Florida Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney

Auto Accident Lawyer Serving Naples Injury Victims

An accident attorney and personal injury lawyer at Harris Law Firm, P.A. is available to help your Naples family through your time of challenge and loss which occurred in a serious traffic accident.

Because we have experience in handling all types of vehicle accidents, including car accidents, motorcycle crashes, semi accidents, and pedestrian accidents, we know how to quickly investigate the facts, gather evidence, and negotiate with the at fault driver’s insurance company.

Naples Car Accident Claim

We know you want your car accident injury claim to be settled as quickly and as fairly as possible.  That is why we start working right gathering the required insurance paperwork, medical paperwork, and accident reports.

We don’t ignore you, and are happy to take your call.  We talk to you, and under the appropriate circumstances, witnesses, right away. We contact the negligent driver’s insurance company, request important coverage information, and with your input, make a claim.  An experienced auto accident lawyer is actively involved at every stage of this process.

Examples or driver negligence in Naples auto accidents include driving too fast for conditions, driver inattention, texting while driving, running a red light, failing to yield, talking on the cell phone, and many, many more.

Naples Accident Claim Attorney

Contact a personal injury attorney at our law firm today.  We are here to help those who have sustained serious injuries in a Naples auto accident.  Home and hospital visits are available, so please do not hesitate to arrange a free and confidential consultation, through email, online chat, or phone call.

Personal Injury Lawyer Serving Lee County, Charlotte County, Collier County, Hendry County and beyond

At the Harris Law Firm, P.A., we find that many of our clients have questions regarding personal injury claims and auto accident cases, including which parties can be considered liable in an auto accident and what kind of compensation the plaintiff is entitled. If you would like to learn more about auto accident cases, please feel free to reference this list of frequently asked questions.

A personal injury lawyer from our firm, serving Lee County, Charlotte County, Collier County, Hendry County and beyond, would be pleased to answer any additional questions you may have or to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case in person.  Please contact our law firm today.

Can I file a personal injury claim?

If you have been injured in an auto accident or someone you love has been seriously injured or killed, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim or wrongful death lawsuit against the liable party or parties. A personal injury lawyer from Harris Law Firm, P.A., serving Lee County, Charlotte County, Collier County, Hendry County and beyond, can review your case and advise you of your legal rights and options.

You can rest assured that our staff will work diligently to ensure your claims and rights are fully protected, and we will treat your case with the care and attention it deserves. At Harris Law Firm, P.A., we are committed to protecting the rights of individuals who have been injured through no fault of their own to ensure maximum recovery for the client.

Can I afford to hire a personal injury lawyer?

At Harris Law Firm, P.A., we believe that individuals who have been harmed as a result of another party’s negligent and reckless actions deserve the very best legal representation, regardless of their financial standing. We handle our personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis to meet the needs of our clients. This means that you do not have to pay anything when you sign up.  If you do not receive a recovery on your case, then you will not be obligated to pay attorneys’ fees. Therefore, you, as the client, obtain free legal representation unless and until we obtain a recovery for you.

Who can be held liable in an auto accident case?

In a multi-vehicle collision, the at-fault driver is liable for any damages that occur. In motor vehicle accidents with special circumstances, such as those involving product liability or more than one at-fault driver, it may also be possible to file a lawsuit against a third party. Punitive damages may be available in cases involving a motorist who was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. We also pursue punitive damages when we can prove the other driver was texting while driving.

Even if the at-fault driver does not have insurance, you may have uninsured/underinsured (UM) motorist benefits available.  An auto accident attorney at Harris Law Firm, P.A. can review your case and identify the liable parties or insurance companies.  If you are seeking legal counsel from a personal injury lawyer in the Lee County, Charlotte County, Collier County, Hendry County or elsewhere in Southwest Florida, we have the knowledge and experience to handle your case, no matter how complex.

What compensation may I be eligible for?

It may be possible to obtain financial compensation for medical costs, rehabilitation costs, loss of wages, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and property damage if you have been in an auto accident.  Please note that you can still obtain these damages if your injury is an aggravation of a pre-existing condition.  In the event that a member of your family was seriously injured, then you may be able to recover compensation for long-term care or, if you lost a loved one, funerary costs.

What are the different types of insurance and what do they do?

In Florida, there are different types of insurance that will apply to your automobile accident case.  These different types of insurance all have different roles in your treatment as well as making a financial recovery for your injuries. Speak to an attorney immediately about the different types of coverage available to you so that your best interests can be protected.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

PIP is your own no-fault insurance that is required by law in Florida.  This coverage comes from your own insurance policy and not the other person involved in the accident.  PIP coverage provides $10,000 of medical and disability coverage regardless of fault.  This means that you can receive PIP benefits in an accident that was your fault.

