facts and explain your legal options
- Independently investigate to gather evidence to prove your case
- Determine who is ultimately responsible for paying your damages
- Calculate the value of your damages, also considering likely future losses
- Hire experts in medicine, accident reconstruction, finance, and other relevant specialties as needed
- Handle all paperwork and insurance communications
- Protect you from victim-blaming insurance tactics designed to reduce your case value
- Evaluate any insurance offers and reject lowball deals
- Negotiate with the insurance company to win a full settlement
- File a lawsuit and fight on your behalf in court if necessary
If you’re injured and struggling, it’s important to secure the highest financial award possible. Our Mary Esther personal injury lawyers know the law inside and out. We’re ready to use our skills to your advantage. To learn more, give us a call today for a free consultation.
Why Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Recovering fair compensation after an accident can be challenging at the best of times. Insurance adjusters will go to great lengths to minimize the amount of money they pay victims. They won’t consider how the injury has impacted your life.
Hiring an experienced car accident lawyer shows the insurance company that you’re serious about getting fair compensation.
Here are just some of the ways that a skilled attorney can help you maximize your case value:
- Insurance companies are major corporations. They also have deep pockets. Your lawyer can use their resources to level the playing field and strengthen your claim.
- Expert testimony is often critical to recovering the maximum compensation you deserve. Experienced lawyers have relationships with trusted experts who can testify on your behalf.
- Blaming the victim is a common insurance tactic. You risk taking far less than you deserve if you don’t hire a lawyer to defend you. Injury attorneys know the tactics insurance companies will use and will be prepared to fight back.
- Dealing with insurance is stressful and time-consuming. An experienced attorney can navigate the process on your behalf so you can focus on your health and well-being.
Your attorney will also handle all paperwork, insurance requests, and legal proceedings. They can help you avoid mistakes that could jeopardize your claim.
How Much Compensation Can I Recover By Filing a Car Accident Claim?
Regardless of what the insurance company might tell you, there’s no such thing as an average settlement. All personal injury cases are different. People experience different damages even after relatively similar collisions.
We’ll analyze multiple factors when we’re evaluating your case value, including:
- The severity of your injuries
- Whether you’re forced to miss work and lose income during recovery
- How much you’ve spent on medical treatment, vehicle repairs, rehabilitation, etc.
- How a long-term impairment will impact your future earning capacity
- The future costs of a long-term disability, including in-home assistance and therapies
- Your age at the time of the crash
- Your physical pain and mental trauma
- Whether you share responsibility for the crash
- The strength of the evidence to prove liability
Your lawyer can help you through the valuation process. We’ll ask questions to identify the specific losses you have suffered due to the accident and injury. When in doubt, it’s always best to consult an attorney. That’s true if you’re considering an insurance offer or wondering whether it’s worth taking legal action in the first place.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Car Accident in Florida?
Every state limits the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit after an accident. Under Florida law, you generally have two years from the date of your collision to sue for damages. Once the two-year statute of limitations has expired, courts won’t even consider your claim.
Exceptions do exist, but they’re rare. Most lawyers offer free case reviews, so there’s no reason to wait. Your lawyer can determine the applicable deadline and make sure you don’t miss it.
What Types of Damages Can I Recover in a Florida Car Accident Lawsuit?
Florida personal injury laws divide compensatory damages into two categories: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages offset the financial costs of an accident and injury. The exact types of damages you receive will, of course, depend on the specific losses you have suffered.
Examples include:
- Current medical bills, including ER visits, hospitalization, surgeries, follow-up visits, medications, and more
- Expected future medical expenses
- Lost wages during recovery
- Reduced future earnings and opportunities
- Nursing care
- In-home assistance
- Rehabilitation
- Vehicle repairs
- Other types of property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages represent losses that are much more personal and subjective. If your injuries are serious, these damages can be significant.
Examples include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Embarrassment
- Loss of companionship
Punitive damages, while rare, may also be available when a defendant’s acts were intentional or extremely reckless. They are only meant to punish a defendant. Because of that, Florida courts want to see evidence that demonstrates a shocking disregard for your safety before awarding punitive damages.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Nearly all personal injury law firms work on a contingency fee basis. Instead of charging upfront fees or hourly rates, your lawyer only gets paid if they recover compensation in your case.
