Fort Pierce Car Accident Lawyers
Living on Florida’s east coast can feel like a dream, with our pristine beaches and amazing weather. Yet even in this little slice of paradise, car accidents can and do happen. According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were 5,666 car crashes in St. Lucie County in 2024 alone.
If you were injured in an auto accident in Fort Pierce, you could be eligible for financial compensation for your losses. This may include money for your lost wages, property damage, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more. Our experienced Fort Pierce personal injury attorneys can guide you through the process, fighting to get you full compensation for your injuries.
Gould Cooksey Fennell represents accident victims across Florida’s Treasure Coast, including Fort Pierce. We offer free initial consultations and handle all cases on a contingency fee basis. Contact our law offices today to schedule an appointment with a Fort Pierce car accident lawyer.
When You Can File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Florida
In Florida, you can file a lawsuit for your car accident injuries if another person (or entity) caused the crash. In most cases, these claims are based on a theory of negligence. This legal concept means that a person failed to use the level of care that a reasonably prudent person would use in the same situation.
To win a personal injury case, the victim (plaintiff) must prove that the at-fault party (defendant) was negligent in some way. This involves producing evidence of four key elements:
- Duty: the defendant had a legal obligation to act with reasonable care.
- Breach: the defendant failed to meet that duty (such as by speeding or running a stop sign).
- Causation: the defendant’s actions directly caused the accident.
- Damages: the plaintiff suffered losses as a result.
For example, if another driver ignores a stop sign and crashes into your car, they have breached their duty to use reasonable care. Because this violation was the direct cause of the accident, this driver could be held financially responsible for your injuries.
Negligence is often fairly obvious, such as accidents caused by speeding or distracted driving. However, not every car accident claim is straightforward. There may be situations where more than one driver is responsible for an accident. You can even pursue legal action against the manufacturer of a defective part or a government agency if it failed to maintain the road where the crash occurred.
It is also possible to file a car accident lawsuit in cases where the defendant acted intentionally or recklessly. For example, if the defendant crashed into your car while driving drunk, you can sue them for your losses. This civil lawsuit will be separate from any criminal charges that may be brought by prosecutors.
Our Fort Pierce car accident attorneys are dedicated to helping our clients understand their rights and options. During a free initial consultation, we will listen to your story and offer you legal advice. If you decide to hire our law firm, you will have peace of mind knowing that we will aggressively advocate for your right to full compensation.
Compensation You Can Recover After a Car Accident
If you were injured in a crash in Fort Pierce, Florida, you may be able to recover three types of damages: economic, non-economic, and punitive damages.
- Economic damages cover your direct financial losses. They may include money for medical bills, future medical treatment, lost wages, reduced earning potential, and vehicle repairs.
- Non-economic damages compensate you for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and other intangible harms.
- Punitive damages are reserved for cases involving extreme recklessness or intentional misconduct, such as DUI-related car crashes. They are meant to punish the wrongdoer rather than to compensate an injury victim.
Together, economic and non-economic damages are considered compensatory damages because they compensate an accident victim for their losses. They are available in every case.
Punitive damages are a bit different because they are designed to punish rather than to compensate. Punitive damages are only awarded in more unusual cases involving intentional or reckless conduct. Our Fort Pierce car accident lawyers will advise you as to whether punitive damages may be available in your case.
Finally, if your loved one was killed in a car accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault party. Through this type of personal injury claim, you can recover money for funeral expenses, medical costs, loss of support and companionship, and other related damages.
Remember that the at-fault driver’s insurance company will rarely offer you a fair settlement unless they know that there is a possibility that your case could go to court. In fact, an insurance adjuster will almost certainly offer you a lowball settlement offer in the hopes that you’ll accept it and the case will be resolved for pennies on the dollar. For this reason, you should never talk to the other driver’s insurance company, give a statement, or sign any documents until you have had a chance to talk to a Fort Pierce car accident attorney.
Why You Should Hire Our Fort Pierce Car Accident Lawyers
Most car accident claims are covered by the at-fault driver’s car insurance. Unfortunately, that does not necessarily mean that you will get full compensation simply by filing a claim. You should always keep in mind that the insurance company is focused on its own profits, not your best interests.
An experienced attorney can handle all communications with the insurance company, protecting you from lowball settlement offers and aggressive tactics. They will:
- Investigate the facts of your accident and gather critical evidence
- Interview witnesses
- Consult with accident reconstruction experts and medical experts
- Prepare and send a demand letter that outlines your case and makes a demand for compensation
- Negotiate aggressively to achieve a fair settlement
- Take your case to trial
Research shows that accident victims who are represented by legal counsel recover about 40% more in compensation compared to those who handle claims on their own. Insurers know that a represented client is prepared to go to court if necessary. As a result, they tend to take these claims far more seriously.
Most personal injury cases are resolved outside of court, typically through settlement. It is often necessary to file a lawsuit to preserve your legal rights and to encourage fair negotiations. Filing a lawsuit does not mean that your case will go to trial.
Florida has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. That means that you have 2 years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Your Fort Pierce car accident lawyer may recommend that you file a lawsuit to preserve your rights and to continue to gather evidence through the discovery process.
