Pensacola Auto Accident Lawyer

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Injured in a CAR ACCIDENT? Get the strength and experience of one of the area's top Pensacola Auto Accident Lawyers.

We are your Pensacola Car Accident Attorneys.

Our Pensacola Accident Attorneys Can Help You Pursue Compensation After an Auto Accident

If you’ve been injured, you’ve come to the right place.

Our Pensacola, Florida auto accident attorney team provides the personal service of a small firm, backed by the strength of one of the Gulf Coast’s largest full-service law firms.

Pensacola car accidents can happen in the blink of an eye, but the consequences can last a lifetime. Getting behind the wheel of your car may very well be the most dangerous task you do on a daily basis.

If you’ve been injured in an auto accident due to someone else’s negligence, it can seem overwhelming. One of the first steps any victim should take is to reach out to a knowledgeable car accident lawyer in Pensacola, Florida.

Attempting to recover the full amount of compensation you are owed is usually no easy task, as the other party’s insurance company is looking to protect their insuree and pay out as little as possible.

Having an experienced Pensacola car accident attorney on your side can be extremely beneficial in helping you get the compensation you deserve. At Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon, our team of car accident attorneys in Florida is dedicated to helping clients throughout Pensacola fight for the money they are owed after a collision.

Our team of injury lawyers has over 100 years of combined legal experience handling car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and more.

As a part of one of Pensacola’s oldest and largest law firms, we offer the strength needed to handle even the most serious cases and toughest adversaries. And you won’t pay a penny unless we win.

If you’ve been injured, we’re here to get you the compensation you deserve. Call (850) 444-4878 or contact our car accident lawyers in Pensacola online today for a free case evaluation.

Leading Cause of Florida Car Accidents

Negligence is the main cause of car accidents across the country. Drivers have a duty to drive responsibly, not cause injuries to others, and obey all traffic laws and rules.

This is what’s known as a “duty of reasonable care.” When a driver breaches their duty of care, he or she can be found negligent.

This means that a driver who causes a car accident did not act in the way in which another reasonable driver would have in a similar situation.

One example is a driver who fails to stop at a red light and strikes a vehicle that had the right of way.

Examples of Negligence Behind the Wheel

With millions of drivers on the road each and every day, it may feel like getting into a collision at some point is an unavoidable risk. The truth is that most Florida car “accidents” are anything but accidents.

In fact, nearly all car accidents could’ve been avoided.

Some common examples of actions that lead to Pensacola car accidents include:

Speeding
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Texting and driving
Road rage
Eating while driving
Applying makeup while driving

All of these distractions and more can lead to injury accidents, and in some instances, they can lead to fatalities.

However, there are some instances where the driver’s actions were not the primary cause of the accident.

Outside factors like obstructed or missing road signs, bad weather, defective auto parts, etc., may be the primary cause of the accident.

What to Do Right After a Florida Car Accident

It’s important to take the proper actions following a Pensacola, FL car accident, especially if the accident was not your fault.

If it’s safe to do so, you need to not block the roadway and warn other drivers approaching. If you are not too injured and taken away by ambulance, try to get scene photos. Take photos of the vehicle damage, document the conditions of the road, weather, and surroundings. Get witnesses’ contact information.

You should not sign documents at the scene of the accident or admit fault in any way. Do not give the other driver’s insurance company a statement without proper legal representation by your side. Be wary of anyone who tries to approach you at the scene to offer their legal services.

If you are given an offer right away by the other driver’s insurance company, don’t be quick to jump on it. They are hoping that by offering you a settlement early on, you will take it and sign your rights away in a release of all claims.

More serious accidents require time for your doctor to fully understand the extent of your injuries and how much treatment you will need. If you settle now and it turns out in a few weeks that you need three more months of treatment, you cannot go back to the insurance company and ask for more money. Once you settle and sign the release of all claims, the other side has no duty to negotiate another payment.

Common Causes of Pensacola Vehicle Collisions

Vehicle collisions occur every day across Florida. Some result in only minor injuries and others are catastrophic. These collisions are caused by a number of reasons, but the most common are:

Distracted Driving:

Distracted driving is one of the deadliest aspects of operating on the road today. In 2017 alone, more than 3,100 drivers were killed in distracted driving accidents. Cell phone use, passengers, and outdoor elements can all lead to distracted driving in Pensacola.

Driving Under the Influence:

In Florida, the legal blood alcohol content is 0.08%. However, many people choose to drive after reaching this limit. Driving under the influence slows down drivers’ senses and can cause them to make irrational decisions, which can lead to serious injuries.

Reckless Driving:

Reckless driving is when someone shows wanton indifference or irreverence to others’ life or property. This may include speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, and more. When a driver acts recklessly, they can cause serious injuries to drivers around them.

Vehicle Malfunction:

Vehicle malfunctions may happen because a driver didn’t properly maintain their car, or because of a manufacturer’s error. In any case, vehicle malfunctions can cause a driver to lose control and hit another vehicle.

