Were you injured in a car accident in Miami, Florida? You may be entitled to compensation. A Miami car accident attorney at Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers can help you maximize your financial recovery. Call us today at (305) 937-0191 to discuss your legal options.
We’ve been successfully fighting for clients involved in motor vehicle accidents since 2007. Our top-rated legal team has already recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for our clients.
Let us use our experience to make the process easier for you. Contact our law offices or fill out an online contact form to get started today.
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How Shaked Law Can Help After a Car Wreck in Miami
Car accidents occur every day in Miami. However, handling a complex injury claim after being injured in a wreck in South Florida can feel anything but simple. Insurance companies will fight to minimize the value of your claim. They may even deny responsibility altogether.
A Miami personal injury lawyer can make a world of difference in the success of your claim. When you hire Shaked Law, you’ll have over 100 years of combined experience in your corner. Our personal injury law firm includes Top 100 Trial Lawyers and a (double) Board Certified attorney. We’ve recovered six, seven, and even eight-figure awards for injury victims and their families.
You can count on our dedicated Miami car accident attorneys to:
- Conduct a thorough investigation to identify the cause of your accident
- Locate all liable parties and insurance coverage
- Consult leading experts in medicine, accident reconstruction, and other relevant areas as we form your case
- Negotiate with opposing parties on your behalf
- Defend you if the insurance company tries to blame you
We have one goal in mind when we take your case: helping to maximize your claim. If the insurance company refuses to play fair, we aren’t afraid to advocate for your rights in court.
Call us today to speak with a lawyer about your case. We provide award-winning client service.
Miami Car Accident Statistics
With over 6 million people, Miami is the second most populated city in the state of Florida. It also ranks ninth in the United States when it comes to traffic congestion. It’s no surprise that car accidents are very common.
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were 63,823 traffic collisions in Miami-Dade County in 2023, including 969 bicycle accidents, 1,832 pedestrian incidents, and 1,288 motorcycle crashes. That’s 174 accidents every day.
Statistics show that nearly one out of every three car collisions in Miami-Dade result in an injury.
- 2021: 19,116 injury-causing accidents and 28,278 injuries
- 2022: 19,187 injury-causing accidents and 28,192 injuries
- 2023: 20,111 injury-causing accidents and 29,757 injuries
- 2024: 6,515 injury-causing accidents and 9,773 injuries (as of 05/04/24)
Many of these accidents also result in fatalities.
Why Should I Hire a Miami Car Accident Lawyer?
Hiring an attorney is your best option if you want to make sure that you not only win your personal injury case but maximize your financial recovery. Whether you’re dealing with your insurance provider or a third party’s, the company will do whatever it can to keep you from getting the money you deserve.
They might try to pressure you into taking a lowball settlement. They might try to deny your claim without a valid reason – hoping that you give up and walk away with nothing.
Hiring an experienced auto accident attorney will level the playing field and force the insurer to play by the rules.
It’ll also give you the opportunity to focus on what really matters: recovering from your major injuries. The more time you have to concentrate on getting better from your physical and emotional wounds, the better.
At the same time, you won’t have to feel any stress about your car accident case. It’ll be in trusted hands and you’ll know that our Miami personal injury attorneys will work hard to get you the full value of your claim.
What Types of Damages Are Available After an Accident?
Car accident victims in Miami can suffer all kinds of losses, including those that are physical, emotional, and financial. Florida law gives you the right to demand damages from everyone responsible for your crash.
Your financial losses, or economic damages, may include:
- Medical expenses: including money for ER visits, doctor’s appointments, medications, and more – both present and future
- Lost wages: income and other general financial support you’ve lost as a result of getting injured
- Reduced earning potential: compensation to make up for the difference between what you earned before your car accident and what you’re physically capable of earning now
- Rehabilitation: costs and expenses related to therapy and rehabilitation on your way to recovery
- Out-of-pocket expenses: childcare, travel, new modifications to your home, etc.
- Property damage: damage to compensate for the cost of replacing or repairing property damaged in the wreck
Non-economic damages in Florida include:
- Pain and suffering: the pain and/or suffering after being injured in a crash
- Emotional distress: trauma you’ve suffered as a result of your accident, including but not limited to anxiety, depression, and PTSD
- Diminished quality of life: an accident might fundamentally change the way you live your life and limit how much you can do the things you once loved
- Disfigurement and scarring: permanent or disabling injuries that alter your appearance and capabilities
- Loss of consortium: damage to a “companionship and fellowship” between spouses after an accident
Our highly rated Miami car accident lawyers will work with experts and specialists to ensure you’re getting the range of damages you deserve. We’ll fight to recover a monetary amount that accounts for both your past and future losses.
Can I Recover Compensation If I’m Being Blamed?
Florida is a modified comparative fault state. If the insurance company can prove you contributed to the crash, they can reduce your damages to account for your share of fault. However, if your assigned blame exceeds 50%, you’ll be barred from recovering any compensation.
