Orlando Car Accident Lawyer

April 12, 2023 | Attorney, Matthew Dolman

Heavy Orlando traffic and frequent construction can raise the risk of an accident for residents and visitors alike. After a car accident in Orlando, you may need answers to a string of questions. How much compensation do you deserve for car accident injuries? How should you deal with the insurance company?

At Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, our Orlando car accident attorneys fight to help our clients recover fair and just compensation following any car accident. Contact us to learn more about your rights.

Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, Pa: Help and Support for Orlando Car Accident Victims

At Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, we have a deeply personal understanding of the challenges that our clients may face as they deal with the devastating aftermath of a car accident that results in any injury. We aim to help our clients navigate the complexities that often follow a serious accident so that they can have better overall outcomes.

We Have a History of Proven Results

At Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, we have successfully helped many of our past clients navigate car accident claims.

Take a look at some of our past claim results.

  • $5 million for the victim of a car accident resulting in burn injuries
  • $3,850,000 for the victim of a semi-truck accident that resulted in brain injury
  • $3,200,000 for the victim of a semi-truck accident resulting in brain injury
  • $1,875,000 for the victim of a car accident resulting in cervical fusion and TBI

The results of our past car accident claims cannot guarantee the results of any future claim. However, our team of experienced Orlando injury attorneys can aggressively pursue the compensation you deserve.

We Work as Litigation Bulldogs, Not Settlement Mills

We aggressively pursue fair resolutions for all our clients at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA. We do not want to accept a settlement that does not truly represent the damages you sustained in the accident and the compensation you deserve.

Instead, we push insurance companies to offer just compensation for the damages our clients sustained in their accidents. Many law firms work as settlement mills, pushing clients to accept settlements when offered.

At Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, on the other hand, we fight for you and will continue to fight until we reach a just resolution for your claim.

We Have the Financial Resources to Level the Playing Field With the Insurance Company

As you fight with the insurance company for the compensation you deserve, you may find yourself disadvantaged. Insurance companies often have large legal teams and the means to fight for as long as necessary to reduce the compensation they ultimately have to pay.

We have the extensive resources at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA. to overcome any insurance company. We fight just as hard to help our clients maximize the compensation they can recover following a devastating Orlando car accident.

Did you suffer injuries in an Orlando car accident? Do not try to handle your claim alone. Contact Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, to learn more about your rights.

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How an Orlando Car Accident Lawyer Can Help If Your PIP Runs Out

Florida's no-fault insurance laws were initially designed to reduce the number of lawsuits arising from accident-related injuries while allowing the insured to get needed compensation quickly through their own insurance provider. However, many Orlando car accident victims find their expenses exceed their PIP policy's limits.

When your PIP coverage runs out, you have the option to file a personal injury lawsuit against either the at-fault party (often this is the other driver) or the at-fault party's insurance company if the other person carried bodily injury liability coverage at the time of the accident.

The Basics of an Orlando Car Accident Lawsuit

If you suffered a permanent injury in an Orlando car accident that was someone else's fault, you have the legal right to file a personal injury lawsuit. Because the civil court system is incredibly complicated and demanding, you should trust your case to car accident lawyers who understand the complexities of the legal system after decades of successfully resolving automobile accident cases in court.

To prevail in a personal injury car crash lawsuit, you must have injuries that caused one or more of the following:

  • Significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function     
  • Permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability, other than scarring or disfigurement     
  • Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement     
  • Death

In addition to medical and wage benefits, when you work with an Orlando personal injury lawyer, you may also seek compensation for property damage, loss of future earning capacity if you are no longer able to work in your prior position or at all, and damages for pain and suffering. If your case meets the permanent injury threshold, or if your expenses exceed the PIP policy limit, you may also be eligible for pain and suffering or other non-economic damages.

An Orlando auto accident lawyer at Dolman Law Group can review your unique situation and create a solid legal strategy to negotiate with each insurance company and the car accident lawyers representing the other driver to obtain the compensation you need to cover the serious injuries you sustained in your car crash.

Orlando Car Accident Attorneys

Breaking Down Compensation Following an Orlando Car Accident

For many Orlando car accident victims, finding out what compensation they can recover tops their list of questions. Car accident victims often have to deal with severe losses, including financial losses that can have a long-term impact.

At Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, we cannot guarantee the compensation you will recover for the injuries you sustained in your Orlando car accident. Still, we can help you look at the various areas in which you may deserve compensation and how you can break them down to better understand what to expect.

Remember that, due to Florida’s no-fault car accident laws, you must use your PIP insurance to cover the cost of medical treatment and wage losses before turning to an injury claim. Only once you have exceeded the value of your PIP policy can you seek additional compensation.

