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St. Petersburg Car Accident Lawyers
Representing victims of vehicle collisions in and around St. Petersburg, FL
Car accidents are a leading cause of injury and accidental deaths in Florida and throughout the US. When a person suffers injuries in a collision caused by another person, they could be able to recover damages. The compensation you can collect following severe car-accident-related injuries can help cover the medical costs, lost income, and other expenses related to the incident while also holding the responsible party liable for their negligent actions. At MattLaw, Our dedicated St. Petersburg car accident lawyers support injury victims by fighting for compensation and protecting their legal rights. If you or a loved one suffered injuries from a negligent driver, contact us for a free consultation.
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Why choose MattLaw
MattLaw has over 35 years of experience representing car accident injury victims. Our founding attorney, Matt Powell, is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law and Civil Practice Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and Board Certified by the Florida Bar as a specialist in Civil Trial Law. Board certification involves a rigorous process. For example, Civil Trial Law certification requires that an attorney has:
- A minimum of five years of legal practice
- Dedicates at least 50% of their work to civil trial law for the past three years
- Leads 15+ contested cases as counsel
- Completes extensive continuing legal education
- Earns high evaluations from peer reviews
- Passes a challenging written examination
Contact MattLaw to learn more about our other experienced and dedicated attorneys and the rest of our team.
Frequently asked questions about car accidents in St. Petersburg
Can I talk to insurance companies about settling my car accident case?
Whether you are speaking to your own insurer or the other drivers, you need to be careful what you say. Never admit fault, even if you think you might have somehow contributed to the accident. You should be especially cautious if another driver’s insurance company reaches out. It’s a good idea to have an attorney who can handle these conversations for you so that you can preserve your claim. One thing to also keep in mind is that if another driver was clearly at fault in your case, their insurance company might offer you a settlement. Never sign anything without first discussing your options with your attorney. Insurers may try to offer you a low settlement, hoping the case will go away. By signing, you might give up your opportunity to collect much more compensation for your injuries.
Do I need to collect evidence to support my car accident claim?
People sometimes worry that they need to take photos or gather other evidence in the aftermath of a crash. If you can do so safely, taking some pictures of the scene and getting contact information from witnesses might prove useful. However, if you are seriously injured in a car accident, the most important thing to do is get immediate medical care and attention. In fact, medical records are an important piece of evidence, and if you neglect to seek immediate medical attention, that could be used against you. The opposing party may argue that you were not seriously hurt because you didn’t seek out emergency medical care.
Can I recover if I was partly at fault for the crash?
In Florida, you can recover damages even if you are partly at fault for the crash that caused your injuries. However, you must be 50% or less at fault in order to have a successful claim. If a court finds you more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover from the other party.
If your share of the liability is under 50%, the court will reduce your total award. For instance, if you are 20% at fault, you will only be able to collect 80% of the total damages. In a case where the court awards damages of $100,000, you would recover $80,000 in this scenario.
Do I need a lawyer for my car accident claim?
There is no legal requirement that you have a lawyer for your car accident claim. Having a lawyer benefits you because it means someone is on your side, protecting your rights and fighting to get you a fair settlement or verdict. In personal injury cases, your lawyer only gets paid if you win. At MattLaw, we operate on a contingency basis. Essentially, we don’t charge you upfront, and if you win, our fees come out of the total award. This payment structure helps protect you because you don’t have to risk your own finances just to pursue a claim for damages. If you have questions about contingency fees, contact our offices.
How long do I have to file my claim?
In Florida, you must file your claim within two years. If you fail to file in that time, you cannot pursue damages, even if you have a valid claim. There are some limited exceptions, but you should generally reach out as soon as possible to start the process.
Proving negligence in a car accident claim
The basis of car accident claims is negligence. If a driver doesn’t behave reasonably and, as a result, causes injuries to others, they will be liable to those who they harmed. Essentially, if you suffered injuries in a car accident and want to collect compensation, you must show that the party who is responsible:
- Owed you a duty of care
- Violated that duty
- Their violation led to your injuries
- You suffered real harm or damages
Negligent driving includes a wide range of behaviors. Some common negligent actions include:
- Speeding
- Violating a traffic signal like a stop sign or red light
- Driving too fast for weather conditions
- Drinking and driving
- Driving while intoxicated with drugs, even if they are prescriptions
- Texting while driving
- Otherwise driving while distracted
There are several ways that you and your attorney can work to show evidence of negligence. The facts will differ in every case, so it’s important to speak to a St. Petersburg car crash attorney about your claim.
Damages available in car crash cases
If your claim is successful, you can recover compensation or “damages.” Your damages cover your losses related to the accident. The law allows you to collect economic damages and noneconomic damages, as well as, in rare cases, punitive damages. Economic damages include:
- Medical costs
- Surgical bills
- Rehabilitation costs
- Lost income or wages, past and future
The goal of economic damages is to cover all of your real financial losses related to the accident. However, the law acknowledges that not all losses are quantifiable. Therefore, you can recover noneconomic damages to cover your pain, suffering and emotional distress.
Punitive damages are separate and are a way for the court to punish defendants who engage in truly egregious or wrongful conduct. If the driver who caused your injuries was drunk and driving recklessly, you might be able to make a claim for these additional damages.
Sadly, more than 2,000 people lose their lives in car accidents annually in Florida alone. If you lost a loved one in a car accident caused by another person, you might be able to file a wrongful death claim. In those cases, you can recover for funeral and burial costs and loss of financial and emotional support. While these claims can never make up for such a tragic loss, they are able to reduce some of the financial burden and allow you to hold the person who caused the crash responsible for their actions.
Do you have a St. Petersburg car accident lawyer near me?
Yes, MattLaw has an office in St. Petersburg, Florida, and another in Tampa. If you can’t make it to one of those offices, please let us know, and we will work on alternative arrangements.
Contact MattLaw for a free case evaluation
At MattLaw, our attorneys know that car accidents can be life-shattering events. Our compassionate team is here to help you work towards some resolution and fight for the compensation that your family needs. Contact us for a free consultation with one of our experienced St. Petersburg car accident lawyers.