West Palm Beach Car Accident Attorney

Car accidents are as common as they are dangerous. If another driver’s negligence seriously injured you, obtaining the compensation you’re entitled to can play an important role in your recovery. Because car accident claims are complex legal matters, having the trusted legal representation of an experienced West Palm Beach car accident attorney is in your best interest.

Car Accidents in Florida

Florida is a no-fault state when it comes to car accidents. This means that all drivers must carry personal injury protection (PIP) and file their claims through their own coverage in the event of an accident—regardless of who is at fault. The PIP coverage minimums, however, are relatively low, and motorists who suffer more serious losses can seek compensation by filing their claims with the at-fault motorists’ insurance providers.

Bringing a Successful Claim

To bring a successful car accident claim that supports the victim’s fullest recovery, each of the following elements must be present:

• The other driver must have owed them a duty of care, which is a responsibility that everyone who drives must uphold.
• The other driver must have engaged in negligence that breached the duty of care they owed others.
• The victim suffered serious injuries that exceeded their own PIP coverage and that are addressed by personal injury law as a direct result.

Driver Negligence

Car accident claims are based on driver negligence, which frequently comes in forms like the following:

• Impairment
• Exhaustion
• Distraction
• Failure to follow the rules of the road
• Excess speed
• Aggression 

Drivers accept a weighty responsibility for the safety of others on the road, and failing to live up to this responsibility leaves them vulnerable to car accident claims seeking fair compensation.

The Claimant’s Covered Damages

Claimants who’ve been seriously injured by the negligence of others on the road can seek compensation for their losses in all the following important categories:

• Property damage to their cars and any damaged contents
• Medical bills, including all related medical expenses that arise in the future
• Lost income, including any downturn in career and earning potential
• Physical and emotional pain and suffering, which can be so intense that it overshadows all other losses combined

Further, if the defendant in a car accident lawsuit acted intentionally or with gross negligence, a car accident lawyer can seek punitive damages. These are additional compensation meant to punish the defendant for intolerable misconduct and are not connected to specific losses.

Determining Punitive Damages in Car Accident Cases

Punitive damages, unlike compensatory damages, aim to penalize the at-fault party for egregious misconduct and deter similar behavior. Courts evaluate several factors when determining punitive damages:

Severity of the Misconduct: The more intentional or reckless the defendant’s actions, the higher the potential punitive award.

Defendant’s Financial Standing: The damages must be significant enough to serve as a deterrent but not excessively punitive.

Harm Caused: The extent of injury or loss suffered plays a role in justifying punitive damages.

Our skilled car accident attorney in West Palm Beach will help ensure these factors are strategically presented to secure fair compensation.

An Experienced West Palm Beach Car Accident Attorney Can Help - Call Today

Recent tort reform in Florida drastically shortened the time to take formal legal action for personal injury cases. Now, you only have two years from the date of an injury to file a lawsuit, so starting the process immediately is important.

Maaz Quraishi is a committed West Palm Beach car accident attorney at Right To Justice. He welcomes the opportunity to unleash the full force of his impressive experience in pursuit of an advantageous settlement that supports your most complete recovery. Your claim is important, so please don’t wait to reach out by contacting us online or calling 561-242-4800 to schedule a free consultation and learn more about what we can do to help you today.