When you’re struggling with severe injuries because of a recent car accident in Vero Beach, Florida, it’s important to explore your legal rights and options. As a victim, you have the ability to seek compensation from an insurance company or, in some cases, a negligent third party. The experienced Vero Beach car accident lawyers at Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group can help you fight for maximum financial recovery.
For almost 20 years, Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group has provided passionate, effective legal representation to crash victims in Vero Beach. Led by Board Certified civil trial attorneys with over 50 years of combined experience, we’ve helped clients win $250 million+ in monetary awards.
Demand the results you deserve by trusting our award-winning Vero Beach car accident attorneys to fight for you. Your initial case evaluation is free, so contact our Vero Beach, FL, law office for help today at (772) 758-1966.
How Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group Can Help You After a Car Accident in Vero Beach, FL
Whether you’re filing a claim with your insurance company or suing a vehicle manufacturer, you should expect a lot of resistance as you pursue compensation for your medical care, lost income, and suffering.
You’ll be told you’re exaggerating your injuries. You’ll be blamed for the wreck. You’ll be manipulated and pressured into accepting a settlement for way less than your car accident claim is worth.
Don’t let these tactics stand between you and a successful result. Protect your best interests by hiring an experienced Vero Beach personal injury lawyer to represent you.
Crash victims in Vero Beach and Indian River County trust Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group because of our compassionate, trustworthy, and effective legal services. Client-driven strategies and a consistent ability to win have earned us honors from the Florida Board of Legal Specialization, Super Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers, the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and Martindale-Hubbell.
Take the opportunity you need to get better, and trust our Vero Beach personal injury lawyers to handle the rest:
- Coordinate a prompt investigation into your car accident to fully understand how it happened and who’s at fault
- Calculate your damages to determine what your car accident case is worth
- Collaborate with accident reconstructionists, medical professionals, forensics specialists, and other expert witnesses
- Depose eyewitnesses, other motorists, and parties who might have relevant insight into your case
- Gather and examine medical records, accident reports, forensics reports, cell phone records, dash cam footage, property damage, photographs of the scene of the wreck, and other evidence
- Craft a compelling claim for damages and submit it to the insurance company and/or local Indian River County court clerk
- Force the defense to make you a maximum settlement offer, or take their chances against our highly-acclaimed trial attorneys in court
You’ll have a limited time to file a legal claim for damages after a car crash in Vero Beach, FL, so don’t hesitate to contact our Vero Beach car accident attorneys for help. Members of our team are available to take your call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Why Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Getting into a car accident can be stressful. It can affect your physical health, emotional well-being, and financial stability. While you may have the right to offset some of these consequences through a legal claim, the road to recovery won’t necessarily be easy.
Hiring an experienced car accident lawyer in Vero Beach can make a huge difference.
In fact, you’re more likely to win your case and recover a higher financial award when you’re represented by an experienced personal injury lawyer. Insurance company research shows that represented claimants recover settlements up to 3.5 times higher than unrepresented claimants.
Here’s why:
- The insurance company loses its advantage and is forced to consider your claim in good faith
- You’ll have the resources to hire experts to weigh in and support your claim
- You can make informed decisions about whether to accept or reject a settlement offer
- Unsupported claims of contributory negligence won’t work
You’ll also have the time you need to focus on getting better and moving forward with your life.
Don’t underestimate your power when deciding which law firm to handle your car accident claim. The right choice can be the difference between a nominal payout and a life-changing monetary award. Choose Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group and work with attorneys who have successfully won over $250 million for clients like you.
How Much Money Can I Get From a Car Accident Case?
Just like every crash is different, so is every legal claim for damages.
Several factors will play a part in determining how much money your car accident claim might be worth:
- What types of physical injuries have you sustained?
- Are your injuries permanent?
- Are you temporarily or permanently disabled?
- How has the auto accident affected your quality of life?
- Can you still work?
- Has your income changed?
- How old are you?
- Do you share any of the blame for the car accident?
- What have you done to mitigate your damages?
- What insurance benefits are available?
The type, severity, and duration of your injuries will have the biggest impact on your legal claim for damages. The more serious your trauma, the more it’ll affect your bank account and your day-to-day life. In turn, the more you can expect to recover from insurance or a liable third party.
Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to negotiating a car accident settlement. The more you know about what your claim might be worth, the better prepared you’ll be to leverage a meaningful result. Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group can help you fight for maximum recovery. Call our Vero Beach car accident attorneys to discuss the details of your crash today.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Florida?
When a car accident in Vero Beach causes personal injury or wrongful death, victims will have up to two years to file a legal claim for damages with an insurance company or a liable third party.
Florida’s two-year statute of limitations has few exceptions. Most often, the statute of limitations can be tolled if a child is injured in a car accident in Vero Beach.
