Did you or a loved one sustain injuries in a car accident in Port St. Lucie, FL? If someone else caused the accident, you could be entitled to compensation. Call the experienced Port St. Lucie car accident lawyer at Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers at (772) 247-3374. We can fight to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
We’ve recovered over $60 million on behalf of our clients since we opened our doors back in 2014. We’d be proud to help you get the money you need to get back on your feet.
We offer free consultations, so don’t hesitate to contact our law firm in Port St. Lucie, FL, to schedule yours today.
How Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Can Help After a Car Accident in Port St. Lucie
Insurance companies know personal injury law inside and out. It’s always a smart idea to have an experienced lawyer on your side if you want to get the maximum compensation possible.
At Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, our lawyers have over 40 years of experience between us. In that time, we’ve been recognized by Super Lawyers and Rising Stars. We’ve also earned a “superb” rating from the Avvo lawyer rating service.
When you hire our Port St. Lucie personal injury lawyers, we will:
- Investigate and gather evidence to pinpoint the exact cause of the accident
- Locate all responsible parties
- Accurately assess the value of your personal injury case
- Protect you if the insurance company tries to blame you or pressure you into taking a lowball settlement
- Manage all communications and negotiations with the insurance companies
Getting fair compensation after a car accident is never as easy as it should be. Our car accident attorneys in Port St. Lucie have decades of experience handling car accident claims and are dedicated to helping victims like you.
If you or a family member were injured or killed in a crash, call our legal team today. We work on a contingency fee basis–meaning that you never pay attorneys’ fees unless we win.
How Common Are Car Accidents in St. Lucie County?
Car accidents are extremely common in the state of Florida. According to statistics from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), 388,961 motor vehicle accidents were reported statewide in 2022. Those car crashes caused at least 247,745 injuries and 3,428 deaths.
In St. Lucie County alone, 4,713 car crashes were reported in 2020. A total of 2,657 people were injured and 49 killed in fatal auto accidents.
In 2021, these numbers increased as there were 5,550 car accidents reported, a total of 3,303 people were injured, and 50 were killed. At least 15 car accidents were reported every single day in St. Lucie County that year.
In 2022, 5,474 crashes were reported, with 3,113 injuries and 38 fatalities.
As of May 2023, there have been 2,137 auto accidents reported in St. Lucie County, 1,233 injured, and 16 fatalities so far.
How a Lawyer Can Help After a Car Accident in Port St. Lucie
Hiring a car accident lawyer in Port St. Lucie is one of the best decisions you can make. An attorney can make sure you obtain maximum compensation from those responsible for your injuries. Here are just a few of the ways that a lawyer can help:
- Negotiation. A lawyer can negotiate with the other party. Whether it’s a powerful insurance company or governmental entity, an experienced car accident lawyer knows how to craft arguments on your behalf to reach a settlement.
- Resources. Attorneys have access to information that could help prove your case. They can conduct internal investigations to determine who is at fault for your accident and can hire expert witnesses to testify on your representation.
- Court. If the other side isn’t willing to agree upon a fair settlement, a lawyer has the ability to bring your case to court. If necessary, an attorney can take your case all the way to trial as well.
- Blame. In almost every circumstance, the defendant will try to pin the blame on you. An attorney can stand up for your rights to make sure they don’t take advantage of you.
For more information on how a lawyer can help, reach out to Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers today for a free consultation.
What Is My Car Accident Case Worth?
The value of any personal injury case depends on its unique facts.
We can’t give you an exact number–but we can promise to work tirelessly to get you every dollar you deserve.
Some of the most important factors that will impact it’s value include:
- The nature and severity of your injuries
- Your prognosis and anticipated recovery time
- The value of your lost wages and income
- How the injury impacts your future work prospects and quality of life
- The cost of your medical treatment
- Whether you’ll require ongoing medical care
- The strength of your negligence case
The most severe injuries tend to lead to higher settlements and verdicts. However, there are many factors that can impact it’s value.
Insurance companies tend to focus on the factors that might reduce your award–such as whether you share any blame for the crash.
