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Pensacola Car Accident Lawyer 

Did someone’s carelessness lead to you being injured in a car accident? Confer with a Pensacola car accident attorney at Gross & Schuster, P.A. during a free case consultation about the possibility of filing a car accident claim and getting money for your accident-related losses.

You were a safe driver and always followed traffic laws. You always wore your seatbelt, and you didn’t text while driving. You didn’t want to be injured in an accident, so you did everything possible to avoid an accident. Nevertheless, you were hurt in one.

Why were you hurt when you did everything right? Why were you hurt when you weren’t being careless? Because someone else was being careless. Because someone else didn’t take your safety seriously. That person should be held responsible for what they did to you. That person should have to pay for the losses you suffered.

Learn about what you can do to recover a settlement check to pay for the suffering you’ve been through by talking with a Pensacola car accident lawyer during a free case assessment call.

What Could Have Caused Your Pensacola Car Accident?

After your car accident, you were left spinning, literally and figuratively. You don’t know what caused the accident. You know you didn’t cause it, so who did? It’s important to determine the cause of your crash because the cause will often show who was responsible.

You need to know who is responsible so you can file a car accident claim against them. Investigating your accident is probably not something you can do right now because you’ve been seriously injured in a car accident.

Your Pensacola car accident attorney can help you find out what caused your accident. They can then help you go after the responsible party through the civil claim process.

Some common causes of car accidents in Pensacola, FL:

  • Drunk driving
  • Dangerous roads
  • Poorly designed intersections
  • Distracted driving
  • Faulty auto parts
  • Drowsy driving
  • Reckless driving

Common Types of Automobile Accidents in Florida

Statistics are collected by the Florida Department of Highway Safety to determine important facts for supporting public safety and law enforcement education. With millions of drivers on the road every day, whether residents or visitors, car accidents seem inevitable. However, being injured due to an accident that should not have happened is never acceptable.

Regardless of the details, a car wreck can cause devastating injuries. While some types of accidents can be more severe than others, any crash can result in physical and emotional damage. Knowing the type of accident can help you determine who’s at fault and what to expect when you file a claim.

Rear-end collisions are the type of accidents occurring most often, according to available data. This refers to accidents where the front of one car hits the back of the car traveling in front of them. Tailgating or distracted driving is usually the cause of these accidents. When someone is too close or not paying attention, they cannot stop in time when required.

Side impact collisions, or T-bone accidents, happen when the front of one car impacts the victim’s car on either the driver’s or passenger’s side of the vehicle. The impact of the vehicle at fault can buckle the side of the victim’s car, trapping the driver or passenger inside. These often occur at intersections when taking a left turn or when someone runs through a stop sign or a red light.

Head-on collisions are one of the deadliest types of accidents, along with vehicle rollovers. These can be caused by trying to pass the car in front of you where oncoming traffic is too close or when one is distracted and veers out of their lane into oncoming traffic. The significant force of this impact can catapult the victim through the windshield.

Sideswipe crashes tend to happen on multi-lane roadways where cars need to merge or change lanes. Cosmetic damage instantly occurs, but the severity of the accident is dependent on the speed at which the crash occurred. Reacting to being sideswiped can cause a jerk reaction leading you into another lane or oncoming traffic with devastating effects.

In addition to the above examples, hit-and-run accidents are not uncommon. Crashes due to poor road conditions, parking lot crashes, and rideshare accidents also occur. You don’t necessarily need to be driving a car to seek damages through a car accident lawyer. You have the right to compensation if you were a pedestrian struck or on a motorcycle or bike.

Multi-car collisions can be extremely frightening. With more than two vehicles involved, the question of primary liability can be confusing, multiple insurance policies may be involved, and the importance of strong legal representation can be priceless.

Severe Injuries in Pensacola Car Accidents

The more serious your accident was, the more severe your injuries will be. Immediate recovery can be just the tip of the iceberg. You may need years of rehabilitation, pain management, and changes to your lifestyle to adapt to the damage caused by a crash. Even minor injuries impact your livelihood.