When you hire an attorney, you’ll agree to pay a percentage of your settlement or verdict. You’ll only have to pay once your case is fully resolved. That means you can afford to hire an attorney even if the crash has left you in a difficult position.
What Happens to My Compensation Award if I’m Partly Responsible for Causing a Car Accident in Florida?
You can still recover compensation if you were partly responsible for the accident. You lose your right to damages if you were mostly responsible.
Florida has a modified comparative negligence law. You cannot recover any compensation if you were more than 50% responsible. If you share less blame, your compensation is reduced.
For example, suppose your award was $80,000. The other driver was texting at the time of the crash. However, you were also speeding. The judge assigns you 20% of the blame, so your compensation is reduced to $64,000.
Will My Car Accident Case Go to Trial?
There’s a good chance your case will settle without the need for trial. A settlement allows all parties to avoid the time and expense of litigation.
However, situations do exist where trial becomes necessary, especially when:
- Serious arguments regarding who was responsible for the crash exist
- Your damages are uncertain
- There is strong evidence that you share some fault for the crash
- The insurance company acts in bad faith during negotiations
If the insurance company refuses a fair settlement, your lawyer should always be prepared to file a lawsuit.
Remember, filing a lawsuit still doesn’t mean your case will go to trial. When your lawyer has a strong track record at trial, it’s likely that the mere threat of a lawsuit could motivate the insurance company to offer a fair settlement.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Mary Esther?
Although accidents can be terrifying and overwhelming, taking just a few simple steps can be extremely important.
Of course, getting medical attention should be your number one priority if someone is seriously hurt. Call 911 and request an ambulance immediately if emergency treatment is needed.
In all cases, you should:
- Try moving the vehicles to a safe location out of the way of traffic, if possible.
- Remain at the scene of the crash (or in a safe location nearby).
- Call 911. Under Florida law, you must report any accident that results in injury, death, or at least $500 in property damage.
- Exchange insurance information and contact details with the other driver.
- If possible, collect evidence by taking photos and videos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, and any apparent injuries.
- Obtain the contact information of any eyewitnesses to the crash.
- Don’t admit responsibility, apologize, or accept blame in any way.
You should always seek medical attention soon after a crash. Even if you haven’t suffered an obvious injury, medical records will be critical if you decide to take legal action later. Some injuries don’t become evident for hours, or even days, after an accident. Waiting too long can make it much more difficult to establish a link between the accident and injury.
Contact a lawyer who can help determine your next steps. Things can become confusing once you start dealing with the insurance company. An experienced attorney can put you in the best position possible from day one.
We Handle All Types of Car Accident Claims in Mary Esther
At Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers, we know that all types of car wrecks have the potential to cause harm. Our legal team has seven decades of experience handling all types of injury claims.
Some examples of the types of motor vehicle accident cases we handle include:
Rear-End Collisions
Many rear-end crashes are fender-benders. However, some can cause injuries that require significant medical care. Victims often suffer whiplash, back injuries, and even head trauma. If you were hurt, call us today and arrange a free case review to discuss your claim.
Head-On Collisions
A head-on crash can be terrifying. These collisions also have the potential to cause catastrophic or fatal injuries–even with modern airbags. If you were involved in an accident, our lawyers in Mary Esther can help you fight to recover full compensation from the at-fault driver.
Rollovers
Rollover accidents can be incredibly dangerous. SUVs are particularly vulnerable to rollovers. Unfortunately, determining who is liable for your damages can be tough. Our attorneys in Mary Esther are here to help with every aspect of your case.
Highway Accidents
Driving on the highway often means driving at high speeds–and high speeds can make any accident more dangerous. Often, multiple vehicles will be involved. These factors can make recovering fair compensation much more difficult. If you were injured due to someone else’s negligent driving on the highway, our lawyers are here to help you get the money you need and deserve.
Distracted Driving Accidents
Across the state of Florida, nearly 300 people died due to accidents caused by distracted drivers in 2023. Distracted driving includes any activity that results in a driver taking their attention off the road. Proving that the other driver was distracted isn’t always easy. Let our attorneys take the lead and collect the evidence you need.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
Hit-and-run accidents often leave victims wondering how to pursue compensation. That’s especially true if there were no witnesses. Unfortunately, hit-and-runs happen all the time in Florida. If you were injured in a hit-and-run incident, our car accident attorneys in Mary Esther will identify all available options to help you recover the fair compensation you deserve.