One of our founding attorneys is a former insurance defense attorney. That means we’re familiar with these and other insurance scare tactics–and you can count on us to do everything possible to minimize their effectiveness.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Car Accident Victims?
Florida personal injury laws allow victims to recover compensation for their economic damages and non-economic damages.
Whether you were injured in a rear-end collision, head-on crash, hit and run, or in a rollover accident, you might be entitled to seek compensatory damages for your losses.
Depending on the facts, you could recover:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and income
- Lost future earning potential
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Damage to your vehicle
- Other property damage
- Out-of-pocket costs
Non-economic damages are awarded to make up for your pain and other subjective losses. Examples include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
- Inconvenience
- Disfigurement or scarring
- Anxiety and depression
- PTSD
- Loss of consortium
Florida courts rarely award punitive damages. When they do, they’re awarded to punish the defendant for intentional wrongdoing. For example, if you were hurt in a drunk driving wreck, punitive damages may be available to punish the drunk driver.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Car Accident in Florida?
Florida follows modified comparative fault laws. Liability is divided between everyone involved in a vehicle accident. However, sharing some of the blame won’t prevent you from recovering damages unless you were mostly at fault.
If you’re found partially responsible, your compensation will be reduced in proportion to your share of fault.
Let’s say you’re found to be 20% liable for causing a crash. If you’re awarded $100,000, you could only take home $80,000 of the award.
The parties responsible for your crash will probably try to pin at least some of the blame on you. If they succeed, the insurance company can get away with paying less than you deserve.
Our lawyers know how to defend you if you’re being blamed for a crash. Call us to learn more about your legal options today.
Who Can Be Held Liable for My Damages?
If you suffered damages because of someone else’s acts or omissions, there’s a high likelihood that they or some related party can be held responsible.
Depending on the facts and circumstances, any one of the following parties can be accountable:
- Private individuals
- Businesses and corporations
- Governmental entities
- Manufacturers of products
- Property owners
If you’re not sure who might be liable in your case, contact a car accident attorney in Port St. Lucie at Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers today.
We Handle All Types of Car Accident Cases in Port St. Lucie, FL
We handle all kinds of Port St. Lucie car accidents, involving:
Distracted Driving Accidents
Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of accidents across the state of Florida.
If you’ve been hurt by a distracted driver, a Port St. Lucie distracted driving lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve.
DUI Accidents
Driving under the influence puts, not only the driver but everyone around them in danger.
If you’ve been injured by a drunk driver, a Port St. Lucie DUI accident lawyer can fight for your rights and make sure you get fair compensation.
Hit & Run Accidents
Hit and run accidents can be especially difficult to litigate since you may not even know the identity of the person who hit you.
A Port St. Lucie hit & run accident lawyer can help you get justice in your case.
Speeding Accidents
Speeding is a factor in most car crashes across Florida. If you’ve been hurt in a wreck with a driver who was going too fast, you could be entitled to compensation.
A Port St. Lucie speeding accident lawyer can help you get a fair settlement offer.
Rear-End Crashes
Rear-end crashes can result in a variety of serious injuries, including whiplash, broken bones, and more.
If you’ve been hurt in one of these accidents, a Port St. Lucie rear-end crash lawyer can help you get justice.
Intersection Crashes
Intersections are one of the most common sites of car accidents in Florida.
If you’ve been hurt in a wreck in an intersection, a Port St. Lucie intersection crash lawyer can help you fight for a fair settlement in your case.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Car Accident Injuries
If you’ve sustained serious injuries in a car crash, you could be entitled to damages from the at-fault driver.
At Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, we often represent car accident victims who have suffered:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
- Nerve damage
- Whiplash
- Concussions
- Other head and neck injuries
- Eye injuries
- Burns
- Seat belt injuries
- Back injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Chest injuries
- Loss of limbs and amputations
- Paralysis, including quadriplegia and paraplegia
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Don’t let the insurance company downplay the severity of your injuries. Our lawyers have seen it all–and we know that even a “minor” injury can significantly disrupt your life.