Insurers understand these rules well. If your car accident injuries were serious, they may try to blame you for the event. Don’t fall for their “blaming the victims” tactics. It’s important to stay calm and avoid making any statements that might harm your case.
An attorney can challenge any accusations that you were at fault for your crash.
What is the 14-Day Rule?
Florida has a 14-day rule as part of its no-fault insurance system. To receive benefits under a Personal Injury Protection (PIP) policy, you must obtain medical treatment within 14 days of your collision. Failing to seek medical care within this time period may result in a denial of your PIP claim.
You may also lose the ability to file a third-party personal injury claim or lawsuit without sufficient medical evidence of your injury. Or, the other party could accuse you of failing to mitigate your damages, leading to reduced damages.
It’s essential to seek medical attention as soon as possible after your crash to avoid violating the rule.
We Handle All Types of Auto Accident Cases
No two car accidents are the same. In order to get the most out of your injury case, it’s important to work with a firm that has handled a variety of motor vehicle cases. The more skilled your lawyer is working with different traffic collisions, the more prepared they’ll be to help you.
At Shaked Law, we represent accident victims who have been involved in:
- Head-on collisions
- Side-swipe collisions
- Rear-end crashes
- Drunk driving accidents
- Intersection collisions
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Rollover car accidents
- Single-vehicle car accidents
- Multi-vehicle car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Highway accidents
- Uber and Lyft accidents (rideshare accidents)
- Accidents involving passenger negligence, an uninsured motorist, or underinsured motorists
- Fatal car accidents
- Pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents
- Catastrophic accidents like a spinal cord injury, brain injury, and more
Our highly rated lawyers in Miami can help you uncover the evidence you need to support your insurance claim. If you were injured in a car accident because another driver was careless, contact our attorneys or message us online. We offer a free case review so that you can get the legal representation you deserve.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Car Accident Attorney?
Most car accident attorneys in Miami take cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning no upfront costs are required for representation.
Many people hesitate to contact an attorney after a collision because they believe they can’t afford one, you will only pay attorney’s fees if your case is successful, and the fees will be deducted from your awarded settlement or jury award. Most Florida attorneys charge a percentage between 33-40%, depending on the complexity and duration of your case.
We’ll review our fee arrangement with you during your initial consultation. We can answer your questions and ensure that you understand what to expect during your personal injury case.
Florida Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Claims
The Florida statute of limitations for filing car accident lawsuits is two years. If you fail to submit a lawsuit within two years of the accident, you’ll forfeit your right to compensation.
Florida law used to implement a four-year limitations period for submitting personal injury claims. However, the deadline was shortened to two years by law last year.
Therefore, if your collision occurred after that date, you have two years to take legal action. However, it’s best to consult an attorney to determine the deadline that applies to your specific case.
Frequently Asked Questions From Car Accident Victims
What’s My Auto Accident Case Worth?
The value of your case can depend upon:
- The severity and impact of your injuries
- Your out-of-pocket expenses and costs of health care
- How the injury impacts your career, education, and home life
- Your trauma and suffering after the event
Treatment for severe injuries will typically exceed the coverage limits on your insurance policy. At that point, it will become necessary to identify other sources of insurance coverage.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
After a collision, we recommend these simple steps to help keep you safe and protect your ability to file (and win) a legal claim for damages.
- Stay at the scene of the accident. Leaving can be considered a hit-and-run under Florida law.
- Call immediately to report the event (which may be legally required) and have first responders sent to the scene.
- Check to see if other victims are okay, but do not admit fault or apologize.
- Exchange insurance details and driver’s license info with others involved.
- Take photographs of the scene, damaged property, vehicles involved, and your injuries. No matter how minor the accident may seem, the more evidence you have will be helpful to support your claim.
- Seeking medical attention or visiting a healthcare professional as soon as you can should be your top priority.
- Refuse to provide a recorded statement for an insurance company
- Resist the urge to accept an early settlement offer or any terms – especially if you haven’t consulted with an attorney.
Finally, contact a lawyer in Miami, Florida to discuss your accident and get the legal services and attorney-client relationship you need.
How Long Will My Car Accident Claim Take To Settle?
There is no average timeline for a car accident claim because all cases are unique. Some are resolved within a few months, while others take over a year.
Many factors will affect how long your claim takes to settle, including:
- How long it takes you to receive medical treatment and reach maximum medical improvement (days, weeks, months, etc.).
- The other person’s willingness to negotiate in good faith
- Whether liability is in question
- The strength of your evidence
- Whether your case goes to trial
Even if your case seems straightforward, issues can arise that extend the timeline. The goal is to get you the money you need – which oftentimes means you must have patience during the process.
What Are the Most Common Car Wreck Injuries?