  • Traumatic Brain Injuries – Sports professionals wear helmets to protect themselves from traumatic brain injuries, but when you are hit at high speeds while driving or as a pedestrian, there is no protection from head trauma. Serious brain injury can result in long-term physical damage to the brain resulting in cognition problems and death.
  • Spinal Cord Injuries – Damage to the nerves of the spinal cord often causes permanent damage and changes in strength, sensation, and bodily functions below the site of the injury. Where the injury occurred and the severity determine whether you can walk, use your arms, and even breathe without difficulty.
  • Amputation – Whether the actual accident caused the loss of a limb, or the only treatment for a crushing injury is amputation, this is not only a type of physical suffering but an emotional one as well.
  • Broken Bones – Fractured bones and soft tissue injuries are common with trauma. Fractures may or may not require surgical repair. Injuries to your muscles, ligaments, or tendons tend not to be severe however they limit your mobility and may impact your ability to work or participate in required activities of daily living.
  • Whiplash – Whiplash is often caused by rear-end collisions. Rapid head movements cause injury to the neck and may cause it to whip violently forward and back. Some may suffer from chronic neck pain and a change in neck mobility years after the accident occurred.
  • Lacerations – Cuts and scrapes are expected in accidents where sharp objects break free from a car and most can be repaired easily. In the event a wound does not receive the proper care, an infection can occur and a small cut can lead to very serious problems.

We understand the impact these injuries have on your life. If you’ve suffered a serious injury in a Pensacola car accident, your lawyer is here to help you get compensated for those injuries.

What Damages Can I Receive Compensation For?

When you are involved in a Pensacola motor vehicle accident, it’s important that you take care of yourself. This not only means seeking immediate medical attention, but it means taking care of your financial security as well. Injuries due to the negligence of another can not only be costly in and of themselves but lost work wages due to your suffering can make recovery challenging.

Not only do you deserve to be reimbursed for the out-of-pocket expenses you incurred due to someone else’s negligence, but the emotional impact of your injuries also cannot go unnoticed. By obtaining personal injury representation, we will go over the itemized details of your case to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for both physical and emotional trauma.

Compensatory damages refer to obtaining financial compensation for losses you have suffered due to another party’s negligence. These losses are categorized as economic and non-economic. By obtaining legal counsel with extensive experience in personal injury law due to car accidents, you increase your chances of an outcome in your favor.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are financial in nature and are the easiest to identify and calculate. Documentation is easily available and the total cost is clear and difficult to argue. By retaining receipts for medications, and obtaining medical records your lawyer can easily determine your medical costs, and future medical bills can be estimated based on your emergent needs.

Either estimates obtained or the cost of repair to your vehicle if it’s already been completed are easily submitted. In some instances a rental car may have been needed while you are waiting for either your car to be repaired, or while you are waiting for a settlement to purchase a new vehicle. >

Pay stubs can prove past income to determine how much you have lost due to your inability to return to work after your injury. If your injuries are severe and you are unable to return to your previous employment, they can be used to determine the loss of future wages.

If you have suffered injuries leaving you unable to perform your prior activities of daily living you are entitled to hire help as needed. This is only applicable if these are services that were not already in place prior to your accident. Expenses due to new child care, housekeeping, and yard services would qualify.

Non-Economic Damages

Compensation for non-economic damages is more subjective and not as easily identified. A skilled attorney is able to identify these damages and fairly calculate what you deserve. Commonly referred to as pain and suffering, these damages are not tangible. The pain, anxiety, or depression felt after an accident can take away your joy in activities you once loved.

Chronic pain may require long-term medication with side effects and frequent visits to the doctor. Your pain may limit your mobility. Relationships may be strained with loved ones and the ability to enjoy intimacy with your romantic partner may be compromised. If you’ve suffered from scars or disfigurement your comfort with even leaving the house may be affected.

Determining what to negotiate in these cases takes skill. Your prior level of function and making note of activities you once enjoyed versus what you are currently able to do is taken into consideration. No dollar amount can take back the toll a motor vehicle accident can take on an individual, however by receiving fair compensation you can more easily move forward toward recovery.

Important Car Accident Laws in Florida

When you’ve been seriously injured in a car or truck accident, the state of Florida allows you to leave the no-fault system and file a civil claim. This is due to the serious injury threshold law in Florida. When your injuries are serious and your damages extensive, you have every right to pursue the negligent person who caused your accident in civil court.

