Florida Car Accident Lawyer

Zervos & Calta, PLLC not only have years of experience in personal injury and car accident injury claims, they also have years of courtroom and trial experience against the insurance industry. More importantly, the law firm of Zervos & Calta, PLLC gives you the legal representation that keeps your best interests in mind, from beginning to end. Our injury lawyers will protect your rights, inform you of your legal options, and assist you each and every step of the way to resolve any issues or problems that are inherently involved in a car accident.

If you, a family member or a friend have been injured because another driver or person was negligent or careless, you should contact an experienced car accident lawyer as early as possible. Legal issues related to personal injury law, insurance coverage, and injury claims can be overwhelming to handle without proper legal counsel.

Our Car Accident Lawyer Will Answer Your Questions

Zervos & Calta, personal injury lawyers with decades of combined experience, can help answer common questions you may have about your claim, such as:

• Who will fix my car?
• I can’t afford my deductible – what do I do?
• My doctor doesn’t treat car accident injuries – who will help me to get better?
• I have no health insurance, who will pay my medical bills?
• What if I miss work?
• Am I entitled to payment for my pain and suffering from my injuries?
• How much is a lawyer going to charge me?
• How should I choose a good attorney in my city?
• What if I have future medical bills?
• What if I have a year old injury?

What should I Do After an Auto Accident?

Whether it’s your first time being in a car accident or not, there is no denying that the aftermath can be overwhelming and stressful for victims. There are so many things you have to worry about, including how to know whether the insurance company is treating you fairly and more importantly, how are you going to handle all of this on your own?

There are several things you should do right away. The very first one is to find an experienced auto accident attorney that has a reputation for going to trial. In addition, here is a list of other things you should do after an accident to protect your health and ensure you have a strong case.

1. Call 911 and ask for the police. The police will assess if everyone is safe and contact an ambulance to get there quickly. Give the police a detailed description of how the accident happened and get the names and phone numbers of any witnesses or persons who tried to assist you. Sometimes these witnesses leave the scene of the accident without leaving their information – you don’t want that to happen. Be sure to get the insurance information from the other driver or drivers.
2. Take photos at the scene. These days our cell phones make for excellent videography and photography, so if you can, get a video and photos of the scene and all the cars that are involved. If possible, look for skid marks and take photos of those as well. Also remember to photograph any injuries you have that are visible such as bruises, cuts and scrapes.
3. Seek medical attention. Often times, people don’t feel pain immediately or at the scene of the accident. Their adrenaline is rushing and their stress levels are high dealing with the aftermath of the scene. As soon as you start to feel pain, its best to see a doctor earlier, rather than later, for medical treatment. Hidden injuries to the spine or ligaments of the shoulders and knees, can take time to become disabling. It’s best to get looked at early on so the doctor can treat the injury and monitor your treatment.
4. Don’t speak to the other driver’s insurance company. It is always best to contact a law firm that can help conduct an investigation and make sure the insurance company does not take advantage of your lack of knowledge and vulnerability during this difficult time.
5. Call YOUR own insurance company. You have to call your insurance company to report the accident and advise of any injuries. Do not allow them to take a recorded statement of you until after you have consulted with an attorney. Make note of the claim number your insurance company gives you to use for your medical care and treatment.

Common Auto Accident Injuries

Whether you are away on a trip or close to home, having a car accident unexpectedly can cause injuries and pain that could have an impact on you for weeks and years to come. Some of the most common types of injuries suffered in car accidents are:

• Neck Injuries
• Scrapes and Cuts
• Head Injuries
• Broken Ribs
• Broken arms, legs, hips and ankles
• Internal bleeding
• Herniated disc in the neck or back
• Tears in the knee
• Tears in the shoulder
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

All of these injuries have the potential to have life-long effects. The treatment for these injuries can take weeks, months or be required for the rest of your life. The after effects of these types of injuries can be temporary or permanent, and may result in compensation to you for various types of damages.

What Damages Can I Recover for Injuries?

A car accident can wreak havoc on your life. The losses and damages can be immediate and last a lifetime. The losses can be physical, emotional and financial. Our civil system of justice has established a system that not only recognizes the types of losses an accident can cause, but allows for victims to be fairly compensated for the following types of damages.

