Clearwater Car Accident Lawyers
- No Fees Until We Win
Trust Our Florida Car Accident Lawyers at Light & Wyatt
Injured in a motor vehicle crash in Clearwater? Your financial future is on the line. Light & Wyatt is the car accident law firm you can trust to help you recover.
- Since 1990, Light & Wyatt has helped injured victims like you get the financial relief they need to get their lives back on track.
- You’re not just another accident case. We take each client’s injury case personally.
- Other injury attorneys rely on our firm to help them win their most challenging cases.
- Our law firm has recovered millions of dollars on behalf of our clients.
Whether you were injured in a hit-and-run accident, a crash with a drunk driver, or any other type of motor vehicle collision that was caused by someone else, we can guide you on your path to recovery.
Schedule your FREE, no-obligation consultation with our car accident lawyers at Light & Wyatt today. Contact us online or Call: 727-499-9900
How Our Experience Can Make a Big Difference in Your Compensation
Insurance companies in Florida are known for their unethical ways. Our car accident attorneys have seen firsthand how these faceless companies take advantage of unrepresented crash victims, and we want to stop them in their tracks. Without an experienced car accident lawyer on your side, you could be the insurance company’s next victim.
With over 30 years of experience handling some of the most complicated car accident cases in Pinellas County, we’ve seen unscrupulous insurance company tactics that would make most people cringe. Alarmingly, it’s not just the other party’s insurance company you have to worry about. You may encounter these same types of tactics when filing a claim against your own PIP policy. These companies will:
- Make lowball settlement offers almost immediately after a crash - before you even have a chance to know what hit you.
- Try to convince you not to hire a car accident lawyer - claiming it will cost more in the long run.
- Minimize injuries or claim your injuries were caused by something other than the crash.
- Tamper with evidence to make it look like something else caused the car accident.
- Pretend to be your friend, claiming that they have your best interests in mind.
- Deny coverage completely
Our experience in dealing with insurance companies over the years has taught us what to expect as your car accident case progresses, and how to handle virtually every curveball that comes your way. In fact, our attorneys have earned a reputation among clients and peers for successfully handling difficult injury cases. We are frequently called upon by other injury lawyers to litigate tough injury claims. And we win.
Practice Areas
Table of Contents
You Need a Car Accident Lawyer Who Will Give Your Case the Attention it Deserves
Many car accident law firms in Florida are commonly referred to as “settlement mills”. They heavily advertise on billboards and television, luring unsuspecting crash victims to their impersonal firms. These attorneys promise fast personal injury settlements, and for the most part, they deliver.
The problem with these types of injury law firms, however, is that they don’t care about the accident victims they represent. They don’t get to know the families who are suffering. They don’t develop relationships with the real people behind the claims.
You see, these settlement mills are only concerned about their own bottom dollar. They frequently push their clients to accept the first offer the insurance company submits. In almost all cases, those initial settlement offers are nowhere near enough to pay for a car accident victim’s medical bills, let alone the lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses that accompany severe injuries.
We created our law firm with one goal – to win the most compensation we can for injured victims in Florida. Our boutique law firm is one of a kind, and we provide clients with the personalized service you won’t find at most other injury firms.
We will sit down with you and truly listen to your story. Our attorneys will offer solutions that are intended to have your best interests in mind. We won’t ask you to accept a lowball settlement offer from the insurance company, or settle for anything less than what is fair. Our team will ask you about your goals, and then work to make them a reality. When you hire our law firm to handle your case, we can help you recover up to 300% more than if you handle your case on your own.
Let’s get started on your path to recovery. To schedule your FREE, no-obligation consultation with our car accident lawyers, contact us online or call 727-499-9900.
Common Types of Motor Vehicle Accident Cases We Handle
Our firm handles a wide range of injury cases. We frequently represent victims in claims and lawsuits involving:
- Uber & Lyft Crashes
- Distracted Driving Accidents
- Drunk Driving Accidents
- Drugged Driving Collisions
- Speeding Accidents
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Crashes
- Hit-and-Run Accidents
- Crashes Caused by Defective Car Parts
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- Bus Accidents
- Trucking Accidents
Dramatization, not an actual client
Where Do Car Accidents Happen Most in Clearwater?
