Altamonte Springs Car Accident Attorney

Car Accidents in Altamonte Springs: Understanding Our Local Roads

If you live, work, or commute through Altamonte Springs, you know how congested and hectic our roads can be.

From the constant flow on Semoran Boulevard to the shopping center traffic around Altamonte Mall and Cranes Roost, our city has its own familiar traffic challenges.

When a car accident happens here, it truly helps to work with a local Altamonte Springs auto accident lawyer who understands the traffic patterns and busy spots in our city, as it will make a real difference when building a strong personal injury claim.

The City of Altamonte Springs is actively working to make our roads safer through an important program called Vision Zero. This international effort aims to completely stop traffic deaths and serious injuries. While this is an ambitious goal, the need for it is clear. The statistics for our area are sobering:

• More than 5 people are killed and 35 seriously injured on our roadways every week in Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties.
• During the reporting period (2018-2022), 13 people were killed on Altamonte Springs roadways. This included:
  
  • 7 motorists
  • 3 pedestrians
  • 2 motorcyclists
  • 1 bicyclist
• This is a higher rate of fatalities than seen elsewhere in Florida and across the nation.

While Vision Zero is a noble effort for a safer future, serious accidents continue to happen every day, and until we reach that goal, our Altamonte Springs car accident Lawyers are here to help pick up the pieces for those affected.

What to Do After a Car Accident

Being in a car accident can be jarring and confusing. You probably have many questions about what to do next. Watch this short video for three essential steps you should take immediately after a crash to protect your health and your claim.

More Than Just a Fender Bender: Common Injuries and How Your Car Accident Lawyer in Altamonte Springs Steps In

Sometimes, a car accident might just entail a minor dent or a quick shake-up. But as an Altamonte Springs car accident attorney, we know that what might seem like a small crash can lead to serious and lasting injuries. Sometimes, the pain and problems do not even show up right away. That is why it is so important to listen to your body and seek medical help after any collision.

Here are some of the common injuries we see and help our clients with after a car accident:

• Whiplash and Neck Injuries
• Back Injuries
• Head Injuries and Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Broken Bones or Fractures
• Soft Tissue Injuries
• Chest Injuries
• Internal Injuries
• Psychological Injuries

Your well-being and your future are too important to leave to chance after a car accident. If you have been hurt in a car accident, your first step should always be to see a doctor. 

After that, connecting with an Altamonte Springs car accident lawyer is your next move, so you can start planning your path forward. Reach out to Osborne & Francis today by filling out our quick online form or calling (561) 293-2600 to schedule a 100% free case review.

The Insurance Company Trap

After a car accident, insurance companies will likely contact you. While they might seem like they have good intentions, they will often try to offer a low amount, get you to say things that could hurt your claim, or delay the process.

One of their most common tactics is to ask for a recorded statement. They might say it is routine or necessary to process your claim quickly. Strongly resist this request. Anything you say can be twisted and used against you to deny your claim or reduce your compensation. 

Also, you might not even know the full extent of your injuries yet, and speaking too soon could hurt your case. You are not legally required to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company.

Osborne & Francis will handle all communication with them. We protect you from their tactics, present your case clearly, and negotiate aggressively on your behalf. Our goal is always to get you the best possible settlement.

How an Altamonte Springs Car Crash Lawyer Supports You and Your Case

After a car accident, you might think you can handle everything yourself. You might talk to the insurance companies, gather a few papers, and hope for the best. But the truth is, dealing with a car accident claim alone can be very difficult. 

Insurance companies are businesses, and their main goal is to pay out as little as possible. They have experienced adjusters and aggressive legal teams whose job it is to protect the company's bottom line, not your best interests. You deserve someone on your side, too.

An Altamonte Springs car accident lawyer from Osborne & Francis does much more than just fill out paperwork. Here is how we make your claim stronger:

• We Gather All the Facts and Leave No Stone Unturned: We collect any and all evidence that proves what happened and who was at fault. This includes official police reports, all your medical records and bills, eyewitnesses, photos or videos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, and your injuries. If needed, we might even work with experts like accident reconstructionists to clearly show how the crash happened.
• We Figure Out Who Is Truly Responsible: Florida has specific rules about who is at fault in an accident. Sometimes, more than one person can share the blame. We meticulously examine all the evidence to identify every party who contributed to the accident. 
• We Calculate the Real Value of Your Damages: This is where many people make a big mistake trying to handle a claim alone. They might just add up their current medical bills and vehicle repair costs. But your claim is worth much more than that. We work with medical professionals and financial experts to get a complete and accurate picture of all your losses, making sure you do not leave any money on the table.
• We Guide You Through the Legal Process: Missing a deadline or filling out a form incorrectly can seriously set back or harm your claim. We explain each step in plain language, making sure you understand what is happening at all times. We file all necessary paperwork on time, ensuring your claim moves forward smoothly.
• We Are Ready to Go to Court, If Needed: While most car accident claims settle without a trial, insurance companies sometimes refuse to offer a fair amount. If that happens, you need a law firm that is not afraid to fight for you in court. 

What Kind of Compensation Can an Altamonte Springs Auto Accident Attorney Help You Recover?

After a car accident, you are probably dealing with more than just a damaged vehicle. Your injuries can bring a pile of medical bills, lost time at work, and a lot of emotional distress. Figuring out what your case is truly worth is hard, and it is easy to overlook important types of compensation you qualify for.

An Altamonte Springs car accident lawyer from Osborne & Francis will carefully calculate, evaluate, and then strongly negotiate for all the money you are owed.  We look at everything you have lost and will lose because of the accident. This can include:

• Medical Expenses: This covers all your medical care, from the moment of the crash to your ongoing treatment. It includes emergency room visits, hospital stays, doctor appointments, surgeries, medications, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and even future medical needs you might have.
• Lost Wages and Earning Capacity: If your injuries kept you from working, you deserve to be paid for that lost income. If your injuries are serious enough to impact your ability to earn money in the future, we will seek compensation for that long-term loss as well.
• Pain and Suffering: This refers to the physical pain, discomfort, and emotional distress caused by the accident and your injuries. This includes mental anguish, anxiety, depression, and the overall impact on your quality of life.
• Property Damage: This covers the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle and any other personal property damaged in the crash.
• Other Damages: Depending on your unique situation, other types of compensation might be available, such as loss of enjoyment of life if your injuries stop you from doing hobbies or activities you once loved.

At Osborne & Francis, we believe our past results speak to our commitment and ability to secure meaningful compensation for our clients. For example, we secured a $2.5 million car accident settlement for our client who was rear-ended by a box truck. His injuries were significant, requiring neck and back surgery.

In another case, we achieved a $2.75 million hit-and-run settlement. A young boy was tragically killed on his bike when struck by a truck, and the driver fled the scene. After months of tireless investigation, we were able to identify the driver and the defendant.

A study by Martindale-Nolo offers a clear answer to whether or not hiring a lawyer is really necessary. Their survey found that more than nine out of ten people who hired a personal injury lawyer received a settlement or award, compared to only about half of those who tried to handle their own injury claims.