What to do after a car accidents injury
- Get checked by a medical professional — even if you feel 'okay.' Adrenaline hides injuries for hours or days.
- Call 911 and make sure a police report is filed.
- Photograph vehicles, the scene, debris, skid marks, and any visible injuries.
- Get names and contact info for every driver, passenger, and witness.
- Report the crash to your own insurer — stick to the facts; do not speculate about fault.
- Do not give the other driver's insurance company a recorded statement before talking to a lawyer.
- Keep every receipt, bill, and medical record in one place.
Why hire a lawyer for a car accidents case?
Insurance companies have entire departments built to pay you less. A serious crash claim is a contest of evidence, medical proof, and patience — and most people are pressured to settle before they know the full extent of their injuries. A lawyer levels the field, handles the carrier, and makes sure the value of your case includes future care, lost earning capacity, and the impact on your life — not just last month's ER bill.
Common injuries we see
- Whiplash and cervical spine injuries
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Herniated discs and lumbar injuries
- Fractures (ribs, wrists, ankles, pelvis)
- Internal organ injuries
- Knee and shoulder ligament tears
- Lacerations and scarring
- Post-traumatic stress and anxiety
What you can recover
Florida, Georgia and New York law allows recovery for past and future medical bills, lost wages and lost earning capacity, property damage, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and — in narrow circumstances — punitive damages. The value of a case depends on the severity of the injury, the strength of liability evidence, and how clearly future care needs are documented.
State law that affects your case
Florida applies a modified comparative fault rule — you are barred from recovery if you are more than 50% at fault — while New York uses pure comparative negligence, so your recovery is reduced by your share of fault no matter how large. The statute of limitations for most car accident claims is two years in Florida and three years in New York, and New York's no-fault system requires a 'serious injury' threshold to be met before suing for pain and suffering. All three states also have minimum liability insurance limits that are often lower than the true cost of a serious injury — uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage often becomes the most important source of recovery. Georgia also uses modified comparative fault — but the bar sits at 50% or more (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33), meaning a claimant found exactly half at fault recovers in Florida but not in Georgia — and the statute of limitations for most car accident claims is two years under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. Georgia is a traditional tort state (no mandatory PIP), so medical bills are pursued directly against the at-fault driver's liability coverage.
Insurance company tactics to watch for
- Calling within days to lock in a recorded statement before you have a lawyer.
- Offering a fast, low settlement that closes the claim before treatment is finished.
- Asking for a blanket medical records release so they can dig through unrelated history.
- Blaming pre-existing conditions for crash-related injuries.
- Delaying the file in hopes you'll get tired and accept less.
How our process works
- Free consultation and case evaluation.
- Investigation — scene, vehicles, police report, witnesses, electronic data.
- Medical documentation — coordinating with treating providers and lining up future-care opinions.
- Demand and negotiation with insurance carriers.
- Litigation if the carrier won't pay a fair number.