Car accidents can happen anywhere there are motor vehicles. Some locations are riskier than others, however. According to the Florida Traffic Safety Dashboard, the following roads and intersections are some of the most dangerous in the area.
Boulevard
How Much Is Your Car Accident Case Worth?
If you were severely injured in a car accident in Clearwater, you may be entitled to a substantial amount of compensation from your PIP insurance and the at-fault party. The amount you can recover, however, depends on a wide range of factors.
Do You Have Massive Medical Bills?
Even minor car accidents can result in significant medical costs, but when you suffer serious injuries, those expenses can skyrocket. If another party caused your injuries, that person’s insurance company is responsible for paying for your medical treatment after you have exceeded the limits of your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) policy.
Will You Require Ongoing Medical Treatment or Additional Surgeries?
It is common for motor vehicle accident victims to need medical treatment or additional procedures for months, or even years, after a crash occurs. When car accident injuries require ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, or future surgeries, the at-fault party is responsible for paying for those costs that exceed your PIP policy limits.
Dramatization, not an actual client
Dramatization, not an actual client
Are You Unable to Work?
If your car accident caused injuries that are so severe that you are unable to return to your job, or you can only work part-time, the loss of income can make putting food on the table or keeping the utilities on difficult. Fortunately, you may be able to sue to recover compensation from the at-fault party to make up for your lost wages.
Will You Need Special Medical Equipment Because of the Accident?
Sometimes, car accident victims are left paralyzed or unable to breathe, eat, or drink on their own. They need special medical equipment to help them survive when they go home from the hospital. If you need anything from a wheelchair to life support when you’re released from the hospital, you can sue the person who caused your accident and make him or her pay for these items once your PIP coverage is exhausted.
Are You in Continuous Pain?
In many cases, significant pain continues long after a car accident victim’s injuries begin to heal. This is especially common when victims suffer spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or severe fractures. Your PIP policy won’t cover non-economic damages like pain and suffering, but you can sue the at-fault driver to recover compensation. Your car accident lawyer will consider the extent of your pain and suffering when he estimates the value of your non-economic damages.
Do You Need In-Home Nursing Care?
If you are unable to care for yourself, and you need in-home nursing care after your car accident, you can include the cost of those services in your car accident claim or lawsuit. When estimating these costs, your car accident lawyer may work with your doctors and other specialists to determine how long you will need in-home care.
Dramatization, not an actual client
Dramatization, not an actual client
Did the Accident Cause Significant Emotional Trauma?
Motor vehicle accidents can leave intense emotional trauma, like PTSD. In many cases, people need therapy or medication to help them cope with the events that occurred. In Florida car accident cases, the cost of mental health treatment and medications is generally covered by your PIP policy, up to the policy limits. Additionally, victims can file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver to pursue compensation for the emotional trauma their crash caused.
Will You Need to Make Modifications to Your Home or Vehicle(s)?
When you’ve suffered injuries that caused paralysis or amputation, simple tasks like getting into a vehicle or entering your home can be nearly impossible without expensive modifications to your house or car. Your car accident lawyer will add these costs into your personal injury claim to ensure you recover enough money to afford them.
Have You Lost the Ability to Participate in the Activities You Enjoyed Prior to the Crash?
The inability to participate in the activities you used to enjoy can be frustrating to say the least. The incapacitation serves as a daily reminder of the accident and your losses. Your PIP policy won’t compensate you for your inability to enjoy life the way you did before you were injured, but you can include your loss of enjoyment in your car accident lawsuit when you sue the at-fault driver.
Were the At-Fault Party’s Actions Egregious?
If the at-fault party acted egregiously or intentionally, additional compensation may be available. In rare cases, the courts may award punitive damages as well. Unlike compensatory damages, which are intended to make car accident victims whole, punitive damages are designed to punish the wrongdoer and help prevent a similar tragedy from happening to someone else.
Dramatization, not an actual client
What to Do After a Car Accident
The steps you take in the minutes, hours, days, and weeks after a car accident can make a big difference in your physical recovery and the outcome of your case. To protect yourself and your right to recover compensation, Our Clearwater car accident lawyers recommend that you take the following actions after a car accident in Florida.
If your vehicle is obstructing traffic or poses a hazard to other motorists, and it was not disabled by the accident, move it to the side of the road and out of harm’s way. Doing so can help prevent additional car accidents and injuries while you wait for police to arrive.