Looking at Your Medical Bills

Determining the compensation you deserve after your car accident often starts with looking at the medical costs you may have sustained due to your accident and injuries. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may have immense, ongoing medical bills for the treatment you need to make as complete a recovery as possible.

You have the right to include all your medical costs, from your ambulance ride to the hospital to the ongoing therapy you may have needed after the accident, as part of your injury claim. Make sure you include copays and deductibles, which you may have to pay upfront to receive some treatment, as part of your claim.

As part of your medical costs, your lawyer may also help you look at your ongoing medical needs related to the accident. For example, if you have to use a wheelchair due to your injuries, your lawyer may consider the cost of renovations that made your home more accessible.

Calculating Wage Losses After Your Orlando Car Accident

Following a car accident in Orlando, you may miss a lot of time at work. Unfortunately, those lost hours can lead to substantial wage losses, which may have an immense, long-term impact on your ability to pay your bills.

Not only can you have a long wait before you can return to work immediately after the accident, but you may also find that, even after you can return to work, you cannot return to your former full-time hours. You may return to work but must take more time off for follow-up procedures. You may even have significant missing wages due to the need to attend therapy appointments during your typical work day.

Talk to your lawyer at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, about how much time you have had to miss at work because of your accident and how it has impacted your overall income. Make sure you include information about any vacation time you may have had to use to cover the cost of those missing hours.

Determining Compensation for Pain and Suffering

Not only might you deal with serious financial woes after a car accident, but you may also have to contend with considerable suffering. Your injuries may cause considerable physical pain. You may struggle with the loss of independence that may accompany severe injuries. You may contend with many challenges and a long road to recovery.

As part of your Orlando car accident claim, you may have the right to include compensation for the non-financial elements of suffering that went along with your car accident. Talk to a lawyer about your suffering and the long-term impact of the accident on your overall enjoyment of life or your relationship with loved ones. Your lawyer can assemble that information in a comprehensive injury claim.

Orlando Car Accidents and Their Impact

Each year, the Orlando area sees around 2,395 incapacitating injuries related to automobile crashes. Pedestrians may suffer an estimated 210 incapacitating injuries, and bike riders may suffer around 128. The area also sees an estimated 156 fatalities from car accidents. Across Florida, around 400,000 car accidents occur annually, with approximately 40 percent resulting in injury.

Florida Hit and Run Accidents

Florida consistently rates as one of the most dangerous states regarding hit and run accidents. A hit and run occurs when the driver who causes an accident flees the scene of the accident without waiting for police to arrive or sharing vital contact information that can make it possible for the other driver to get support later. After a hit and run accident, Orlando car accident victims may need to work closely with an attorney to learn how to best pursue compensation for those damages.

Tourist Traffic in Orlando

Annually, Orlando sees more than 50 million visitors each year. While those tourists bring considerable money to the surrounding communities, they present increased dangers on Orlando streets.

Visitors to Orlando may engage in more dangerous behaviors that may increase the risk of an accident, including a higher rate of intoxicated driving. Visitors also do not know the local area, so they may zip through areas like East Colonial Drive and I-4 without recognizing the potential dangers they may find on those streets.

Dangerous Weather Conditions

Like much of Florida, flash floods and storms can strike Orlando in the blink of an eye. Heavy rainfall can increase the risk of accidents and may increase the risk of injury since it can make it more difficult for vehicles to stop in time.

What to Do After an Orlando Car Accident

Most people know the steps they must take immediately after an Orlando car accident. You may have remembered to report the accident, wait for the police to arrive, and seek medical attention for any injuries you sustained. However, your responsibility does not end at the scene of the accident.

As the victim of an Orlando car accident, you may need to take several critical steps to protect your right to compensation.

  • Get and review the accident report. You need to closely examine all the details: where and when the accident occurred and the vehicles involved. If the accident report contains any inaccurate information, let your lawyer know as soon as possible so that you can correct that information.
  • Contact an attorney. If you need to file an injury claim after your Orlando car accident, you need an attorney to help guide you through that process and ensure you can get the compensation you deserve for your injuries. At Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, we help our clients get more information about their rights to fight for the compensation they deserve.
  • Document all your medical costs. You may find it difficult to pull all those costs together later. Start keeping a record soon after the accident so you do not miss out on essential bills.
  • Keep a journal about the challenges of dealing with your car accident. Your journal can serve as a vital document that may provide more information about how your recovery progressed later. Note specific challenges, dates of key procedures, and anything you may want to remember later.
  • Do not miss vital medical appointments. Keep up with your recovery plan as carefully as possible to help you maximize your odds of making a full recovery and to help ensure that the insurance company cannot claim that you limited your recovery.
  • Avoid any activities your doctor recommends against.

