If you have been injured in any auto accident, and need a Clermont car accident lawyer, we need to talk.
At Tina Willis Law, our experienced car accident attorneys in Clermont specialize in personal injury cases ranging from moderate to severe.
We understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll a car accident can take on you and your family. We want you to feel the difference when you talk to our Clermont personal injury lawyers. From day one, we have always provided highly personalized service. We want to get to know you, and how your accident has affected your life. That’s the only way any lawyer can maximize your case value! They have to know what happened in your case. Whether you’re dealing with medical bills, lost wages, or long-term injuries, we are relentless in fighting for your rights and trying to secure your future.
Most of our appointments start with free telephone consultations. We can quickly tell you how best we can help you (or whether we can’t). If you call, you will speak with a lawyer, not layers of assistants and investigators, who do not know how best to handle your case. You may also text us 24/7, for the fastest possible reply. You really should talk to a Clermont automobile accident law firm ASAP.
Text or Call 24 Hr Attorney Hotline (407) 803-2139
Clermont Auto Accidents On The Rise
Clermont has experienced a growing number of car & truck accidents, due partly to the expanding growth of the area.
Clermont Car Accident Attorney Top Tips
Many of your actions in the days, weeks, and months after any auto accident can have a major effect on case value. So you should learn those things that will help you get the most money possible. The most important step is to call a Clermont car crash lawyer right away. Here are some other things you should do.
Next Step: After Calling Your Clermont Car Wreck Law Firm, Call The Police
If you were involved in an auto accident, you really should contact the Clermont Police Department before leaving the scene. You should also insist that the police officer complete a police report. Usually the police complete accident reports. But sometimes they give drivers the option of not completing them. Do not take that option.
What If The At-Fault Driver Was Drinking Or Drugged?
You should literally beg the officer to perform drug or alcohol testing on the other driver, if you have ANY suspicion that the other driver was drinking. If the defendant is not tested at the scene, often a Clermont automobile accident attorney cannot prove driving under the influence. Drunk driving, if proven, can significantly increase the value of any auto accident case. Texting while driving can do the same thing.
If You Were Injured, Go Right Now To The Doctor
You should also get to the doctor as soon as possible. Going to the ER right after the accident is the best option. If that wasn’t done, then just get to any doctor as soon as possible, whether the ER, a walk-in clinic, or your primary care. But do not delay. Your Clermont personal injury lawyer will have a stronger argument that your pain was more significant the faster you are seen by a doctor. Also, in Florida, you must see a doctor or chiropractor within 14 days to get PIP coverage (however, even if after 14 days, you can still recover under bodily injury policies for significant injuries).
Take Photos Of Everything At The Accident Scene
You, or your friend or family member, should also take photographs of all vehicles that were in the accident, including many wide and close angle shots of all damaged parts of all vehicles.
Proven vehicle damage may increase the value of your accident or injury case. You should also take photos of any parts of the interior of the vehicle. This would include things like broken windshields, broken car or truck seats, or even broken gadgets or anything else showing damage. Also take photos of the accident scene itself (intersections, skid marks, etc). If you have already left the accident scene, but can still get to the vehicles, have someone take pictures now!!
Next have someone take a bunch of pictures of you and your injuries. This might include things like you sitting near an ambulance, or any bruising or bloody areas or clothing.
Save Anything Showing Your Injuries Or Vehicle Or Property Damage
You should save anything that show your injuries, or the damage to the vehicles, or bicycles if those were involved, such as bloody or tattered clothing, broken iPhone, or a broken bike or motorcycle helmet. Additionally, if you are given any assistive medical devices, such as a walker or crutches, save those. Basically we want any evidence that could help show the extent of your injuries, or damages to any vehicles.
Clermont Medical Treatment For Injuries
After any accident that might lead to a lawsuit, it is essential that you receive medical treatment ASAP. In Clermont, the best choice based on location is South Lake Hospital. You should go to the emergency room as soon as possible after the accident, or at least a walk-in clinic, or your primary care physician. Going to the ER by ambulance or quick transport is the ideal because insurance companies are more likely to believe your injuries or pain complaints are serious if you quickly went to the ER. However, if your injuries do not require emergency care, or you do not have insurance, then I probably can help you find a doctor who will provide medical care, basically on credit. Additionally, I can help you with follow up care after any ER visit. But these things must be done quickly, or the value of your case will go down with each passing day.