Other Types of Auto Accidents
Our Mary Esther car accident attorneys also handle cases involving:
- Sideswipe accidents
- T-bone accidents
- Lane change accidents
- Multiple vehicle crashes and pile-ups
- Single-vehicle accidents
- Speeding accidents
- Trucking accidents
- Accidents involving commercial vehicles
- Drunk driving accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Intersection accidents
- Parking lot accidents
- Accidents involving uninsured/underinsured motorists
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
We’re prepared to put over 75 years of collective experience to work in your case. To get the legal advice you deserve, contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Who Could Be Liable for My Car Accident Injuries?
Florida has no-fault insurance laws. First, you’ll file a claim with your own insurance company, regardless of who caused the crash. You can only file a claim against another party if your injuries are serious and/or your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage doesn’t cover all of your damages.
If that’s the case, you can seek compensation from any party whose actions contributed to your accident.
Depending on the circumstances, responsible parties may include:
- Careless or reckless drivers
- A negligent driver’s employer, if they were working when the accident occurred
- Truck drivers and trucking companies
- Negligent passengers
- Pedestrians
- Bicyclists
- Rideshare drivers
- Government agencies responsible for road maintenance and oversight
- Manufacturers of defective vehicles or safety features
In more complex cases, multiple parties may be liable. It’s important to identify each party who shares fault for your crash. That way, you’ll have the best chance of receiving full compensation for your losses.
Common Types of Car Accident Injuries
Motor vehicle accidents can result in any type of injury imaginable. Some are relatively minor. Others can require lifelong medical care and serious life changes.
The nature of the crash itself often determines the types of injuries victims suffer, which could include:
- Traumatic brain injuries and other types of head injuries
- Facial injuries and scarring
- Broken bones
- Whiplash
- Soft tissue damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck and shoulder injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Nerve damage
- Chest injuries
- Organ damage
- Burns
- Amputations and loss of limbs
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Victims often suffer multiple injuries in the same crash. Recovering from any severe injury can be difficult. Getting fair compensation from the at-fault driver can be incredibly important to your physical recovery and your future. To learn more about how a lawyer can help you with insurance and legal issues, call for a free case evaluation.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Mary Esther?
Negligence is the primary cause of most car accidents. When drivers are careless and make mistakes, crashes are much more likely to occur. Determining the cause of your accident can be critical to proving who was responsible.
In our experience, some of the most common causes of auto accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Texting while driving
- Speeding
- Failure to stay in a single lane
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating
- Aggressive driving
- Dangerous or illegal turns, especially left-hand turns and U-turns
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Drunk driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Fatigued drivers
- Inexperienced drivers
- Hazardous road conditions
- Limited visibility, poor lighting, and bad weather
An experienced attorney can help you investigate to determine the cause of your accident. Different types of evidence may be necessary to convince the insurance company to offer a fair settlement.
When our lawyers are handling your case, we’ll locate and evaluate:
- Police and accident reports
- Traffic citations issued in connection with the accident
- Drug and alcohol test results
- Video surveillance footage from a traffic light or dash cam
- Eyewitnesses who can testify about what happened
- Medical records
- Evidence from the crash scene itself
Victims often mistakenly believe that the accident report will be sufficient evidence to prove their claim. When injuries are serious, that’s rarely the case. In severe injury cases, testimony from accident reconstruction specialists and medical experts may ultimately provide necessary evidence.
Statistics on Car Accidents in Mary Esther, Florida
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) publishes statistics on car accidents every year. At least 252,264 people were injured in collisions across the state of Florida in 2023. 3,400 people were killed.
3,298 auto accidents were reported in Okaloosa County alone in 2023. 2,181 people were injured, and 27 people lost their lives in those crashes. In other words, about six people were injured or killed in car accidents every day in 2023.
Contact an Experienced Mary Esther Car Accident Lawyer for a Free Initial Consultation Today
After a serious accident, it’s important to consult a respected Mary Esther car accident lawyer. Filing a personal injury claim may be the only way to recover enough compensation to cover your losses. Having the right legal team in your corner can be critical to your financial recovery.
Our lawyers at Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers have decades of experience handling complicated car accident claims. We know how to navigate the insurance claims process to give you the best shot at recovering maximum compensation.
We’re ready to put our winning strategies to work in your case. It’s never too early to get started, so call our law firm in Mary Esther to learn more about your legal options.