Call our law offices for a free case review to learn more about how we can help.
What Causes Most Car Accidents in Port St. Lucie, FL?
Negligence is the root cause of most car accidents. In other words, they happen because someone was careless or reckless.
More specifically, some of the most common causes of car accidents in the state include:
- Texting while driving
- Other forms of distracted driving
- Speeding
- Road rage and aggressive driving
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating
- Dangerous turns
- Failure to check the vehicle’s blind spots before backing up or changing lanes
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Drunk driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Poor weather and bad visibility
- Hazardous road conditions
- Defective vehicles or safety equipment
It’s important to identify everything that contributed to the cause of your accident–remembering that multiple factors might have played a role in the crash.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Car Accident?
Under Florida no-fault insurance laws, most auto accident victims must prove negligence to recover compensation from the at-fault party.
To prove negligence, you’ll have to establish four elements, as follows:
- The at-fault party owed you a legal duty of care
- A breach of duty occurred
- The breach was the direct and proximate cause of the accident
- You sustained some type of damages in the crash
Many different types of evidence can be useful when it comes to proving negligence. Our lawyers will search for:
- Video footage and dash cam videos
- Eyewitnesses
- Cell phone records
- Toxicology records
- Police reports
- Medical records
You can count on us to locate the strong evidence you need for your case. That way, you can spend your time focused on your recovery.
When you’re ready to learn more, just call our Port St. Lucie car accident attorneys to see how we can help.
What Should I Do After an Auto Accident?
What you do after a car crash can significantly influence the ultimate outcome of your case. Here are a few things to do and not do after an incident:
- Collect evidence. This means taking pictures and video of any damages or injuries (if feasible), exchanging information with other witnesses at the scene, and anything else that helps document what happened.
- Stay at the scene. Fleeing the scene of the accident will most likely reduce the value of your claim and could even prevent you from pursuing it entirely.
- Don’t take the blame. Be sure not to make any statements of blame to anyone at the scene. What you say could be used against you later on.
- Receive medical care. Even if you haven’t suffered an obvious injury, you should visit a doctor. Some injuries are not apparent until long after the accident, and medical attention and the corresponding evidence are crucial to proving your claim.
- Contact the proper authorities. Generally, this just means calling 911. Depending on the nature of the incident, failing to do so might be against the law.
You should also contact a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident, whether is a truck accident or motorcycle accident. An attorney can give you guidance on how to proceed as the situation unfolds.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Car Accident in Florida?
Under Florida law, most car accident victims have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. There may be exceptions that impact the deadline.
After the statute of limitations passes, you lose your right to seek compensation for your losses.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer in Port St. Lucie For Legal Help Today
Were you injured in an auto accident? Call Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Port St. Lucie car accident attorney today. Our legal team has decades of experience handling auto accident claims.
With our experienced team by your side, you’ll greatly improve the odds of maximizing your financial award.
Port St. Lucie Auto Accident Client Review
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Port St. Lucie Auto Repair Shops
- Coastal Choice Customs – 486 NW Lake Whitney Pl, Port St. Lucie, FL 34986, United States
- ABC CLASSIC RESTORATION CORP – 460 NW Concourse Pl, Port St. Lucie, FL 34986, United States
- St Lucie West Auto Repair – 1343 NW Saint Lucie West Boulevard, Port St. Lucie, FL 34986, United States
- All Roads Truck & Auto Repair – 1325 SW South Macedo Boulevard, Port St. Lucie, FL 34983, United States
- Classic Collision Port Saint Lucie – 1048 SW Biltmore St, Port St. Lucie, FL 34983, United States
*Disclaimer – we do not endorse these companies or profit from having them listed on our website.
Car Accident Resources
- U.S. Department of Transportation
- Florida Department of Transportation
- Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Additional Car Accident Information
- Should I Call 911 After A Car Accident?
- Can You Sue For A Car Accident In Florida If You Are Not Hurt?
Port St. Lucie Car Accident Infographic
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