You will have to prove fault for your car accident. Fault refers to the person who caused the accident or is otherwise liable for it. For instance, a vehicle manufacturer can be liable for an accident if the vehicle’s parts malfunctioned and contributed to causing an accident or exacerbating injuries sustained in an accident.

You are given only four years to file a claim for personal injury in Florida under the statute of limitations, so don’t delay in starting your car accident case.

Proving Your Pensacola Car Accident Case

One reason to file a car accident claim is to seek justice for what happened to you. You also want financial compensation for the losses you dealt with after your accident. Before you can get those things, you must prove your car accident case.

Proving your case is not easy, which is why a lot of people hire a Pensacola car accident attorney to help them with their claims.

Your lawyer will gather evidence to help you prove the fault of the person who caused the car accident. They will help you collect medical evidence to prove your injuries. They can help you collect financial evidence to prove your losses. Your lawyer can also help you put your claim together and present it, along with the evidence, to the at-fault person’s insurance company.

Some types of evidence that could be used to prove your car accident case:

  • Medical evidence
  • Photo and video evidence
  • Statements from witnesses
  • Crash reports
  • Crash expert testimony
  • Physical evidence
  • Logs and other documentation

How Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help You?

When you’ve been hurt in a car accident, it’s natural for you to wonder whether you should call a lawyer. Some people think they can handle the car accident claim process on their own, but going it alone could be a big mistake. A lawyer can assist you in a number of ways.

  • First, your lawyer can help you understand the car accident laws that will affect your case.
  • Second, they can help you identify what caused your accident and who is liable for your damages.
  • Third, your attorney can calculate your total damages so you don’t get shortchanged.
  • Fourth, they can put your case together so you don’t make any mistakes on the claim paperwork.
  • Fifth, your lawyer can negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf so you don’t get taken advantage of or harm your case inadvertently.
  • Sixth, they can litigate your injury case in court should that step becomes necessary.

Learn About the Pensacola Car Accident Claim Process By Calling a Lawyer

You’ve been seriously injured. You might be struggling with mobility issues, physical pain, and mental trauma. Your accident has put you through a lot, and the thought of trying to deal with a legal process might seem like a step too far. But, you don’t have to handle legal issues on your own. A personal injury lawyer can help.

They can take on your case, investigate your accident, put your claim together, and work to win you the money you need to pay for your crash-related losses. Talk to a Pensacola car accident lawyer during a free case consultation to find out whether you are eligible to file a claim. Gross & Schuster, P.A. can be reached through the form below or you can call 850-434-3333.

Pensacola Car Accident FAQ

You probably have a million questions. Feel free to talk to a Pensacola car accident attorney during a free case consultation to get your questions answered. A few general questions have been answered for you below.

Will I have to go to court to win a car accident case?

Luckily, very few car accident cases go to court. Most cases are settled outside of the courtroom during insurance settlement negotiations. You most likely won’t have to go to court to get the money you need for your car accident. However, your Pensacola injury lawyer will prepare you for court if it becomes necessary.

How do I determine if I have been seriously injured?

Florida law requires that car accident victims be “seriously injured” before they can file a car accident claim. This just means your injuries have left you with a large amount of damages. Talk to your attorney to find out whether your injuries meet Florida’s serious injury threshold.

Can I file a claim without a car accident lawyer’s help?

You could file a claim on your own, but it’s not recommended. Just like you probably won’t try to fix your car’s broken engine alone, you will probably want legal help when dealing with a legal situation. Filing and winning a personal injury claim can be difficult for someone who doesn’t have the legal qualifications, knowledge, and skills.

What if I can’t afford a Pensacola car accident attorney?

Many Pensacola car accident victims are afraid they won’t be able to pay the expenses of hiring a lawyer. Many think lawyers charge an expensive hourly fee, but this isn’t true of many personal injury lawyers. Our firm charges a contingency fee, which means you only pay a portion of the settlement you agree to pay before we work together. If we don’t win a settlement, you don’t have to pay. That takes the financial pressure from your car accident claim off you.

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Main Office:
Pensacola, FL

803 N Palafox St.
Pensacola, FL 32501
Phone: 850-434-3333

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