Car accidents happen every day. If you were injured in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, you may be entitled to compensation if someone else was responsible. An experienced Palm Beach Gardens car accident lawyer at Kibbey Wagner, PLLC, can help you fight to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more.
We’ve been working hard on behalf of accident victims since we founded our law firm back in 2014. Over the years, we’ve recovered more than $60 million in settlements and verdicts for our injured clients.
Our lawyers are always available to discuss your case. Just contact our law offices in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, to schedule a free consultation today at (561) 944-4000.
How Kibbey Wagner, PLLC Can Help After a Car Accident in Palm Beach Gardens
If you want to get the maximum compensation possible after a car wreck, it’s always a good idea to hire an experienced attorney. Recovering fair compensation isn’t easy. Insurance companies will look for ways to downplay your injuries. Others may even try to blame you for the accident.
Our Palm Beach Gardens personal injury attorneys at Kibbey Wagner, PLLC, have over 40 years of experience between us. Our founding attorney is board certified in Civil Trial Law and is also a former insurance defense lawyer.
We’ll use our inside knowledge to help you fight for fair compensation by:
- Coordinating an investigation to determine who was responsible for your crash
- Consulting experts to build and value your personal injury claim
- Protecting you if the insurance company pressures you to accept a lowball settlement
- Defending you if someone blames you
- Negotiating with the insurance companies for a fair settlement offer
Do you have questions about your legal options? If you were involved in a car accident, call our Palm Beach Gardens personal injury lawyers today.
How Common Are Car Accidents in Palm Beach County?
According to the 2022 car accident statistics, a total of 386,180 motor vehicle accidents were reported to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) across the State in 2022. From those, 245,936 people were injured, and 3,355 people were killed.
24,707 car crashes were reported in Palm Beach County alone in 2022. Out of that total, 15,100 injuries were reported, and at least 215 people were killed.
As of May 2023, there have been 9,933 auto accidents reported in Palm Beach County, 6.213 injured, and 77 fatalities so far.
Traffic congestion in Palm Beach County can create dangerous road conditions. If you or a loved one were injured in an auto accident, our lawyers can help you prove that the accident wasn’t your fault. Call our law firm to schedule your free case review.
Why Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
There are many reasons you should hire a car accident lawyer after a collision.
The main two are (1) to protect your rights and (2) to help maximize your compensation after the accident.
Protecting Your Rights
Car insurance companies do not want to pay your injury claim — even if you are their customer. They are businesses and paying your claim cuts into their profits. Therefore, the insurance company will use multiple strategies to deny or devalue your claim.
For example, the insurer may:
- Try to solicit a recorded statement to use against you later in the claim
- Look for preexisting injuries to connect with your current injury/accident
- Blame you for the accident to reduce the damages they have to pay
A car accident attorney can protect you from these tactics. They can handle all communications and negotiations on your behalf so the insurance company can’t trip you up. They can also gather evidence to show that you are not to blame for the accident and the insurance company is liable for your claim — regardless of any preexisting injury or condition.
Maximize Your Compensation
Insurance companies will almost certainly offer you less than your case is worth. However, they are less likely to get away with it when you have a car accident lawyer.
Your attorney can identify and calculate your damages so you know the true value of your claim. They can also work with financial and medical experts to understand your more complex damages if any.
By doing this, you and your attorney enter negotiations in a better position. You’ll be able to hold the insurer liable for all your damages — not just the ones the insurance company wants to pay for.
Contact Kibbey Wagner, PLLC today to discuss your case.
How Much Is My Car Accident Claim Worth?
Putting a dollar value on any injury can be difficult. Every person reacts differently to the trauma of an accident. You may get well quickly and move on with your life. It’s also possible that your injury could impact your entire future.
Our lawyers know that your accident and injury case is unique. We’ll carefully analyze the factors that are important to judges and juries when we’re assessing your case value.