Under Florida law, plaintiffs can claim compensation under two separate categories:

1. Compensatory damages (divided into two types – economic and non-economic), and
2. Punitive damages

Economic damages

Economic damages are those expenses and costs that arise directly from the accident and include:

• Past and current medical expenses
• Future medical expenses
• Home health care services and physical therapy
• Loss of income and lost wages due to time missed from work
• Future lost income due to future inability to work
• Cost of services for assistance (house cleaning, lawn care, etc)

Your Florida car accident lawyer will educate you about what types of damages Florida law permits, and will work closely with you to help you determine your economic losses and try to keep them minimized. Every case is different and the amount of compensation can vary, depending on the nature of the injuries.

Non-economic damages

Non-economic damages are losses that stem from the car accident and are subjective, rather than objective. They are those losses which can’t be calculated with numbers and which are suffered on a personal level. Non-economic damages include:

• Pain and suffering
• Disfigurement
• Physical impairment
• Mental anguish
• Loss of consortium

What Are Punitive Damages?

Punitive damages, which are not nearly as common as the economic and non-economic damages mentioned above, are the types of damages that a court permits when the court feels that “a punishment” type element is part of the case. This “punishment” is in the form of a financial penalty used to punish the at fault part for gross negligence or recklessness which caused the accident.

For instance, drunk driving or driving under the influence (DUI) is the type of case that a court allows punitive damages for causing the accident. The jury ultimately decides if punitive damages should be awarded and if so, how much. Florida limits punitive damages to three times the amount of compensatory damages, or $500,000 whichever amount is greater.

Dealing with Insurance Companies

All insurance companies require that you file a report to them as soon as possible to preserve your rights under your policy. Other than reporting the details of what happened to YOUR insurance company, you should not speak with or give a recorded statement to the driver’s insurance company until after you have consulted with expert car accident attorneys. Don’t be fooled into believing that the insurance company will act in your best interests. Remember, the insurance industry is “big business” and their goal is to save money and collect premiums.

The insurance company is not your friend

Keep it professional, short and sweet. Remember, the insurance adjuster is not your friend and no matter how nice they are to you, their allegiance is to their company.

Never sign any documents that say you are “waiving”, “giving up” or “releasing” any of your rights. You should always consult a personal injury lawyer before signing anything that may affect your rights!

What should I Ask Before Hiring an Injury Attorney?

Hopefully your first meeting will actually be with the accident lawyer and not an investigator or paralegal. You should ask about their education and professional experience. Here are some sample questions:

– How long have you practiced personal injury law?
– Does your practice consist solely of representing auto accident victims, or do you handle other types of law, as well?
– On average, how many victims do you represent each year?
– How many injury lawsuits do you settle each year? How many cases do you take to trial each year?
– Have you frequently handled cases similar to mine?
– Which law school did you attend, and when did you graduate?
– Do you belong to any bar associations or professional organizations? If so, which  ones?
– Do you have any special experience representing victims of auto accident who have back injuries, neck injuries, or other injuries that may cause lifelong medical problems?
– How many cases have you taken and to trial, and what were the outcomes?
– Can you provide me with the names and case numbers of your cases that went to trial?
– Do you work on a contingency fee?

Ask for an Opinion

You should further take time to discuss your car accident and injuries, and ask the injury attorneys for their opinion of your case. Some questions to ask include:

– What is your assessment of my case?
– What kind of auto accident settlement or judgment can I realistically expect to receive?
– What are the strengths of my case? What are the weaknesses of my case?
– Will my case have to go to trial?
– How long do you expect it would take to resolve my case?

Ask how your case will be handled

Every lawyer has a different style or approach in practicing personal injury law. Here are some questions to ask the personal injury attorney along those lines:

– How would you describe your philosophy or approach to practicing law?
– What is your approach to handling auto accident cases?
– Will you ask me to make decisions or will you to tell me what I should do?
– Will you personally handle my case, or will another attorney manage it?
– Will you handle negotiations and court appearances?
– Will you be my day-to-day contact?
– What is the best way to reach you? How quickly do you typically respond?

Call our law firm after an auto accident!

Call us at one of our four office locations to discuss your legal options. Remember, we get paid a contingency fee so there is no fee to you unless we win the compensation you deserve.

Contact us by filling out the form on the right or call 727-937-3171 to schedule a free phone consultation.

Visit us in one of our four convenient office locations in Spring Hill, Tarpon Springs, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater. If you are unable to come to us, we will come to you.

We also work with clients in Trinity, Safety Harbor, Oldsmar, Westchase, Hudson, Elfers, Holiday, Bayonet Point, and New Port Richey.
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