You do not have to pay back any PIP benefits if you make a financial recovery. PIP coverage pays 80% of your medical payments directly to your health care providers.  PIP coverage is primary by law in Florida and must be billed before health insurance or other coverage.  PIP also pays mileage and 60% of your lost wages every two weeks upon submission. This means that if you can obtain payment for mileage to your doctor’s office as well as partial payment for time that you take off from work to go to your doctor.

Medical Payments (MedPay)

Medical Payments coverage is additional no-fault coverage that you purchase for yourself.  It pays 100% of medical bills and makes up for any uncovered portions of PIP coverage as well as any health insurance deductible that you may have.  If you have medical payment coverage, you can apportion your PIP coverage for lost wages while paying your medical bills with MedPay.

Health Insurance

Your health insurance is secondary to your no-fault coverages.  After your no-fault coverages are exhausted, all of your accident related medical bills should be submitted to health insurance.  You will be subject to deductibles and other qualifications required by your health insurer.

Caution: We understand from news reports that some lawyers connected with TV referral services discourage their clients from using their available health insurance to pay for their health care costs connected to an auto accident, especially when they refer the patient to a health clinic associated with the TV referral service.  Apparently, the idea behind this is that this will prop up the amount of medical bills needed to be paid for, and improve the settlement offer.  Bad idea.  Not only does this not have the intended effect, as an injury victim has an obligation to mitigate their damages, but really serves to benefit the health clinic and not the patient/client.  Be careful of lawyers who suggest you engage in this unhelpful tactic.

Bodily Injury (BI)

Bodily injury liability coverage is the other person’s insurance.  BI coverage is insurance that the other person has purchased to pay for your physical injuries including pain and suffering.  This coverage is based on the other driver being at fault.  Many lawsuits are filed over BI coverage.  Making a claim for the other person’s BI coverage can be very complex. Contact an accident attorney.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM)

UM coverage is insurance that you purchase for physical injuries, including pain and suffering, which pays over and above PIP, MedPay, and the other person’s BI coverage. To make a claim for UM benefits, you must not be the person at-fault for the accident and you must have your UM carrier approve any settlements made with other persons.  Failure to get permission may result in prejudice to your UM case and denial of coverage.

This is why you need to speak to an experienced personal injury lawyer if you are injured in an accident.  If you have UM coverage, there are things that you must do to preserve your UM coverage.  If an attorney makes a UM claim for you, then you may be able to obtain damages in excess of your UM coverage if your insurance company has violated the insurance regulations.

Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer

As you can see, car accident claims can be complex.  Before you talk to an insurance adjuster or fill out claims paperwork, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at the Harris Law Firm, P.A. today. Just a phone call away, we can get you on the right track in your serious accident injury claim.

Hit and Run Accident Victims – Contact a Florida Personal Injury Lawyer to Protect Your Rights

In Florida it is the duty of motorists to stop and render aid in automobile accidents involving death or personal injuries.  Time is of the essence to people who are injured in a traffic accident. Failure to stop and render aid may delay or prevent the ability of first responders who deliver critical life-saving treatment to other motorists or pedestrians.

The victim’s condition could deteriorate significantly because of another motorist’s failure to stop and render aid.  This failure by the driver may become the basis of liability and may result in criminal consequences for that motorist. If you have been the victim of a hit and run accident and need an attorney, contact a car accident attorney at Harris Law Firm, P.A.

Car Owner Liability

In Florida, the owner of the vehicle is also vicariously liable under the “dangerous instrumentality” doctrine for the negligence of the driver that was entrusted with the vehicle.  A purpose of this doctrine is to find insurance to protect injured motorists after an accident.  Many times, the owner of the vehicle will have his or her own car insurance or an umbrella policy that applies to your case.  The owner of the vehicle may or may not know whether he or she has insurance that applies to hit and run car accidents.

Leaving the Scene of the Accident

Florida law makes it a third degree felony to leave the scene of a crash involving personal injuries, and further, makes leaving the scene of a crash involving death a first degree felony.  Further, there is a two year mandatory minimum sentence if the crash involving death was the result of driving under the influence (DUI).  While these drivers are frequently punished in criminal court, the criminal aspect of these cases is separate and apart from what we do at Harris Law Firm.  A car accident lawyer handles only civil aspects of the case, including recovery of money damages for your injuries.