Before we file a claim, we’ll examine factors such as:
- The severity and nature of your injuries
- The cost of your medical treatment to date and your need for future medical care
- Your lost wages and other out-of-pocket expenses
- How the injury has changed your lifestyle and quality of life
- How the injury might impact your future career or education
- The trauma that you have suffered due to the accident
Your costs can quickly exceed the amount of coverage available under your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. Our lawyers will help you determine whether you’re entitled to seek compensation from the at-fault party. Just give us a call to learn more today.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
You should always be sure to take several steps after a car accident. These steps can help protect your health and your injury claim.
Contact 911. Florida law requires drivers to report any accident involving injury, death, or significant property damage. To be safe, you should call 911 after any accident. The dispatcher can send police officers to investigate the crash and EMS to attend to injured drivers or passengers. The police officers will create an accident report which will be important for your injury claim.
Exchange info. You should exchange contact and insurance information with the other party involved in the crash. You should also get the contact info of any witnesses to the accident.
Take photographs and videos. Photographs and videos of the accident and your injury may be useful during your injury claim.
Seek immediate medical attention. You should seek prompt medical care after your crash. Medical providers can treat all your injuries — including those that have not presented symptoms — and put you in the best position for your recovery. Seeking immediate medical attention will also prevent insurance companies from claiming you failed to mitigate your damages by delaying care.
Once you’ve done these things, you should reach out to an experienced car accident lawyer for help with your injury claim. Your injury attorney will handle all aspects of your case, including filings, investigations, negotiations, and court appearances. Contact Kibbey Wagner to schedule a free consultation to see how we can help your case.
What Types of Damages Can Car Accident Victims Recover?
Under Florida personal injury laws, car crash victims can seek compensation for both economic and non-economic damages.
Keep on reading to learn more about their main differences.
What Are Economic Damages?
Your economic damages award should compensate for all past and future financial expenses incurred due to the accident and injury.
Examples include:
- Medical expenses, including ER visits, hospitalization, and follow-up care
- Lost wages
- Reduced future earning potential, or the difference between what you earned prior to the accident and what you can earn with your injuries
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
It’s important to keep all receipts and documentation related to the accident and injuries. You’ll need these records to establish the value of your economic damages claim down the road.
What Are Non-Economic Damages?
Your non-economic damages are much more subjective. You won’t have any records to establish the value of these highly personal losses.
While each case is different, examples may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Anxiety disorders
- Diminished quality of life
- Disfigurement or scarring
- Depression
- PTSD
- Loss of consortium
Insurance companies almost always challenge the value of non-economic damages suffered by car accident victims. That’s because it can be difficult to assign a dollar value to things like pain and suffering.
Having an experienced attorney by your side during the negotiation process can greatly improve your odds of recovering the maximum compensation you deserve. Call our car accident attorneys to learn more about getting legal representation.
Can I Recover Compensation If I’m Being Blamed for a Car Accident in Florida?
Insurance companies often blame injured parties for causing their own injuries. Multiple parties may be liable for the same accident under Florida’s modified comparative fault law.
Liability is divided between all parties who share blame for an accident. If you’re partly responsible for your own injuries, you can also be held partly responsible for damages.
You won’t lose your right to compensation entirely unless you were more than 50% responsible.
We Handle All Types of Car Accident Cases
There are many types of car accidents in Palm Beach Gardens — it’s not only fender benders. The most common car accidents our lawyers handle are:
Distracted Driving Accidents
Distracted driving is one of the most common causes of accidents in Florida. It can take many forms. If a distracted driver caused your accident, our Palm Beach Gardens distracted driving accident lawyers can help you understand your rights.
DUI Accidents
Drunk driving results in many accidents and injuries each year. If you were in a DUI accident, our Palm Beach Gardens DUI accident attorneys can help you hold the drunk driver responsible for your damages.
Hit & Run Accidents
Hit and run accidents can leave you wondering where to seek compensation after the crash. Our Palm Beach Gardens hit and run accident lawyers can help you understand your options, from locating the driver to filing an uninsured motorist claim.
Speeding Accidents
Speeding is the cause of many accidents. If a speeding driver caused your crash, you could have a negligence claim. Our Palm Beach Gardens speeding accident attorneys can help you pursue all avenues for compensation.
