Winter Park Car Accident Lawyers - Paul Knopf Bigger
Were you hit by another driver and seriously injured? If so, you could be left with expensive medical bills, lost wages caused by missing time at work, and immense pain and suffering. You deserve compensation for an auto wreck that wasn’t your fault — and a Winter Park car accident attorney from Paul Knopf Bigger can fight to get it.
Our proven and trusted attorneys know how to take on powerful insurance companies and come out on top, and we have a hard-won reputation for doing just that. Our clients aren’t just numbers; they’re real accident victims who need our help. That’s why we’ll take the time to get to know you and your concerns so that we can put them at the center of each and every decision throughout your car accident case.
If you were hurt in a car wreck in Winter Park and someone else is to blame, trust us to pursue the compensation you need to move on with your life. Contact Paul Knopf Bigger for a free, no-obligation consultation. Let a Winter Park car accident attorney from our law firm guide you through the legal process and advocate for your financial recovery and peace of mind.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Winter Park, FL
Reckless, careless, and negligent drivers are behind many car accidents in Winter Park, often due to:
- Speeding/traveling too fast for conditions
- Distracted driving, such as texting or cell phone use
- Tailgating/following too closely
- Turning or changing lanes without signaling or checking mirrors
- Making illegal turns or lane changes
- Reckless driving, including excessive speeding, swerving through traffic, or disregarding traffic signals
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Drunk/drugged driving
- Drowsy/fatigued driving
- Driver inexperience
- Backing up out of a driveway or parking spot without looking behind
Other factors contributing to car accidents include adverse weather, poor road conditions, low lighting/visibility, or mechanical issues caused by vehicle defects or inadequate maintenance.
Common Types of Car Accidents in Winter Park, FL
The attorneys at Paul Knopf Bigger help clients recover from all kinds of car accidents in Winter Park, including from the following:
- Rear-end collisions
- Hear-on collisions
- Sideswipe collisions
- Side-impact/T-bone collisions
- Rollover accidents
- Single-vehicle accidents
- Multi-vehicle/pile-up accidents
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist accidents
- Uber/Lyft accidents
- Hit-and-run accidents
Types of Injuries Caused by an Auto Accident
The violent force unleashed by a car crash can lead to serious injuries, including the following:
- Severe lacerations, excessive bleeding, and permanent scarring
- Abrasions/road rash
- Degloving injuries
- Burns from post-crash vehicle fires
- Dislocated joints
- Broken bones
- Ligament sprains or tears
- Muscle/tendon strains or tears
- Whiplash
- Nerve damage
- Herniated spinal discs
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Internal injuries and bleeding
- Facial injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Traumatic amputation or limb loss
Damages You Could Be Entitled to from a Car Accident
If you were hurt in a car crash that someone else caused, you could pursue compensation for the many different consequences of that accident, including:
- Medical treatment and rehabilitation costs, including ambulance services, emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, medications, pain management care, and physical or occupational therapy
- Long-term care expenses for assistance and support you need for prolonged or permanent disabilities
- Lost wages or income if you need to miss time from work or temporarily transfer to a lower-paying role to accommodate your injuries
- Loss of future earning capacity if you become permanently disabled from your job and other kinds of work
- Physical pain and anguish caused by your injuries and subsequent medical treatment, such as post-operative pain
- Emotional trauma and distress
- Loss of enjoyment or quality of life due to physical disabilities or permanent scarring/disfigurement
- Loss of consortium if your spouse or child was injured
- Vehicle repair expenses, including alternative transportation costs such as car rental fees
- Vehicle replacement or reimbursement for the actual cash value of your car if totaled in the accident
What to Do if You Are Involved in a Car Crash
What you do in the aftermath of a car accident in Winter Park will affect your ability to recover the compensation you deserve. Taking the following steps can lay the groundwork for a strong case for compensation:
- Report the accident to the authorities and request a copy of the police accident report.
- Seek prompt medical attention to have a doctor check for injuries you sustained in the crash.
- Follow your healthcare provider’s treatment plan and recovery instructions.
- Notify your car insurance provider about the accident to confirm your eligibility for personal injury protection benefits and other available coverage under your policy.
- Obtain copies of medical records of your treatment and rehabilitation.
- Keep all bills, invoices, and receipts to document your expenses.
- Gather your pay stubs or income statements to help calculate lost wages you incur after missing time from work or working in a reduced earning capacity.
Finally, talk to a Winter Park car accident attorney from Paul Knopf Bigger about pursuing compensation.
Who Could Be Liable for an Auto Wreck?
For the most part, one or more drivers involved in an auto wreck will bear liability for the injuries others suffered as a result. However, under certain circumstances, other parties may also be to blame. For example, if an at-fault driver was working at the time of the auto accident, their employer may also be liable.
Suppose the at-fault driver was operating someone else’s vehicle at the time. In that case, the vehicle’s owner might also bear liability for negligent entrustment — that is, letting the driver use their vehicle when they know or should know that that person poses a significant risk of causing an accident. A driver’s visible intoxication or a history of being in car accidents could establish that the entrustment was negligent.
Finally, when a car accident occurs due to a mechanical problem caused by a defect in the car or one of its components, the vehicle or auto part manufacturer may be to blame for the wreck.
Time Limits for Filing a Car Accident Injury Lawsuit in Winter Park, FL
The Florida statute of limitations typically gives you two years to file a car accident lawsuit following a crash. While two years may seem like plenty of time, don’t wait to start working with a Winter Park car accident lawyer.
The attorneys at Paul Knopf Bigger will need time to investigate and prepare your case. If you file your lawsuit after the limitation period expires on your car accident claim, the court could dismiss it as untimely, and you could lose your right to demand compensation from those to blame for your injuries. Don’t let this happen to you — call us to get started on your case immediately.
Could You Recover Compensation if You’re Partly to Blame for an Auto Accident?
Under Florida law, partial responsibility for a crash does not prevent you from securing compensation. State law follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which allows you to recover compensation as long as you are no more than 50 percent to blame for an accident. But your financial recovery could be reduced in proportion to your share of fault, which is why getting help from a Winter Park car accident attorney is crucial. You need experienced legal counsel to protect your interests if the other driver or party at fault for the crash tries to minimize their liability by shifting blame for the accident onto you.
Will It Cost You Anything to Hire a Car Accident Attorney in Winter Park, FL?
At Paul Knopf Bigger, we know that a motor vehicle accident can cause significant physical, emotional, and financial consequences. You may need to pay for expensive medical treatment and vehicle repairs, which can become more challenging if your injuries render you unable to work.
So our car accident law firm handles claims on a contingency-fee basis. Under this arrangement, you pay nothing upfront to hire us. We get paid only if we win compensation for you in a settlement or at trial, and our fee comes from the financial recovery we secure for you. Not only does this mean you have no out-of-pocket cost to get the legal representation you need, it also motivates us to recover as much money for you as possible.
Because a contingency fee arrangement aligns our interests with yours, you can expect our team to fight as hard as necessary to secure the maximum compensation possible for you.
Contact a Winter Park, FL Car Accident Attorney Today
Are you facing the painful aftermath of an auto collision you didn’t cause? Are you struggling to pay your bills because you’re out of work while recovering from your injuries? You shouldn’t be left to face these hardships if someone else caused the accident, and the attorneys at Paul Knopf Bigger are here to help.
We’ve secured millions of dollars in compensation on behalf of clients like you, and we’re ready to put everything we’ve learned to work on your case. Contact us today for a free consultation with a car accident attorney in Winter Park.