Pedestrian Accidents

Traffic accidents involving pedestrians tend to have serious consequences for the pedestrian.  After being struck by a car or truck, a pedestrian can sustain serious and debilitating injuries, requiring amputations or multiple surgeries; sometimes the victim may even die. If a loved one has been killed in a pedestrian accident and you need an attorney, contact a pedestrian accident lawyer at the Harris Law Firm, P.A.

Car Accident Injury Claim

If you have been seriously harmed in a car accident, then it is critical you contact an attorney from Harris Law Firm, P.A. as quickly as possible to learn about your legal rights and to protect them.

The documentation of the accident, your injuries, witness accounts and all aspects of your accident must be reviewed carefully.  It may be necessary to further investigate the accident, or to locate key witnesses.  As time goes by, this can become more difficult to accomplish.

When you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, your focus should be on physical and mental recovery, not on insurance claims and paperwork.  Take advantage of the skill, experience and dedication of an accident lawyer from Harris Law Firm, P.A. and take comfort in knowing that we will fight for a fair and full settlement amount of your claim.

The Harris Law Firm, P.A. seeks damages from all types of car accidents including the following:

• head-on crash
• T-Bone crash
• multiple vehicle crash
• dram shop (bar liability)
• rollover crash
• construction zone crash
• DUI crash
• car-truck accident
• catastrophic injury
• spine injury
• brain injury
• wrongful death

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury in a car accident, contact Harris Law Firm, P.A. to discuss the details of the accident and injury.  You will speak to an experienced car accident attorney.

We know that this is a time of increased stress for you, but it is important to protect yourself and your family in the future, and you need skilled legal assistance in making an injury claim.

What happens if I am hit by an uninsured or underinsured motorist?

Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage (UM) is insurance coverage that you purchase for yourself in the event of an automobile accident where the at-fault driver either has no insurance or not enough insurance. It is elective, not mandatory, auto insurance. Because it is elective and don’t understand it, unfortunately, many people waive this coverage.  Waiving UM or failing to “stack” your UM coverage is a big, big mistake.

Many drivers in Florida do not have any auto insurance at all.  Others purchase the absolute minimum coverage to stay “legal” per Florida laws – only to find out after an automobile accident that they do not have bodily injury liability coverage (BI).

Although Florida law states that a driver may have his or her driver’s license suspended if they cannot cover damages exceeding $10,000.00 after an accident, I recommend that you purchase UM coverage of your own.  Without your own UM coverage, you might be left without any way to obtain payment for the medical expenses, physical injuries, pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and inconvenience that you have suffered.

If you or someone you know has been injured by an uninsured or underinsured motorist in a car accident and needs a lawyer, contact a car accident attorney at the Harris Law Firm, P.A. serving Cape Coral, Fort Myers, LaBelle, Lehigh Acres, Naples, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, and the rest of Southwest Florida.

Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawsuits

UM cases are more complex than a liability case against the at-fault driver.  In a UM case, your uninsured motorist carrier will stand in the shoes of the negligent driver at trial.  In these accident cases, our Southwest Florida firm will file a lawsuit on your behalf against your own insurance company when they fail to pay you the UM benefits that you are due.

Many times, your insurance company will assert that they have not denied your claim but, instead, do not value the claim in the same manner that we do.  Your insurance company has a duty to act fairly and honestly while settling your claim; we may pursue your rights with a Civil Remedy Notice of Insurer Violation with the Florida Department of Financial Services.

In certain cases, the Department of Financial Services may fine or punish the insurance company for denying your claim.  After the filing of the Civil Remedy Notice of Insurer Violation, your insurance company has 60 days to pay your claim.

Uninsured Motorist Claims after a Car Accident: Contact an Accident Attorney

If you are having difficulty resolving insurance claims after being hit by an uninsured driver, contact a car accident lawyer at the Harris Law Firm, P.A. to assert and protect your rights.

The streets and highways of Southwest Florida can be a dangerous. Just think of all the recent highway crashes, vehicle rollovers, and trucking accidents you’ve heard about on I-75.  Think about the traffic congestion, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and pedestrian accidents, which occurred throughout Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, Naples, LaBelle, and Port Charlotte.

Inattentive drivers, drunk drivers, drivers texting while driving, aggressive drivers, reckless drivers can change your life in an instant.

Car accidents are the No. 1 cause of death and injury in both the USA and Florida.  If you have been seriously injured in a car accident in which another driver was at fault, then contact car accident attorney David Harris of the Harris Law Firm, P.A.