Filing a claim after your Orlando car accident takes time. Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, can successfully navigate your claim for you.

Orlando Car Accident FAQs

If you have questions after your Orlando car accident, Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, can help answer them. Contact us to discuss any specific questions about your accident.

1. Who Has to Pay My Medical Bills After an Orlando Car Accident?

When you have high medical bills from your car accident, whether from AdventHealth Orlando or Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center, you may wonder how you can manage taking care of those bills as you recover from your injuries.

If someone else's negligence caused your car accident injuries, you might hope the liable party will have to take responsibility for your medical bills. Unfortunately, as the injured party, you must pay your medical bills. However, you have several choices that can make it easier to cover the cost of medical care.

Use Your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Insurance

After a car accident in Orlando, you will need to start using your PIP insurance to cover the initial cost of medical treatment. Florida has a no-fault system where drivers use their own insurance coverage to cover the initial cost of medical treatment after an accident.

You can proceed with an injur

y claim after your car accident if you exceed your PIP insurance.

Use Your Health Insurance Coverage

Health insurance can prove incredibly valuable any time you suffer injuries in an accident, including a car accident due to the negligence of another party. Your health insurance coverage can help cover many of the medical treatment costs related to your accident, giving you a buffer to make it easier to continue pursuing injury treatment. Make sure you talk to your health insurance provider or have your lawyer review your policy to give you a better idea of what coverage you may have.

Use the Funds From an Injury Claim

While the liable party may not have to pay your medical bills directly, you can file a car accident claim to compensate you for the bills you may face after an Orlando car accident. You will generally receive the funds from your injury claim as a lump sum settlement, which you can then use to cover the cost of medical treatment or pay essential bills following your Orlando car accident. The funds from an injury claim can pay for your necessary medical treatments.

2. What Should I Do if the Insurance Company Offers Me a Settlement After My Orlando Car Accident?

Do not accept an initial settlement offer, even if it seems tempting. In many cases, the insurance company will provide an early settlement offer to pressure you into accepting that low offer before you can think it through, discuss it with a lawyer, or determine what losses you sustained because of your Orlando car accident.

Have your lawyer review any settlement offer before you accept it. Your lawyer can help you evaluate the losses you sustained because of your car accident and what compensation you might deserve. Then, your lawyer can help you determine what compensation you might deserve for those losses and how it compares to the compensation you really deserve. In many cases, you will discover that you may need to continue fighting for additional compensation since the insurance company may not issue a fair settlement offer upfront.

3. What Should I Do if I End up in an Accident With an Orlando Driver Who Does Not Carry Car Insurance?

Twenty percent or more of Florida drivers may not carry car insurance. If the driver that hit you does not carry insurance, or if you suffered injuries in a hit and run, you may wonder how you can get compensation for your injuries. Many drivers carry insurance policies that can help protect them after an accident with a driver who does not carry insurance. Talk to your lawyer to review your policy and better understand whether you have coverage that will help protect you after a car accident.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Most Florida insurance policies include coverage for uninsured motorists. Uninsured motorist coverage covers exactly these situations: when you get into an accident with a driver who does not carry insurance. By using your uninsured motorist coverage, you can generally feel much more confident that you have coverage when you need it after a car accident.

Using your uninsured motorist coverage does not necessarily mean you will not have to fight for the compensation you deserve. You may still need a lawyer to fight with your insurance company to get reasonable compensation for your losses after a car accident. Talk to your lawyer to get the help you need with that claim.

Collision Coverage

If you carry collision coverage on your vehicle, you may have coverage regardless of who caused your accident. Collision coverage generally covers you if you cause an accident. However, it may also help if you get into an accident with a driver that does not carry insurance. Collision insurance or uninsured motorist coverage may also assist if you suffered injuries in a hit and run.

4. If the Driver That Hit Me in Orlando Receives a Citation for Dangerous Behavior, Does It Automatically Mean I Will Win My Injury Claim?

Sometimes, the driver that hit you may receive a citation for dangerous behavior observed by the police officer that responded to the scene of the accident, including driving while distracted, driving while intoxicated, or ignoring the rules of the road, like speeding, failure to yield, or running a red light. Drivers may also receive citations for reckless or aggressive driving, which can significantly increase the risk of an accident.

However, the other driver's citation does not automatically mean you will win your claim. You may still have to fight to get the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Talk to a lawyer about the compensation you deserve and how to navigate your interactions with the insurance company to maximize the odds that you will get the compensation you deserve for those losses. Furthermore, talk to your lawyer about how to prove that the other driver's negligence caused the accident and how the citation may support that claim.