Most car accidents end up in an injury or death. The most common injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Whiplash injuries
- Airbag injuries
- Seat belt injuries
- Broken bones and bone bruises
- Burns
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Organ damage
- Chest injuries
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a family member
Our dedicated car accident attorneys at Shaked Law will fight to get a fair compensation amount for the injuries you’ve suffered. Additionally, if you lost a family member in a fatal crash, we’re here to provide guidance throughout the Florida wrongful death claims process.
Who’s Responsible For My Bills After a Car Crash?
Florida is a no-fault state. This system requires Florida drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) (a type of No-Fault insurance) and Property Damage Liability (PDL) car insurance. You cannot register a vehicle in Florida without proof of the required PIP and PDL coverage.
Florida Law requires drivers to have the following:
- PIP that covers 80% of all necessary and reasonable medical expenses, up to $10,000
- PDL that covers $10,000 of property damage
If you are injured in a car accident, PIP and PDL may not cover the full extent of your injuries and property damage. You may be left with expensive health care bills and vehicle repair estimates.
You may be able to pursue a lawsuit against the at-fault party or person if you sustain a significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function.
Parties responsible for your bills after a car accident may include:
- Drivers
- Passengers
- Pedestrians
- Motorcyclists
- Bicyclists (in bicycle accidents)
- Trucking companies
- Employers of negligent drivers
Our experienced Florida car accident lawyers can help you determine who is responsible for your bills after an accident.
What Causes Most Car Accidents?
Some of the most common causes of motor vehicle accidents are due to:
- Distracted driving
- Texting while driving
- High speed collisions
- Driver aggression
- Reckless driving
- Fatigued driving
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating
- Unsafe passing and lane changes
- Illegal or unsafe turns
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Drunk driving accidents
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Poor visibility and weather conditions
- Hazardous road conditions
- Bicycle accidents
- Defective automobile parts, such as airbags, seatbelts, faulty brakes, tires, or safety equipment
At Shaked Law, our law office will launch a comprehensive investigation into the cause of your crash. Once we discover why your accident happened, we can help you hold all at-fault sides accountable for your injuries.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Car Crash?
Most car accidents happen because a driver or person was negligent. To prevail in a claim, accident victims will have to establish four elements to prove the driver acted negligently:
- A legal duty of care – All motorists have a responsibility to drive carefully and follow traffic regulations to avoid accidents and injuring others (such as pedestrian injuries or bicycle accidents).
- Breach of duty – A party breaches their duty of care when they fail to act reasonably under the circumstances. For example, if a driver was exceeding the speed limit or focusing their attention on their phone when they caused an accident, they likely breached their duty.
- Causation – The breach must have directly led to the collision and your injuries. For example, sending a text message distracted them from driving, resulting in a crash that injured you.
- Damages – You must have sustained damages, such as medical care, emotional trauma, and lost wages.
All drivers have a legal duty to obey traffic laws and use reasonable caution to avoid accidents. You’ll also have to prove that the liable party breached this duty and caused your crash.
Many kinds of evidence can serve as useful in proving negligence injury cases, including:
- Police and accident reports
- Dashcam footage
- Video surveillance footage
- Eyewitness statements
- Data from the accident
- Medical records
- Testimony from experts
Our lawyers will gather the key evidence to back up your claim and work tirelessly to prove your right to compensation.
Will My Case Go to Trial?
Many car accident cases are successfully resolved through settlement negotiations. However, some injury cases go to trial.
Your case may need to go to trial if a fair settlement agreement cannot be reached with the insurance company or opposing party. It is crucial that you receive the full amount of your damages. You may need to go to court when insurance adjusters make low settlement offers.
An experienced car accident lawyer can help you determine what your case is worth and seek all available damages through settlement or trial.
What Are Miami’s Most Hazardous Roads & Intersections?
Miami-Dade County and nearby Broward County account for about 25% of all car accidents in the state of Florida. That makes Miami one of the most dangerous places to drive in the Sunshine State. Where do most of the car accidents in this area take place?
Studies show that the following roads and intersections in Miami are among the most dangerous:
- Northeast Second Avenue and 36th Street
- I-95 Express Toll in Little River
- NW 54th St, and
- NE First Avenue and NE Sixth Street.
Contact Our Miami Car Accident Attorney for a Free Consultation
A car accident can happen in the blink of an eye. Recovering from a serious injury takes much longer. If you are an accident victim and need help, the car accident lawyers at Shaked Law can help you get the compensation and will speak up for your best interests.
We serve Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Hollywood, Palm Beach County, Broward County, and all surrounding South Florida areas. Message our injury law firm to schedule a free claim evaluation and explore your options. We can be a helping hand as you go through this difficult situation. All consultations are confidential.
Additional Car Accident Resources and Information
- Are You Suffering From PTSD After An Accident?
- What Happens When You Are At Fault for a Car Wreck
- What to Know About Car Accident Reports in Miami, FL
- What You Should and Should Not Do After an Car Crash in Miami, FL
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