Even after a lawsuit is filed, your attorney will work to resolve your case on your behalf. If the insurance company won’t offer fair compensation, then they will take your case to trial. In court, they will introduce evidence, question witnesses, and make arguments before asking a jury to return a verdict in your favor.
While it is possible to represent yourself in a Fort Pierce car accident case, it is generally only advisable in cases where you have only suffered property damage and/or very minor injuries. If you have suffered more serious injuries, then you will need a lawyer to advocate for your interests.
Remember that settlement agreements require you to release the defendant from all future claims arising from the accident. That means that if you discover that your injuries were worse than what you thought or that you will be out of work for much longer, you won’t be able to go back to the insurance company for more money. If you were hurt in an accident, your best option is always to consult with a Fort Pierce personal injury lawyer before saying or doing anything else.
You Can Afford to Hire a Car Accident Attorney
Our law firm handles all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that you won’t pay anything up front to hire a Fort Pierce car accident attorney. You will only pay an attorney’s fee if we recover money for you through a settlement or verdict at trial.
The fee will then be based on a percentage of your recovery. It will also come out of your settlement, rather than your own bank account. In this way, you can afford a lawyer even if you don’t have a lot of extra cash on hand.
Contingency fee agreements make it possible for anyone to have skilled legal representation. They also align your interests with your lawyers. Because they won’t get paid until you do, they are motivated to get you the highest possible settlement as quickly as possible.
If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident in St. Lucie County, you don’t have to worry about how you will pay for a lawyer. Reach out to our law offices today to schedule a free consultation with a member of our legal team.
Help for Fort Pierce Car Accident Victims
If you have been hurt in a car accident in Fort Pierce, Florida, you may be a bit overwhelmed and unsure of your rights. Our law firm is here for you. We will advocate for you throughout the process, fighting to help you get the compensation that you deserve.
Based in Vero Beach, Gould Cooksey Fennell represents clients throughout Florida’s Treasure Coast in a range of personal injury matters. We won’t back down from a fight, working tirelessly to get you maximum compensation for your injuries. To learn more or to schedule a free initial consultation with a Fort Pierce car accident lawyer, give us a call at 772-742-4912 or fill out our online contact form.
Related:
Detailed Medical Knowledge
Cutting-Edge Technology
Modern Trial Techniques
FREE CAR ACCIDENT CONSULTATION
- No Fee Until We Win
- $150M+ in Recent Personal Injury Verdicts & Settlements
- U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firms for 10 Consecutive Years
Our firm is here to take that burden off of our clients and handle their claim completely. We will help you get the compensation you deserve.
Notable CAR ACCIDENT Settlements and Verdicts
We’ve recovered over $150 million for our clients. These are real case results from real people who came to us for help. And we got them what they were owed.
Plaintiff was operating a small motorcycle/scooter when a 91 year old man turned left in front of him hitting him essentially head on. As a result of the collision, the Plaintiff sustained catastrophic injuries to his lower body, including snapped femurs and fractures to the spine and pelvis. After a two week trial the Indian River County jury returned an award totaling $9.381 million.
A Brevard County Jury awarded Plaintiff $6.4M against Defendant State Farm, following an accident that resulted in numerous catastrophic orthopedic injuries, including a below knee amputation of the Plaintiff’s left leg.
Plaintiff sustained numerous orthopedic injuries as a result of the negligence of a driver working for the State of Florida Department of Agriculture. At trial, the case resulted in a verdict of $5,582,776.82. Because the government’s damages are statutorily limited to $100,000 under Sovereign Immunity laws, Gould Cooksey Fennell’s Personal Injury Group was forced to fight in the Legislature for several years to pursue the passage of a Claims Bill. Ultimately a Bill was passed for 40 times the statutory limitations.
Indian River County crash resulting in significant injuries to a husband and wife. This matter was resolved prior to filing a lawsuit.
Obtained a Trial Verdict of $1.64 million dollars for injuries sustained by an 86 year old woman in a rollover auto accident on SR 60 in Vero Beach, Florida. After prolonged hospitalization, Mrs. Koebele never fully recovered and an Indian River County Jury awarded $1,170,130 for her injuries and $475,000 for her husband’s consortium claim.
Automobile crash in Vero Beach, FL resulting in cervical injury, including disc herniation to a 22 year old tennis professional.
While stopped at the intersection of US Hwy 1 and Vista Royale Boulevard, the Plaintiff’s vehicle was struck from behind with such force that the rear of his SUV was lifted off the ground and his vehicle slammed into the rear of the vehicle in front of him. As a result of the violent impact, Plaintiff sustained permanent injuries to his cervical and lumbar spine. An Indian River County jury awarded the Plaintiff $1,487,412.99.
While stopped at the intersection of 43rd Ave and 8th Street, Plaintiff was rear-ended by the Defendant, launching her vehicle into another vehicle in front of her. Plaintiff sustained permanent injuries to her right knee and cervical spine, both requiring surgical intervention in the years following the collision. After a nine day trial, an Indian River County jury returned an award of $1,259,090.73.
Indian River County jury awarded verdict against Defendant State Farm following an automobile accident where the defendant Driver was underinsured.
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Whether you were in the car, or your family member was, dealing with a car accident is an upsetting and stressful experience. Especially if there are serious injuries as a result. We understand that choosing the right personal injury attorney for your car accident is an important decision, and one that you don’t take lightly.
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