Car accidents are common enough to happen every day. There is also no shortage of places where accidents can happen. Parking lots, two-lane roads, highways, and even intersections are no strangers to collisions and bang-ups now and then. Due to Florida’s car laws, you could face the possibility of not being able to file a lawsuit and have to deal with the repercussions on your own.

If you have been involved in a car accident at an intersection lately, here’s everything you need to know and how a West Palm Beach Car Accident Lawyer can help.

Causes Of Intersection Accidents

Intersections are known to be a confusing part of the road, especially if you’re not the first one to step up to the white line. The general rule of thumb is that if you arrive at an intersection at the same time as someone else, the person to the right is supposed to go first, then the second person to arrive can go, and so on.

However, that doesn’t mean accidents aren’t prone at these sites. In fact, they can cause more accidents due to their complexity, especially if people aren’t familiar with intersection rules or aren’t paying attention.

Here are the leading causes of intersection accidents other than not knowing intersection rules:

Distracted driving
Texting while driving
False assumption of whose turn it is
Running a red light or stop sign
Illegal maneuver

What To Do After an Accident

If you are ever involved in an accident, there are steps you should take to make sure your ground is covered for possible later use in your case.

Here’s what you should do:

Call The Police

If you are not severely hurt, call the police right away. Law enforcement will come out to the scene, observe both vehicles, speak to both parties, and write up an official report.

The police report can be used later in your case as evidence, which can be a great piece for your case to win since police reports are typically unbiased.

Seek Medical Attention

Even if you suffer from white-coat syndrome, it’s important to seek medical treatment regardless of if you think you’re fine. From a health standpoint, there could be some injuries you aren’t aware of that could worsen the longer you go without being checked out. From a legal standpoint, medical records can also be used as evidence since they will show the injuries you suffered from the accident.

Obtain The Contact Information of the Other Driver

While you may not know if you are able to file a lawsuit just yet, you should exchange information with the other driver.

The information you should collect is certainly their name and insurance information. The name will be most helpful should you find out later on that you are able to file a lawsuit. Your lawyer will likely be able to track them down by that information.

Search For a Lawyer

Before you start filing a claim with your insurance, you should start looking for a lawyer. Car accidents in Florida can be legally tricky to navigate, so the assistance of a medical professional will benefit you early on. They will give you the best advice on the steps you should take, what to accept from insurance, and what rights you have for potential legal claims.

File A Claim with Your Insurance

In Florida, the car accident rules are in place for you to file a claim with your insurance first thing after suffering a car accident. Whether you have collision coverage added on with your personal injury protection, it’s time to file both to see how much you can receive for financial assistance.

Florida’s Modified-Comparative Rule

If you’re unsure of the depth of Florida’s car laws, it’s important to know them in case you are ever involved in an accident. Florida’s modified-comparative rule means that both parties involved in a car accident are to be held responsible for the wreck. Yes, you will be found responsible to some extent, even if the accident wasn’t your fault.

The idea behind this rule is to limit the amount of car accident lawsuits appearing in court. With that in mind, it’s required in Florida for everyone to have a minimum of $10,000 in personal injury protection and property damage liability to help with car accidents.

The personal injury protection and property damage liability do not help financially for car damages. It’s only for medical bills and to help with time off work. You will need to have collision coverage if you want financial help for car damages.

Possibility Of Filing a Lawsuit

Just because there is a modified-comparative rule in place does not mean the possibility of filing a lawsuit doesn’t exist. There are ways you can step out of the no-fault system if you meet the following requirements.

Your medical bills exceed a certain limit
You have suffered a severe injury from the accident

To file a lawsuit for a severe injury, you must have suffered one or more of the following:

Death
Lifelong medical assistance
Scarring
Dismemberment
Life-altering bodily function

This is why medical records are vitally important for your case. If you believe your case fits the requirements to step out of the no-fault system, there’s no better person to ask than an attorney.

Why You Should Hire a Lawyer

If you are on the fence about hiring an attorney, you should take more into consideration. Many people do not feel like dealing with the expense and hassle of hiring a lawyer, but a lawyer can help your case out in more ways than one.

First of all, your lawyer can help you negotiate a higher settlement out of your insurance claim when needed. When the first offer comes in, your lawyer will help you review it and judge whether or not you should negotiate for more, depending on the severity of your injuries.

Your lawyer will also take over the work for your case and be responsible for drafting the papers to serve the defendant (if you are able to file a claim) and serving them. If your case makes it to court, it will be your lawyer’s job to present all the evidence and speak on your behalf.

If you are looking to seek extra compensation in West Palm Beach, Florida, the help of a trusted attorney is well-advised.

Speak To an Attorney Today

Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers is a highly-acclaimed law firm ready to help you fight your car accident battle. Our firm has been practicing law for nearly 40 years, and we have handled plenty of car accident claims in our day.

If you’re ready to work with an experienced lawyer, call our firm anytime at (561) 800-8000 to set up a free consultation. You can also visit our website to fill out our free case evaluation form.

Once we have your information, a representative from our firm will contact you to schedule a face-to-face appointment. At your consultation, you will have the chance to discuss your case in greater depth and share with you how our lawyers can help you map out your case.

Don’t wait any longer to speak to a lawyer. Call our firm today to start building your case.