When dealing with injuries, some of which can be extremely serious, it is difficult to face dealing with insurance companies and the claims process.  In fact, if you accept a settlement from an insurance company without legal assistance, you typically lose the ability to make future claims, as well as pursue any other parties who may have contributed to your injuries.  A personal injury attorney from the Harris Law Firm, P.A. can help you to ensure that all possible claims are made in your case.

Failure to obey posted street signs, texting and driving, driving while intoxicated, traveling too fast for road conditions, and vehicle defects.  These are just a few of the contributing circumstances that support statistics that every person in Florida will be involved in a motor vehicle accident at some point in his or her life.

Personal Attention and Service

For those car accidents that result in serious personal injury, seek the assistance of an attorney who puts clients first, providing each one with personal service and attention. Because we limit the number of clients we accept, you can rest assured that your case will stay alive and move forward until it is resolved.

Insurance Companies Are Not on Your Side

Insurance companies do not place the interests of the injury victim first and foremost.  In fact, dealing with an insurance claims adjuster following a serious car accident is like being victimized for a second time.  Most large insurance companies use “claims software” to decide the value of a life.  Rarely are human harms and losses factored into the equation.

In many cases, the settlement offered to you by the insurance company is a “low-ball offer.”  When being concerned with medical bills, loss of work and recovering your health, you may not realize that an offer is far lower than you actually could have received with the help of a skilled accident attorney.

If you later develop health problems as a result of the car accident, you lose the ability to make a claim.  Do not accept any insurance company offer without consulting with an accident lawyer from the Harris Law Firm, P.A.  Our attorneys have extensive experience and success in dealing with insurance companies and will fight aggressively for maximum compensation for your injury claim or the death of a loved one.

Compensation Available

When facing serious injuries from a car accident, there are many types of claims for compensation that may be able to be made including:

• medical bills
• hospital costs
• EMS costs
• rehab costs
• physical therapy costs
• lost income
• loss of earning capacity
• future wage loss
• pain and suffering
• future pain and suffering
• vehicle replacement
• transportation costs

Contact a dedicated accident lawyer at the Harris Law Firm, P.A. today.

Motorcycle riders enjoy the open road. An ordinary route turns into an open-air, exciting experience. Motorcyclists, however, are also exposed to dangers not encountered by other motorists. Automobile drivers have a steel cage, with basic safety features such as seat belts and airbags.  Motorcycle riders do not have this safety buffer – there is nothing between them and the road, or between them and the traffic surrounding them.

In the case of a motorcycle crash, contact an experienced Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Cape Coral Florida.

Motorcyclists face numerous hazards in addition to critical exposure in any accident, including the following:

• Visual Recognition
• Motorcycles are smaller objects than passenger cars and trucks. They can be easily unseen – almost invisible – in traffic, road conditions, or weather conditions.
• Road Defects and Debris
• Road defects such as potholes, oil, puddles, tire tread and other auto debris, or other objects on the roadway, ruts, uneven pavement, and railroad tracks, all present challenges to motorcycle riders
• Speed “Wobble”
• At high speeds, the front end of a motorcycle may become unstable and begin to shake or wobble. This problem may be due to a misalignment of the front and rear tires of the motorcycle
• Riding Skills
• A motorcycle requires much more skill and physical coordination to operate than a car. The bike has limits on its maneuverability.

Motorcycle Accident Injuries Are Often Catastrophic

Motorcycle accidents too often result in permanent, catastrophic personal injuries, including paralysis, paresis, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury.  In these serious cases, you should call our experienced Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Fort Myers Florida.  At the Harris Law Firm, P.A., we seek to obtain the full range of available damages to ease those human losses that must be fixed or helped, which represent full justice in our civil justice system, including:

• physical pain and suffering
• mental pain and suffering
• emotional distress
• economic losses
• medical bill
• future medical bills
• lost income
• future lost income, earnings, benefits
• life care planning
• loss of enjoyment of life
• loss of consortium

My goal is to enable as much normalcy as possible in the client’s life, as well as trying to restore some financial certainty so the client and his/her family does not have to move forward alone.

Contact a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Fort Myers

If your serious, permanent injuries were caused by the fault of another driver, or a company , corporation, or defective motorcycle, then contact Harris Law Firm, P.A. to seek justice on your behalf.

Don’t wait. Don’t let time vanquish your needs. Contact us right away for a case evaluation.

Your Values. Your Lawyer. Full Justice.(sm)

Auto Accident Lawyer Here To Help

Almost every personal injury case has its traps – pitfalls for the do-it-yourselfer, as well as for the inexperienced lawyer who “dabbles” in personal injury cases or handles them “on the side” of his real estate practice.

