Naples Car Accident Lawyer
Florida is a geographically large and populous state, and we rank third in the country for the most vehicle miles traveled in any state. Notwithstanding how much driving we do, the car crash statistics in Florida are still staggering. Before the pandemic, there were over 400,000 crashes annually in Florida, killing several thousand people and injuring tens of thousands more every year. Even 2020 saw more than 340,000 car accidents. Closer to home, Collier County experienced 5,102 crashes in 2019 and 4,665 in 2020, killing 52 people and 42 respectively, and injuring 2,969 in 2019 and 2,568 in 2020.
These accidents didn’t have to happen. Traffic volume alone doesn’t cause crashes; bad driving does. Accidents happen because of speeding, drunk driving, texting while driving and other distracted driving, reckless driving, failure to use turn signals when turning or changing lanes, following too close, running stop signs and lights, and otherwise driving in a careless or negligent manner.
If you were driving carefully and got hit by a driver who wasn’t, you deserve to be compensated for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and all the other harm the driver’s negligence has inflicted on you. Florida’s no-fault insurance only goes so far, and it never fully compensates accident victims for the harm they have suffered. Cardinal Law takes on cases involving serious physical injuries and helps car accident victims get the full amount of compensation due to them. Naples car accident lawyer Eric Olson knows how much a claim is worth, when and how to settle, and how to prove a case in court when necessary. Let Eric and his team at Cardinal Law help you get the medical care and compensation you need and deserve after a car accident in Naples or Southwest Florida.
Florida Car Accident Law
Florida is one of twelve states in the country with a no-fault insurance scheme. If you get hurt in a car accident, you can file a claim for no-fault benefits without having to prove that another driver was negligent or at fault in causing the crash. A no-fault insurance claim will cover 80% of your medical bills and 60% of your lost wages up to a combined total of $10,000, but it doesn’t cover other damages such as pain and suffering. You also have to seek medical treatment within 14 days of the accident to preserve your claim, and your benefits will be capped at $2,500 if the medical provider determines that you did not have an “emergency medical condition” as defined in the law.
If you were unfortunate enough to suffer a serious injury in the accident, then the law allows you to go outside the no-fault limitations and file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. Here, you’ll have to prove they were negligent and that their negligence caused your injuries, and you’ll have to prove the nature and extent of those injuries. If successful, though, you can recover for the full amount of present and future medical bills and lost income, plus pain and suffering and other legal damages.
Florida law defines a “serious injury” as involving one of the following:
- Significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function
- Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability
- Death
Terms like “serious injury” and “emergency medical condition” have both legal and medical definitions, and you’ll likely need expert assistance from both medical and legal professionals to prove your case. Cardinal Law works with doctors and medical experts as needed and can help you get top dollar for your case, whether negotiating with the insurance company or taking a case to trial. Our goal is to get you the best result that meets your needs in the most efficient manner possible, all the while making sure you are being taken care of medically and getting your life back in order after a tragic Naples car accident.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Naples
Car accidents are upsetting events, especially if you’re hurt, and it can be hard to know what to say or do. If you can remember the following, you’ll be in a better position to recover a full and fair amount of compensation from the negligent driver or their insurance company.
- Stop at the scene and exchange information (name, driver’s license number, insurance company name and policy number).
- If you or anyone else is injured, render aid or call for help. Don’t be hesitant to call 9-1-1; they are here for emergencies such as this.
- Call the police and wait for them to arrive unless you need to go to the hospital first.
- Take pictures of the vehicles and surrounding area.
- Get contact information from any witnesses who saw the crash.
- If you weren’t treated at the scene or taken to the hospital, follow up with a doctor as soon as you can. Explain what happened and get thoroughly examined for potential injuries.
- Report the accident to your insurer in a timely manner, but preferably only after you’ve spoken to an attorney.
- Keep copies of all bills, receipts, police reports, letters from insurance companies or your employer, and any other paperwork associated with the accident.
- Call Cardinal Law to speak with an attorney, and we’ll take it from there.
Call Cardinal Law for Help After a Car Accident in Naples
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a Naples car accident, or if you lost a beloved family member in a fatal crash caused by another driver’s negligence in Southwest Florida, call Cardinal Law at 239-610-0845 for a free consultation with a caring and compassionate Naples car accident lawyer. We’ll take good care of you while working to get top-dollar for your injury claim, and we won’t charge any fee until after we are successful in recovering compensation on your behalf.