Check for injuries to yourself and other people who were involved in the accident, and assess their severity. This information can help prepare first responders for what they should expect to find at the scene.
Call police and paramedics and get help on the way immediately, even if injuries don’t seem severe. Some injuries, like brain injuries, may not be apparent right away. Delaying medical intervention could cost a victim’s life.
If you suspect that your injuries may be severe, allow the paramedics to treat you at the scene. Your wellbeing and the wellbeing of your passengers and other victims are priority after a car accident.
If your injuries are not severe, now is the time to gather evidence from the accident scene. Use your cellphone to take photos or videos of all vehicles involved in the crash. Be sure to capture pictures from various angles, and include anything in the area that may be relevant to the crash.
Make sure to see your doctor or another healthcare professional soon after the car accident, even if you don’t think you were severely injured. Adrenaline right after an accident can mask the pain and other symptoms of some serious injuries.
Avoid posting on social media about the accident, and be careful what you say to other people – especially the police, other parties involved in the crash, or the insurance company. Even a simple apology can be used against you if you file an accident lawsuit.
It’s important to discuss your rights and your legal options with an experienced attorney after a crash. Light & Wyatt offers free consultations to accident victims in Florida, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Call: 727-499-9900
Dramatization, not an actual client
How to File a Claim for Car Accident Injuries in Florida
Filing a personal injury claim after a car accident can be intimidating – especially if you are struggling with your own injuries or the loss of a loved one. You don’t have to face this alone.
Our attorneys understand the challenges you are facing, and we are here to make filing an accident claim as easy as possible for you. Here’s an overview of what you can expect when taking legal action after a crash.
Filing a Car Accident Claim Against Your Own Insurance Company
When you purchase a vehicle in Florida, state law requires you to purchase an auto insurance policy that features:
Dramatization, not an actual client
Drivers are not required to carry bodily injury liability (BIL) coverage to pay for injuries to other drivers, passengers, pedestrians, or bicyclists who are in an accident caused by the policyholder. This coverage is optional, and often recommended by Florida car accident lawyers, however.
Florida is a no-fault state when it comes to car accidents. If you or your covered passengers are injured in a car accident, you must first look to your own insurance company for compensation. This is true regardless of who is at fault for the crash. Unfortunately, your PIP coverage may not cover all of your medical bills and other losses, especially if your injuries are severe.
The average cost of hospitalization for serious car accident injuries is approximately $57,000, after all. Additionally, your PIP insurance won’t cover non-economic losses like pain and suffering. You may have other legal options to recover compensation for the remainder of your losses, however.
Shedding the Limitations of Your No-Fault Policy
To file a third-party insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver who caused your crash, you must meet Florida’s threshold for serious injury, as defined by state law. To qualify, you must have experienced at least one of the following as a result of your car accident.
- A permanent, significant loss of an important bodily function
- A permanent injury (within a reasonable degree of medical probability)
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement that is significant
- Death
If you meet the criteria, and you file a third-party car accident claim or personal injury lawsuit, you may be able to recover additional compensation for the economic and non-economic losses not covered by your own PIP policy.
Call Light & Wyatt for a free, no-obligation consultation. 727-499-9900.
Call Light & Wyatt for a free, no-obligation consultation.
727-499-9900
We Are Your Personal Injury Lawyers
Resources for Car Accident Victims in Clearwater
Clearwater and Spring Hill Hospitals
Local Auto Body Repair Shops
FAQs About Florida Car Accidents
Most Florida car accident lawyers accept cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that your attorney will shoulder the financial burden of filing a lawsuit without charging you any upfront fees. If your lawyer wins your case, attorney fees and other costs will be deducted from your injury award. If your case is not successful, you don’t pay.
In Florida, personal injury lawsuits must be filed within 4 years of the date the car accident happened, in most cases. Your car accident lawyer can let you know if exceptions apply to your situation, however. If you don’t take legal action before the statute of limitations expires, you could be barred from recovering damages from the at-fault party.
If you were in a car accident in Florida, you can request a police report from the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles on their website. The report will be made available within 10 days from the date of your crash. You may also be able to obtain a police report by submitting a request with the local police department.