Inexperienced Drivers:

When a driver first gets their license, they simply don’t have the experience needed to handle everything the road will throw at them. They might not know how to handle heavy traffic, or how to deal with Pensacola’s crazy weather. This inexperience can cause serious accidents.

Common Types of Injuries from Car Accidents

Back and Neck Injuries

Back and neck injuries are often quite serious. These spinal cord injuries can result in paralysis, chronic pain, numbness and other complications. You may require surgery and support devices to recover after this kind of injury.

Burns

Burns aren’t too common in car accidents, but if the car catches on fire, victims can suffer from serious burns. First degree burns aren’t too serious, but second and third-degree burns can require serious medical treatment.

Broken Bones

Whether from an airbag deploying or from impacting the steering wheel or dashboard, broken bones aren’t uncommon in car accidents. Bones in the face and chest may break from the airbag, arms might break when you raise them to protect yourself, and legs may break if they are crushed.

Head and Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, are divided into two categories: open and closed. Open brain injuries involve the skull being broken or penetrated. Closed TBIs, on the other hand, are commonly referred to as concussions, happen when the brain impacts the inside of the skull. Both types of TBI can be life-threatening.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissue injuries are those that affect the connective tissues, such as muscles, tendons and ligaments. The most common soft tissue injury after a car accident is whiplash. This is caused by the overexertion of the tendons in the neck.

We Will Recover Fair Compensation on Your Behalf

These are only some of the reasons that people are involved in accidents, and every vehicle collision is unique. We are here for you no matter what caused your accident. We do not believe that you should be forced to suffer due to someone’s negligence or error.When you are involved in an accident, you have the legal right to seek compensation for medical bills, loss of work, and even pain and suffering. If you are unable to return to work due to a permanent disability, you may also be entitled to Social Security Disability. Our Pensacola personal injury attorneys will fight for every penny you deserve.

At Emmanuel, Sheppard & Condon, our Pensacola, Florida car accident lawyers can help you get the compensation you deserve. Call us at (850) 444-4878 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation if you’ve suffered any of these or other injuries after a car accident:

car accident between two vehicles in Pensacola

Car Accidents with Uninsured Motorists

In some accidents, people with legitimate uninsured/underinsured motorist claims count on this coverage to pay for their vehicle repairs, medical care, and more. Unfortunately, insurance companies avoid paying claims whenever possible, and uninsured/underinsured claims are no exception. If you are faced with this situation, contact Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon’s auto accident lawyers in Pensacola for legal assistance.

Our experienced Pensacola auto accident lawyers have helped many Florida and Alabama clients build effective cases against their insurance companies. We understand insurance law. In addition, when an accident occurs, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage protects you and your family beyond your vehicle. This means the insurance company will cover your valid injury claims whether you or your family members are riding in your vehicle, in someone else’s vehicle, riding a bicycle, or simply walking down the road.

Get the Compensation You Deserve for Injuries Caused by a Drunk Driver

What can you do if you’re a victim of a drunk driver? Of course, a suit against the driver is a first course of action. We find, however, that many of these drivers are not insured, and therefore cannot provide the compensation necessary to meet your loss. In these cases, it may be possible to pursue recovery against the persons who provided the alcohol to the driver.

In the state of Florida, establishments who serve alcoholic beverages may be liable for damages resulting from the consumption of these beverages.

Florida PIP and Your Insurance Company

Many people mistakenly believe that an insurance company will provide adequate coverage should they be forced to file a claim. Never rely on an insurance company. These agencies are looking out for their interests, not yours. While you may be offered an initial settlement, it is often not enough to cover the bills that you may incur in the future and once you accept a settlement, your case is effectively over.

Florida, and nine other states in the nation, require that drivers carry personal injury protection (PIP). The intent is to reduce the delay of payment to victims who need money to pay medical bills immediately following an accident. Unfortunately, the $10,000 payment may not be what you need. While helpful, depending on your injuries, the payment could barely make a dent in your total financial obligation.

Contact a Pensacola Auto Accident Attorney

You and your family deserve to be compensated for your losses. When you are injured through no fault of your own, our team is here to help you. At Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon, we don’t believe that any victim should be forced to make difficult decisions regarding their health care and the support of their families. We also believe that those who are negligent must be held accountable for their decisions.

If you have been injured in an auto accident in the Pensacola or Gulf Coast area, we would like to speak with you. We will review the details of your accident at no cost to you and advise you of your legal rights. In addition to your free consultation, it’s important to let you know that we work on a contingency basis. That means that you don’t pay for our services unless we win your case.

Call our office today at (850) 444-4878 to schedule your consultation with our Pensacola accident attorneys or reach out to us online at your convenience.

Have questions?

Be sure to check out our Personal Injury Frequently Asked Questions.

The video to the right is a public service announcement regarding the dangers of car accidents in Florida.

Sources

"Ms. Radcliffe is the best personal injury attorney in Pensacola, willing to go beyond her duty to help her clients. Always willing to return calls and speak to me personally when I had questions or concerns."