5. How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Orlando?

According to Florida law, you have up to four years after the date of an accident to move forward with a car accident claim. Florida has a longer statute of limitations than many other states, which allows injury victims time to recover following a car accident. However, time may get away from you sometimes, and you may struggle to start your claim on time.

In rare cases, your lawyer can find exceptions to the statute of limitations that can make it possible for you to move forward with a car accident claim even after the statute of limitations has passed. Talk to a lawyer as soon after your accident as possible to get a better idea of whether you have the right to move forward with your claim even if more than four years have passed since your accident.

6. When, After My Car Accident in Orlando, Should I Get in Touch With a Lawyer?

While you may have time to file a claim under Florida law, you should still contact an attorney as soon after your accident as possible. Dealing with a car accident claim can quickly become more complicated than you may have anticipated. You may need to deal with several insurance company snarls and challenges. Do not delay talking to an attorney.

An attorney can help you:

  • Navigate early conversations with the insurance company so you do not inadvertently accept liability for even part of the accident, which could reduce the compensation you can ultimately recover.
  • Locate evidence related to your car accident. Since evidence can disappear quickly after a car accident, you may need someone to investigate your car accident as soon as possible after the event so that you will have all the information you need to move forward with your claim.
  • Help you learn more about how to get the medical treatment you need, even if you do not have the funds available to cover the initial cost of treatment.

By working with a lawyer in the early days after your car accident, you can feel much more confident about the eventual outcome of your claim.

7. How Do I Know If I Need a Lawyer After My Orlando Car Accident?

You should contact an Orlando car accident lawyer any time you suffer injuries in a car accident due to another driver's negligence. An injury claim can quickly become much more complicated than a claim involving property damage alone. You may have to fight with the insurance company to get the compensation you deserve.

By working with our lawyers, however, you can feel much more confident about the outcome of your case. You may notice several signs that you should contact a lawyer to work on your behalf, such as:

The Insurance Company Denies Liability for the Accident

Sometimes, the driver that caused your accident may come forward immediately and admit the damaging actions that likely led to your car accident. However, in some cases, you may have to fight to get the insurance company to accept liability for the accident.

Accepting any portion of liability for the accident could reduce the compensation you can recover or even make it impossible for you to get compensation. A lawyer can help lay out evidence that will more clearly display liability for the accident and, therefore, the compensation you deserve for those injuries.

The Insurance Company Denies the Extent of Your Injuries

Sometimes, the insurance company may try to ignore the full extent of the injuries you sustained because of your car accident.

That may mean:

  • Insisting that you did not suffer all the injuries you claim.
  • Trying to prove that you do not need all the medical treatment you claimed due to your car accident injuries.
  • Trying to show that you do not have the limitations you claim due to your car accident injuries.

If the insurance company does not acknowledge the full extent of your injuries, it could leave you without the compensation you deserve for those losses. A lawyer can help fight to showcase exactly what injuries you sustained and what limitations you have had to contend with because of them.

The Insurance Company Issues a Fast Settlement Offer

A fast settlement offer after a car accident rarely encompasses the full extent of the damages you sustained because of your accident. Each car accident has unique elements, and each victim may have different challenges.

If you receive a fast settlement offer from the insurance company, it does not want you to go over the settlement with a lawyer and calculate your damages.

Working with an attorney gives you a better idea of how much compensation you deserve, which can put you in a better position to fight for maximum compensation for the losses you sustained.

After an Orlando car accident caused by another person’s negligence, contact Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, as soon as possible. Our legal professionals can help answer your questions, manage your claim, and ensure you receive fair treatment and compensation from the insurance company.

Contact an Orlando Car Accident Lawyer for the Help You Deserve

If you suffered injuries in an Orlando car accident, an Orlando car accident attorney can calculate the compensation you deserve and navigate your claim most effectively. With offices across both Florida coasts, including Orlando, you can easily reach Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, at (407) 759-4565, or you can write to us using our online contact page.

Orlando Office
1701 Park Center Drive, Suite #240-G
Orlando, FL 32835
Phone: (407) 759-4565

 

Matthew Dolman

Personal Injury Lawyer

This article was written and reviewed by Matthew Dolman. Matt has been a practicing civil trial, personal injury, products liability, and mass tort lawyer since 2004. He has successfully fought for more than 11,000 injured clients and acted as lead counsel in more than 1,000 lawsuits. Always on the cutting edge of personal injury law, Matt is actively engaged in complex legal matters, including Suboxone, AFFF, and Ozempic lawsuits.  Matt is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum for resolving individual cases in excess of $1 million and $2 million, respectively. He has also been selected by his colleagues as a Florida Superlawyer and as a member of Florida’s Legal Elite on multiple occasions. Further, Matt has been quoted in the media numerous times and is a sought-after speaker on a variety of legal issues and topics.

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