Missing the filing deadline cannot be an option. Once time runs out, you’ll lose the ability to get the money you need to get better.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Vero Beach Crash Victims?
Under Florida’s no-fault insurance rules, you’ll have to file a claim with your own insurance company after a car accident. You can recover Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits and other coverage from your auto insurance policy. If your injuries are severe, as defined by Florida state law, you may also have the right to seek additional compensation through a car accident lawsuit.
Whether you go through insurance or file a lawsuit, you can seek compensatory damages for your crash-related losses.
Compensatory damages include two categories of awards: economic and non-economic.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are paid to help you handle the financial stresses associated with your car accident, such as:
- Current medical bill
- Future medical expenses
- Disability
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
- Nursing care
- Rehabilitation
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Funeral expenses
You should be financially whole when you receive an award of economic damages. It should be as though the car accident never happened, at least as far as your bank account is concerned.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are paid to help you cope with trauma and suffering that are much more personal and, as a result, harder to value.
Commonly awarded non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Chronic physical pain
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Embarrassment
- Disfigurement
- PTSD
These types of experiences will affect different people in different ways. So, the value of non-economic damages can vary significantly from one case to the next. Our car accident lawyers in Vero Beach work closely with experts as we construct your claim. With their help, we’ll be able to demonstrate your trauma and help you leverage a life-changing monetary award.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
At Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group, we represent car accident victims in Vero Beach on a contingency fee basis.
Contingency fee representation means:
- You pay nothing upfront to hire our law firm, and
- We front the costs associated with pursuing your claim.
We’re so confident that we can win your car accident claim that we’ll stake our fees on the results. You’ll only pay our attorneys’ fees if we win compensation for you.
In Florida, attorney fees must be reasonable. You can expect to pay your lawyer between 33 and 40 percent of your financial award, adjusted for any case-related expenses.
Don’t hesitate to contact our law office in Vero Beach to discuss your case, learn about our fee structure, and discover why there’s no other law firm you’ll want fighting for you after a wreck.
Can I Get Compensation If I’m Partially At Fault For My Car Accident?
It’s possible. However, your right to recover damages from a third party will depend on how much your negligence factored into your car accident.
Florida follows a system of modified comparative fault. Under this system, damages are reduced proportionately if you are less than 51 percent to blame. If you were 10 percent at fault for a car accident, damages would be reduced by 10 percent. If you were 40 percent responsible for a car accident, damages would be reduced by 40 percent.
Things change once liability is greater than half. In these situations, you lose the ability to seek monetary compensation from another liable party.
Our car accident attorneys in Vero Beach will aggressively defend you against any claims of shared fault and work to get you the best possible terms in a settlement agreement.
Will My Car Accident Case Go to Trial?
It’s possible. However, most car accident claims are settled well before they reach the trial stage. However, every case is different. Whether your claim is settled or goes to trial is ultimately up to you.
These factors can be important when determining whether to settle or push forward to trial:
- Has the insurance company handled your claim in bad faith?
- Have you been offered a fair settlement?
- How far apart are the parties in terms of valuation?
- Are you willing to be patient to get a potentially better result at trial?
You can decrease the chances that your claim goes to trial by hiring a respected Florida litigator. With a successful trial attorney in your corner, the insurance company will be more inclined to offer a fair settlement to avoid a showdown in court.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Vero Beach?
The things you do and the decisions you make after a car accident in Vero Beach are critically important. They can influence your physical recovery and your ability to recover compensation for your losses.
Here are the things you should (and shouldn’t) do after a Vero Beach car wreck:
- Stay at or near the scene of the accident (leaving can be considered a hit and run)
- Call 911 to report the collision to the Vero Beach Police Department and request to have first responders sent to the scene
- Exchange insurance information with other parties
- Check to see if others need emergency medical care
- Refuse to accept blame or responsibility for the wreck
- Take pictures of damaged property, the scene of the accident, and physical injuries
- Get to the closest emergency room in Vero Beach to get checked out by a medical professional
- Decline requests to make a recorded statement for the insurance company
- Direct all communication to your personal injury attorney
Do not hesitate to contact an experienced car accident attorney near you in Vero Beach. At Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group, we know that collisions are everything but convenient. That’s why members of our team are standing by to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call our Vero Beach law office for help now.
Types of Car Accident Claims We Handle
Every car accident is unique. Choose a law firm whose attorneys have extensive experience and a proven track record of success litigating claims involving all different types of collisions.
At Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group, we represent clients who’ve been injured or lost family members as a result of:
Rollover Accidents
Rollover car accidents typically occur when a driver makes a sharp turn at high speeds or if a vehicle’s tire “trips” on a hazard on the road. While rollovers typically affect SUVs and other vehicles with high centers of gravity, it’s possible for any car to tip on its side or roll over completely in a wreck.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions account for the highest percentage of collisions. While they’re not responsible for the most crash-related deaths, victims tend to suffer serious soft tissue injuries – like whiplash – that can linger for years. Most often, rear-end collisions happen in stop-and-go traffic or at intersections, particularly when drivers are distracted at the wheel.
Frontal Crashes
Frontal collisions tend to occur when a vehicle drives the wrong way down the street, makes an improper turn, or swerves to avoid a hazard in the road. When these types of accidents happen, they are often catastrophic. Head-on collisions account for about 14 percent of car accident deaths across the nation annually.
Side Impact Collisions
The front and rear of a vehicle are designed to absorb impact when there’s a collision. While some vehicles have side-impact airbags, there’s still relatively little to protect occupants in an accident. As a result, side-impact collisions – like sideswipes and T-bone accidents – tend to be among the most devastating.
Accidents With Uninsured Motorists
Even though Florida has strict car insurance requirements, nearly far too many motorists in the Sunshine State are uninsured. This can create a serious problem when there’s a serious accident. If a driver is uninsured, it can make it difficult for crash victims to recover much-needed compensation. Working with an attorney is typically the best way to navigate these often challenging situations.
Hit and Run Car Accidents
Motorists in Florida are required to stop and stay at the scene of an accident. However, some drivers flee the scene because they’re afraid of the consequences. When there’s a hit and run, an attorney can help you pursue a substantial monetary award through insurance and/or a civil personal injury lawsuit.
Who Could Be Liable For My Car Accident?
In Florida, liability for a car accident extends to everyone who directly or indirectly contributes to a wreck.
An exhaustive investigation into your crash might determine that one or more of the following parties are liable:
- The driver of a passenger car
- Pedestrian
- Bicyclist
- Motorcyclist
- E-scooter operator
- Truck driver
- Bus driver
- Transportation company
- Vehicle passenger
- Vehicle manufacturer
- Property owner
- Negligent party’s employer
- Government agency
Most often, a party will be liable for a car accident when their negligence – or carelessness – causes a wreck. Our car accident lawyers in Vero Beach will carefully investigate your crash, determine the underlying case, and pinpoint who is responsible for the wreck. With this information in hand, we’ll actively seek compensation from anyone liable for your injuries.
Common Types of Car Accident Injuries
At Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group, we’re committed to helping you seek damages for all of your crash-related injuries, including:
- Crush injury
- Soft tissue injury
- Nerve damage
- Brain injury
- Concussion
- Whiplash injury
- Back injury
- Neck injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Quadriplegia
- Chest injury
- Leg injury
- Knee injury
- Degloving injury
- Amputation injury
- Eye injury
- Burn injury
- Catastrophic injury
- Wrongful death of a close family member
Don’t underestimate the seriousness of your injuries. Even minor trauma can have a serious impact on your ability to live your life. Seek timely medical care, and then call our Vero Beach car accident lawyers to discuss your situation. Our staff is available to take your call whenever you need help the most.
What Are the Most Common Types of Car Accidents?
Negligence is the driving force behind most car accidents in Vero Beach.
It’s common to see car accidents result from:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Drunk driving
- Fatigued driving
- Following too closely
- Aggressive driving
- Road rage
- Running red lights
- Unsafe passing
- Illegal turns
- Rolling stops
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Braking errors
There are also times when accidents happen – in whole or in part – because of factors beyond a motorist’s control. For instance, several accidents in Vero Beach can be attributed to vehicle defects, road defects, or hazardous weather conditions.
Vero Beach Car Accident Statistics
Every year, thousands of car accidents are reported across Indian River County. According to state crash data, there were 2,201 collisions in 2023.
That’s an average of 6 auto accidents every day in and around Vero Beach.
As a result of these accidents, 1,488 people were injured, and 19 were killed.
Occupants of passenger vehicles aren’t the only ones who get hurt in traffic accidents in the area. In 2023, 43 bicycle accidents, 39 motorcycle accidents, and 54 pedestrian accidents were also recorded across Indian River County.
Call Our Vero Beach Car Accident Lawyers For Help
If you’ve been injured in a Vero Beach car accident because someone else was negligent, don’t hesitate to call Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group. You have the opportunity to demand life-changing compensation. Our Vero Beach car accident lawyers want to help you make the most of it.
We offer a free consultation and work on contingency, so it costs nothing to discuss your case or hire our law firm upfront. You only pay when we successfully negotiate a settlement or win a verdict for you at trial.
Benefit from Board Certified civil trial attorneys and a team of award-winning litigators with over 50 years of experience by calling our Vero Beach, FL, law office now.