West Palm Beach Car Accident Lawyer

Car accidents bring pain, worry, and frustration, turning victims’ lives upside down. If you were hurt in a car accident in the West Palm Beach area, you may be wondering who is going to pay for the related costs and how long your injuries are going to affect your ability to work. A West Palm Beach car accident lawyer from Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers can lead your case for damages.

We can seek financial compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, and more. We’ve won millions for our past clients, ensuring they had the finances to cover their losses. We want to do the same for you. It costs nothing up front to speak with us and start a case. Call for a free consultation where we can explain how our West Palm Beach personal injury lawyers can help you.

Recoverable Damages in a West Palm Beach Car Accident Case

After a car accident, medical procedures and physician visits can be expensive. A National Safety Council (NSC) report shows how much motor vehicle accident costs can be. On average, the economic cost of disabling injuries was $155,000 in 2021. Household tasks can also add up if you cannot work.

Florida allows car accident victims in West Palm Beach to seek compensation from the at-fault party for the following economic and non-economic damages:

• Medical costs (past, current. and future)
• Loss of wages
• Reduced earning capacity (future lost income)
• Pain and suffering (physical and mental)
• Emotional distress
• Mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of companionship
• Loss of consortium
• Impaired quality of life
• Property damage

Our law firm will seek compensation for all your medical care needs so that you don’t have to pay for your injuries out of pocket. Healing may take months, years, or longer – and our team will work to show an insurance company that you deserve compensation to pay for it.

Depending on the severity of your injuries, a crash could affect every aspect of your life. We will assess the material and non-material impacts of the accident and then seek a settlement that reflects your suffering as well as your financial costs.

Wrongful Death Damages

Please accept our condolences if you lost a loved one in an auto accident in West Palm Beach. We can lead your wrongful death lawsuit for damages against the negligent party.

Your claim for compensation could recover damages such as funeral and burial expenses, the decedent’s medical bills, their lost household income, and other related damages. We will take care of your case while you tend to your loved one’s final arrangements.

How Our Injury Lawyers Can Assist After a Car Accident in West Palm Beach

Whether you were hit by a truck driver on I-95 or an Uber driver pulling out of a shop along Okeechobee Boulevard, we can help. Despite the causes of accidents throughout Florida, negligent drivers and other parties should be held accountable.

Our attorneys will handle all the legal complexities of your case so that you don’t have to worry about anything more than your recovery. This includes:

• Investigating the accident in West Palm Beach
• Determining the liable parties we can hold responsible for all your compensatory damages, past, future, and ongoing
• Gathering and reviewing case evidence that backs your claims, such as a police accident report, witness statements, expert testimony, traffic camera footage, photos, and other documentation

We will aim for maximum compensation regardless of the accident’s cause. Whether you suffered injuries in a head-on collision in West Palm Beach or got hurt in a rideshare crash involving a Lyft or Uber vehicle, our auto accident lawyers can help.

At Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers, we take care of all the following for injured parties in personal injury cases:

Offer a Complimentary Consultation

Every personal injury case starts with a complimentary consultation, an important part of the process as the details of every accident differ. During this call, we will get to know you and the details of your case.

We will also discuss the next steps and how we plan to seek the compensation that you deserve. The complimentary consultation is also a great time for you to get to know our car accident lawyers in West Palm Beach and ask questions you might have about the process of an insurance claim or an accident lawsuit.

Lead Settlement Negotiation Talks With the Insurance Provider

Because Florida is a no-fault state, we can seek compensation from your insurance provider to find out how much your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage will cover. However, if you can seek compensation from the other driver, we will do so. We can also look into recovering compensation from uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage if you have it.

We will handle the entire process of insurance negotiations and seek an out-of-court settlement. While we can often seek a fair settlement in car accident cases, our South Florida legal team is ready to take your case to trial if this presents the best option for your compensation.

File a Third-Party Lawsuit on Your Behalf

If a third-party lawsuit makes sense for your case, we can assist you by representing you during the process. We can establish fault and determine that the four elements of negligence are present in your case. Third parties in West Palm Beach car accident cases can include:

• A repair shop
• A municipality
• An auto parts maker or manufacturer
• Another motorist or road user

Our West Palm Beach car accident attorneys will review the traffic accident and list every party that owes you damages and then seek compensation from them.

Florida’s Car Accident Laws and Your Legal Options After a Crash

Our attorneys understand Florida’s car accident laws and will determine the best legal steps to take for your case.

Florida’s No-Fault Car Accident Laws

As mentioned, Florida is a no-fault state, so regardless of fault, you can seek compensation for your injuries from your insurance provider. The state requires all Florida drivers to carry a minimum of $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) and a minimum of $10,000 in property damage liability (PDL).

Depending on the car accident’s outcome, it is possible to have damages that exceed the $10,000 limit. If injury costs exceed this amount, we can seek compensation through the other party’s insurance or a third-party lawsuit.

Third-Party Lawsuit Legal Requirements

A third-party lawsuit seeks compensation from the responsible party. If you have serious injuries, we can help you bring a case against the negligent driver.

To demonstrate fault, we must establish the following four elements of negligence:

• Duty of care: We must demonstrate that the other party held a legal duty of care for your safety.
• Breach of duty: We must establish that the defendant breached that duty of care by acting negligently or recklessly.
• Causation: We must show the breach of duty caused the accident.
• Actual damages: We must determine that actual damages occurred. These are the costs that we may seek to recoup.

How Florida’s Comparative Fault Laws Could Affect Your Compensation

Fault is not always simple to establish. In many car accident cases, both parties share some degree of responsibility.

However, Florida’s comparative negligence laws allow you to seek compensation even if you are partially to blame for the accident, per Florida Statutes § 768.81. However, your compensation amount will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

Establishing Fault

It is important that we gather solid evidence in order to demonstrate that the other party was primarily at fault. We will assist you in determining fault by collecting critical evidence.

Important Steps to Take for Your Injury Case in West Palm Beach

You may have many questions about your car accident case. For now, know that you can take several steps to protect the value of your case.

Follow Through on Your Doctor’s Orders

You should seek emergency care immediately if you have symptoms after a car accident. Then, follow your doctor’s orders. Take the prescribed medications and get recommended follow-up treatment.

This helps link your accident to your injuries, prove the extent of your injuries, and demonstrate your prognosis. It’s also important to get medical care to give yourself the best chance of recovery.

Be Aware of Low Settlement Offers from Insurers

The insurer could contact you and make an offer soon after the accident. Let us review these offers to ensure you’re getting a fair settlement.

We can investigate your case and your health outlook to be sure you’re receiving the compensation you need to cover your medical bills in the past, present, and future.

Act Before the Statute of Limitations Deadline in Florida

If you are eligible to file a lawsuit, you must meet Florida’s statute of limitations deadline. Generally, we must file all lawsuits within two years from the accident date, per Florida Statutes § 95.11. However, it is also possible that this statute of limitations deadline is shorter or longer, depending on the details of the car accident.

It is important to discuss the details of your case with a car accident lawyer’s team as soon as possible.

Our West Palm Beach Car Accident Lawyer Can Get to Work on Your Case Today

Our car accident lawyers serving West Palm Beach, FL, can fight for you. Our team understands Florida’s no-fault laws and the legal process so that we can help you get the compensation that you deserve.

Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers takes pride in treating clients in Palm Beach County like members of our family. You can expect to work directly with our firm’s partners if you hire us. Call us for a free consultation today for legal representation that can start your recovery path.