Rear-End Crashes
Although we refer to them as fender benders, rear-end collisions can cause catastrophic injuries and even wrongful death. Our Palm Beach Gardens rear end crash lawyers can help you seek money for your losses after an accident.
Intersection Crashes
Intersection crashes can be extremely dangerous due to the speed of oncoming vehicles and the potential for a multi-car crash. If you were in an intersection accident, our Palm Beach Gardens intersection accident attorneys can help you navigate your claim.
Other common car crashes claims we handle:
- Head-on crashes – These accidents are some of the most dangerous. They often involve high speeds and leave drivers vulnerable to head and neck injuries, among other things.
- Roll-over accidents – These accidents often cause catastrophic or fatal injuries. They are more common for trucks and SUVs than smaller passenger cars.
- Side-swipe accidents – These accidents usually occur between cars traveling in opposite directions or after one vehicle tries to pass another.
- T-bone crashes – These accidents often happen at intersections, which means that the cars are vulnerable to a secondary crash from oncoming traffic.
If you were involved in one of these crashes, you could be entitled to substantial compensation. The car accident lawyers in Palm Beach Gardens at Kibbey Wagner handle all types of car accident cases. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.
Common Car Accident Injuries
The most common car accident injuries are:
- Cuts and lacerations
- Whiplash
- Facial injuries
- Broken bones
- Back injuries
- Concussions
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Seatbelt injuries
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Organ damage
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Our lawyers offer free case evaluations so that you can get the legal advice you deserve after an accident. To schedule yours, give our lawyers in Palm Beach Gardens a call.
What Are the Leading Causes of Car Accidents?
In our experience, some of the most common causes of car accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating, speeding, and aggressive driving
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Racing through intersections to beat a yellow light
- Drunk driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Dangerous left-hand turns
- Driving too close to the shoulder
- Weaving between lanes
- Dangerous road conditions
- Poor visibility
Poor vehicle maintenance can also play a role in causing car accidents.
How Do I Establish Negligence After a Car Accident?
Most accidents happen because a driver is negligent. There are four elements to every negligence claim.
The injured party is responsible for proving each.
To prove negligence, you must show:
- The at-fault person owed you a duty of care
- They breached the duty
- The breach was the direct cause of your accident
- You suffered some type of harm, or losses
For example, if the at-fault driver was distracted, that would constitute a breach of duty because reasonable people would be paying attention to the road.
Accident victims often suspect they know what caused an accident. Still, they may not have the evidence to convince the insurance company that the other party was liable. Our lawyers will dig deep to locate evidence to support your claim and prove the value of your damages.
Evidence in your case may include:
- Any police or accident reports
- Traffic citations issued in connection with the crash
- Statements from eyewitnesses to the crash
- Video footage from traffic lights, dash cams, or businesses
- Skid marks, vehicle damage, and other evidence from the accident site
- Medical records and doctor’s opinions
Insurance companies will be looking for evidence to help them avoid responsibility. Our lawyers are here to help you fight back.
How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit If I Was Injured in a Car Accident?
Crash victims have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit under the Florida statute of limitations. You may have more or less time depending on the case.
However, we highly recommend that you hire a car accident lawyer quickly after the accident.
Your attorney can help you through the insurance claims process, where many car accident cases are resolved.
Contact a Palm Beach Gardens Car Accident Lawyer for a Free Initial Consultation
If you were injured in an auto accident, call Kibbey Wagner, PLLC, for immediate assistance today. A Palm Beach Gardens car accident lawyer can help you obtain compensation to cover medical expenses, make up for lost wages, and even compensate for your pain and suffering.
What Our Clients Are Saying About Us
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Local Emergency Rooms
- Medical Center: Emergency Room – 3360 Burns Rd, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
- HCA Florida Emergency – 4797 PGA Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
- Northlake Medical Center – 4300 Northlake Blvd, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
*Disclaimer – we do not endorse these companies or profit from having them listed on our website.
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Car Accident Infographic
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