Kissimmee Car Accident Lawyer
Trusted Auto Accident Attorneys Serving Kissimmee & Osceola County
Car accidents are one of the leading causes of serious injury and death in Kissimmee and throughout Osceola County. The area’s busy roadways, including US-192, the Florida Turnpike and Interstate 4, see heavy traffic from local commuters, commercial vehicles and the millions of tourists who visit Central Florida each year. When a negligent driver causes a collision on one of these roads, the consequences for victims and their families can be devastating. Serious injuries, expensive medical treatment, time away from work and lasting physical and emotional pain are all too common after a car crash in Kissimmee.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, the Kissimmee car accident lawyers at Draper Law Office are here to help. Our firm has been representing injured clients in Osceola County since 1984, and we have the experience, resources and dedication to fight for the full compensation you deserve. We handle every aspect of your claim from start to finish, including investigating the accident, gathering evidence, negotiating with insurance companies and taking your case to trial if necessary. Our attorneys serve clients in Kissimmee, Celebration, Davenport and throughout central Florida.
Why You Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident in Kissimmee
Many accident victims make the mistake of assuming the insurance company will treat them fairly after a crash. Unfortunately, that is rarely the case. Insurance companies are businesses focused on protecting their bottom line, and their adjusters are trained to minimize the value of your claim or deny it altogether. They may pressure you into giving a recorded statement, ask you to sign a medical authorization that gives them access to your entire medical history, or offer a quick settlement that falls far short of covering your actual losses.
Having an experienced Kissimmee car accident attorney on your side levels the playing field. At Draper Law Office, we handle all communications with the insurance companies so you can focus on your recovery. We know the tactics insurers use to reduce or deny claims, and we know how to counter them effectively. Our attorneys conduct thorough investigations into every accident, working with accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals and other specialists to build a case that proves the full extent of the other driver’s liability and your damages. When the insurance company knows you are represented by a firm that is prepared to go to trial, they are far more likely to offer a fair settlement.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Kissimmee
Our attorneys handle car accident cases involving every type of driver negligence. Some of the most common causes of car accidents we see in Kissimmee and Osceola County include distracted driving, which remains one of the leading causes of crashes across Florida. Drivers who text, talk on the phone, adjust their GPS or engage in other distracting activities behind the wheel put everyone around them at serious risk. Drunk driving is another major cause of devastating accidents in the Kissimmee area, particularly along entertainment corridors and during holiday weekends.
Speeding, aggressive driving, running red lights and stop signs, tailgating, improper lane changes and failure to yield the right of way are all forms of negligent driving that frequently cause serious collisions on Osceola County roads. Fatigued driving is an often-overlooked danger, especially among commercial vehicle operators and tourists who have spent long hours traveling. Poor weather conditions, inadequate road maintenance and defective vehicle components can also contribute to accidents. Regardless of the specific cause, our attorneys will investigate every factor that contributed to your crash and hold all responsible parties accountable.
Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle
Draper Law Office represents victims of all types of motor vehicle accidents throughout Kissimmee and Osceola County. Our comprehensive auto accident practice includes rear-end collisions, head-on crashes, T-bone and intersection accidents, sideswipe collisions, rollover accidents, multi-vehicle pileups and single-vehicle crashes caused by road hazards or defective vehicle parts. We also handle cases involving truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents and pedestrian accidents. If you were hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, our attorneys can help you explore all available options for recovering compensation, including claims through your own insurance policy.
Injuries We See in Kissimmee Car Accident Cases
The force of a car accident can cause a wide range of injuries, from relatively minor soft tissue damage to catastrophic and life-altering harm. Some of the most common injuries our clients suffer in Kissimmee car accidents include whiplash and other neck injuries, herniated and bulging discs, back and spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries and concussions, broken bones and fractures, internal organ damage, lacerations and scarring, burns, knee and shoulder injuries, and post-traumatic stress disorder. In the most tragic cases, car accidents result in permanent disability or the wrongful death of a loved one.
It is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible after a car accident, even if you feel fine at the scene. Many serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and internal bleeding, do not present obvious symptoms right away. Prompt medical evaluation not only protects your health but also creates documentation that directly supports your injury claim.
Compensation Available After a Kissimmee Car Accident
Florida’s no-fault insurance system requires drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection coverage, which pays 80 percent of medical bills and 60 percent of lost wages up to a combined $10,000, regardless of who caused the accident. However, when your injuries meet Florida’s serious injury threshold, meaning you have sustained a permanent injury or permanent disfigurement, you can step outside the no-fault system and pursue a claim directly against the at-fault driver for the full extent of your damages.
The compensation you may be entitled to recover in a Kissimmee car accident case includes past and future medical expenses, lost wages and diminished earning capacity, property damage to your vehicle, pain and suffering, emotional distress, physical impairment, scarring and disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. In wrongful death cases, surviving family members may recover funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support, loss of companionship and guidance, and mental pain and suffering. Our attorneys carefully evaluate every element of your damages to ensure that no aspect of your losses is overlooked.
Florida’s Comparative Negligence Rule and Your Car Accident Claim
One of the most common tactics insurance companies use to reduce the value of a car accident claim is to argue that the victim was partially at fault for the crash. Under Florida’s modified comparative negligence system, your total compensation is reduced by whatever percentage of fault is attributed to you. If you are found to be more than 50 percent at fault for the accident, you are barred from recovering any compensation at all.
This is why having an experienced attorney is so critical after a car accident. Insurance adjusters will look for any reason to shift blame onto you, whether it is claiming you were speeding, following too closely, not paying attention or failing to take evasive action. At Draper Law Office, we thoroughly investigate every accident to establish the true facts and fight back against unfair attempts to blame our clients for crashes they did not cause.
Statute of Limitations for Car Accidents in Florida
Under Florida law, you generally have two years from the date of a car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. For wrongful death claims arising from a car accident, the deadline is two years from the date of death. If your accident involved a government vehicle or government-owned property, different rules and shorter deadlines may apply. Missing the statute of limitations can permanently eliminate your right to pursue compensation, no matter how strong your case may be. Contact an attorney as soon as possible after an accident to ensure your legal rights are protected.
Contact Our Kissimmee Car Accident Lawyers Today
If you have been injured in a car accident in Kissimmee or anywhere in Osceola County, Draper Law Office is ready to fight for you. We offer free consultations for all car accident cases and represent clients on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Call us today at 407-846-0075 to speak with an experienced Kissimmee car accident lawyer about your case. Hablamos Español.