When a serious auto accident, motorcycle accident, or truck accident occurs, you will probably want to speak to an experienced Fort Myers injury law firm you can count on to be experienced in handling serious accident injury claims throughout Southwest Florida.  An auto accident lawyer injury victims can trust will be there for them in their time of need, and who has litigated and tried cases throughout Southwest Florida courthouses.

Look to Us in Your Time of Need

What you can count on in your time of need, is that I personally handle your auto accident claim from beginning to end.  Among the types of cases I aggressively pursue on your behalf:

• rear end collision
• intersection accident
• drunk driver accident
• hit and run
• passenger injury
• driver injuries
• motorcycle accident
• semi accident
• tractor trailer crash
• pedestrian accident
• bicycle accident

We are here to fight for the seriously injured car accident victim, so when you hire a Fort Myers auto accident lawyer at my firm, we promptly investigate the claim by obtaining evidence.  I personally and quickly engage the negligent driver’s insurance company in an effort to quickly maximize your recovery of money damages through settlement.  Depending on the circumstances, an accident lawsuit may have to be filed — without wasting time — to move your case forward.

We Aggressively Fight for Your Compensation

At the Harris Law Firm, P.A., we also make sure that you maximize your benefits. Signing a release, for example, can wipe out your rights in a single stroke of the pen.  Does the release take into account that there may be other parties at fault? Are you protected in the release to esnure you can continue hold others accountable? Key issues that consumers – and sadly many lawyers – overlook. I don’t.  Instead, at the Harris Law Firm we seek the full range of damages which represents full justice in our civil justice system, including:

• physical pain and suffering
• mental pain and suffering;
• emotional distress;
• economic losses
• medical bills
• future medical bills
• lost income
• future lost income
• loss of enjoyment of life

Your accident lawyer should be trying to make sure your medical bills are paid, health care insurance liens are resolved, provable lost income is recovered, and that you are compensated for your pain and suffering.

When injured by a another driver’s negligence or another person’s carelessness, then turn to an experienced personal injury attorney local families know will focus on your needs and candidly tell you where you stand.  To protect your rights, consider a Florida trial attorney and personal injury lawyer who approaches every case with care, compassion, and the depth of knowledge and skill necessary to help you bring it to as conclusion.

I ‘m personal injury attorney David Harris and I civilly prosecute serious injury cases throughout Southwest Florida involving auto accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, and more.

I handle your personal injury claim on a contingent basis, so you do not pay any fee up front – my legal fee is paid when I resolve your personal injury claim.

As accident attorneys, we understand that traffic crashes range from the minor annoyance and financial hassle, to serious crashes involving serious personal injury, to the worst crashes involving the tragic traffic fatalities.

We applaud the Naples Daily News recent detailed analysis of the most dangerous roads and dangerous intersections — based on traffic crash data — throughout Collier County and South Lee County.

Here are the links to the series:

• Dangerous intersections:The series
• Dangerous intersections: A map of crash rates
• Dangerous intersections: A map of crash totals
• Dangerous intersections: Where you’re most likely to crash in Collier County
• Dangerous intersections: A closer look at five of Collier County’s worst
• Dangerous intersections: Collier data
• Dangerous intersections: How we did our analysis in Collier, south Lee

Interesting part of the series is the focus on the worst intersections, based on the number of crashes per traffic volume per year. Here is what the Naples News labels as the most dangerous intersections in Collier County:

1. U.S. 41 East at State Road 29
2. Immokalee Road at Collier Boulevard
3. Vanderbilt Beach Road at Collier Boulevard
4. Vanderbilt Beach Road at Livingston Road
5. Pine Ridge Road at Logan Boulevard

Sadly, most, if not all, of these auto accidents are completely preventable. People need to:

1. pay attention
2. wear seat belts
3. stop using cellphones if not using hands free
4. pay attention
5. stop rushing around as though the world was ending
6. pay attention
7. stop texting while driving
8. stop drinking and driving
9. pay attention
10. stop aggressive driving
11. stop eating (with two hands) while driving (some people think using both hands to stuff that burger in their pie hole is okay and that the car will steer itself)
12. stay vigilant
13. practice defensive driving at all times

This list could go on an on . . . Hopefully, you get the point.

The Naples Daily News reports that a fatal pedestrian accident occurred on Marco Island. According to the report and officials, a pedestrian was struck by a car while walking her dog. The fatal pedestrian accident occurred near Kendall Drive and Richards Drive on Marco Island, Florida.  The investigation is continuing.