St. Petersburg Car Accident Lawyers - Paul Knopf Bigger

Have you suffered injuries from a car accident in St. Petersburg? If someone else caused the accident, you can demand compensation for what you’ve suffered — including your medical expenses, repair bills, lost income from time off work, and pain and suffering.

If this happened to you, you need the help of an attorney from Paul Knopf Bigger. Our law firm is built on the core values of commitment, excellence, personal service, and accountability. We live those principles every day through our legal advocacy. You will never feel like another number here; instead, you can expect us to put your goals and interests at the center of every decision we make.

If you’ve been hurt in a car accident caused by a negligent driver, we’re ready to help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact Paul Knopf Bigger today for a free consultation.

Common Causes of Car Accidents

Many car accidents occur due to one or more drivers’ unsafe behavior, such as:

Other common causes of a car wreck include inclement weather, low visibility, poor road conditions, inadequate vehicle maintenance, and design/manufacturing defects in a car or one of its components.

Common Types of Car Accidents

At Paul Knopf Bigger, our legal team represents clients injured by motor vehicle accidents such as:

Types of Injuries Caused by a Car Accident

The extreme force unleashed in a traffic collision can result in severe injuries to drivers and passengers. The following are some common injuries caused by an auto collision:

Damages You Could Be Entitled to from a Car Accident

If someone caused an accident and you were injured as a result of it, you can demand that they compensate you for the many ways that accident affected you. The legal term for this compensation is damages, which could include money for your:

• Medical treatment and rehabilitation expenses, including hospitalization, surgeries, prescriptions, pain management care, medical/mobility equipment purchases, and physical/occupational therapy
• Loss of wages or income if you must take time off work or temporarily transfer to a lower-paying position due to medical restrictions
• Loss of future earning capacity and employment benefits if permanent disability prevents you from working
• Physical pain or anguish caused by your injuries and medical treatments
• Emotional trauma and distress
• Loss of quality of life caused by physical disabilities or permanent scarring/disfigurement that adversely affects your daily living
• Loss of consortium if your spouse or child was injured
• Vehicle repair, 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

By taking swift and appropriate action after a car accident, you can put yourself in a favorable position to pursue a claim against the at-fault parties. Here are some of the steps you can take to get started on your case:

• Report the crash to local law enforcement or the Florida Highway Patrol. Remember to request a copy of the police accident report in the days following the accident.
• Seek prompt medical attention to diagnose injuries you suffered in the crash and begin treatment.
• Request copies of your medical records of your treatment and rehabilitation.
• Report the accident to your auto insurance provider to ensure your eligibility for personal injury protection and other applicable coverage under your policy.
• Keep all bills, invoices, and receipts to document the expenses you incurred due to the accident.
• Gather copies of your pay stubs or income statements to calculate your ongoing or future lost wages if you cannot work or suffer a reduction in your earnings.

Finally, contact Paul Knopf Bigger as soon as possible so an attorney can help you pursue your case for maximum compensation.

Who Could Be Liable for a Car Accident?

In most car accidents, one or more of the involved drivers will bear liability. However, in certain circumstances, other parties may be partially or fully to blame. For example, if the accident occurred during an at-fault driver’s employment duties, the driver’s employer will bear liability under the legal theory of employer/vicarious liability.

If someone other than the at-fault driver owns the vehicle they were operating, that person may also share responsibility under the concept of negligent entrustment. The term refers to a car owner who lets someone drive their vehicle, even though they know or should know that the driver poses a substantial risk of causing a collision, such as due to the driver’s history of accidents or traffic violations or if the driver has become intoxicated.

Some car crashes occur because a vehicle suffers a mechanical failure due to a design or manufacturing defect. In these cases, the company that produced the defective component may bear liability for the crash.

The attorneys at Paul Knopf Bigger can review the evidence and circumstances of your case to identify every party that might owe you compensation.

Time Limits for Filing a Car Accident Injury Lawsuit

Under Florida’s statute of limitations, you typically have a deadline of two years after a car wreck to file a lawsuit against the driver or other parties responsible for the crash and your losses. Filing your lawsuit after the limitations period expires on your claim risks having it dismissed as untimely and losing your right to pursue financial recovery. Contact Paul Knopf Bigger as soon as possible to give yourself the best chance for filing your car accident case on time.

Could You Recover Compensation if You’re Partly to Blame for an Auto Accident?

Being partially to blame for a car accident in Florida does not necessarily prevent you from getting justice and accountability. Under the state’s modified comparative negligence rule, you can still recover compensation as long as you are found to be 50 percent or less to blame for the accident. However, the law bars you from recovery if you have a greater share of fault.

Furthermore, the rule may impact your financial recovery by reducing your compensation in proportion to your share of responsibility for the accident. For example, if you are 30 percent to blame, your recovery is reduced by 30 percent. Contact a St. Petersburg car accident lawyer from Paul Knopf Bigger to advocate for your maximum financial recovery.

Will It Cost You Anything to Hire an Attorney?

The attorneys and staff of Paul Knopf Bigger understand your financial difficulties after a car accident. You probably will face expensive medical care and vehicle repairs, which can be hard to pay for if you’re also out of work. That’s why our law firm represents car accident clients on a contingency fee basis, which means you owe no money upfront to hire us for your case.

In a contingency fee arrangement, we only get paid if we recover compensation for you in a settlement or at trial. Our fee comes from the financial recovery we obtain for you, so you have no out-of-pocket cost to get the legal representation you need. By aligning our interests with yours, our team has every incentive to advocate vigorously for maximum compensation for your injuries and losses.

Contact a Car Accident Attorney Today

If you were hurt in a motor vehicle accident that someone else caused through their careless or reckless behavior, you have the right to demand compensation for what you’ve suffered. Paul Knopf Bigger is ready to help you recover the money you need to pay for your medical care, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Contact Paul Knopf Bigger today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your legal options with our seasoned accident attorneys.