For more quick tips on getting the highest value from any car accident case, click here.
Clermont Slip & Fall Cases
Slip and fall cases are fairly common in Lake County, which is not unusual given the number of businesses sprouting up all over Clermont, Tavares, Mount Dora, Eustis, and Leesburg. There are lots of complexities to slip and fall cases. Unfortunately, we must reject more than I would like.
Florida Slip & Fall Basics
Slip & fall cases are very different from other cases. Businesses are not automatically liable when someone slips on their property. The business must be at fault somehow. Under Florida’s slip and fall statute, proving fault when you tripped and fell on something unattached to the property is challenging. But it sometimes can be done (such as a banana peel, water, or other temporary object). If you slipped on a permanent (attached) structure, then whether that structure is a code violation, or has other problems, becomes important. So I must know all facts to decide whether the case has any merit. I regularly evaluate these tricky cases. So you should not delay calling if you want a slip and fall attorney to help you.
What To Do After A Clermont Slip & Fall Accident
Delay in slip and fall cases can be devastating to case value, for a long list of reasons. Additionally, read everything on this page related to accident case value. Numerous clear photos (wide angle and close up) of whatever caused the fall are essential in many slip and fall cases. Prompt treatment (meaning within hours, or at most a few days, or one week) is equally important. Finally, I have many other articles on my website regarding slip and fall law, proof, defenses, settlement values, and that kind of thing.
Clermont Medical Malpractice
If you believe that you have been the victim of medical malpractice, I would be glad to evaluate the case, and let you know whether there might be a case against any doctor, hospital, or other health care provider. Most medical malpractice cases are rejected for reasons relating to Florida’s very unfair medical malpractice statute. The statute is geared toward helping defendant doctors and hospitals, plain and simple. So the damages must be catastrophic, and the doctor must have clearly breached the standard of care. I can help you determine whether that might have happened.
Clermont Growth & Overcrowding Has Led To More Accidents
Clermont’s population has been growing rapidly. There are now over 28,000 residents. Also the area has a large influx of tourists each summer and “snow birds” every winter. This is because there are many vacation rentals offering good rates and a pretty quick drive to Walt Disney World and other area attractions. Clermont is also reviving their downtown area, near Lake Minneola. Lots of new businesses have opened recently, with more expected. Also the area near Lake Louisa, and the Clermont Chain of Lakes, has been growing rapidly with many new big box stores and other retail establishments.
The main highways in Clermont, which intersect, are Highway 27, and Highway 50. A large percentage of Clermont car accidents happen on or very near these roadways.
Sadly, many tourists are involved in accidents. So I get lots of calls from those living out-of-state, who were injured during their vacation in the sunshine state.
Clermont Bicycling & Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents are also rising in number, even though the South Lake Trail gives cyclists, walkers and runners a safer option than roadways. Additionally, with the National Training Center based in Clermont, triathletes from around the country can be found running and cycling throughout the community. Plus, cyclists often prefer training on the roads in Clermont because of the hilly terrain, and slightly less crowded roads. That’s not great for safety because the roadway shoulders are usually very narrow, or non-existent. Also, many non-biking residents, particularly in rural areas, do not like cyclists. This can lead to serious accidents.
Regardless of how anyone feels, the law says that both cyclists and automobile drivers must comply with the roadway rules. So if someone was injured on a bicycle, the question becomes who was complying with the traffic laws?
Where Do Clermont Accident Attorneys File Lawsuits?
If you were involved in any Clermont accident, there is a good chance any future lawsuit will be filed in the Lake County Courthouse.
We have something called “venue” statutes in Florida, which, put simply, say that a lawsuit may be filed in the county where the defendant resides, or the county where the accident happened. Usually accidents are filed in the county where they happened. However, for a higher value case, we would definitely want to consider whether the venue statute might allow filing in a more liberal jurisdiction. In other words, if the defendant resided in a different county, like Orange, then maybe we would want to file there.
The ideal county for filing (assuming there was a choice, let’s say if the defendant resided elsewhere) would really depend on the case. But hiring a lawyer who would consider these types of issues, particularly in a higher value / serious injury case, is very important. There are countless decisions of this nature sprinkled throughout all injury & accident lawsuits.
Calling Or Texting Me Is Urgent
If you were involved in any Clermont auto accident where another vehicle was at fault, you really should call or text me quickly. What happens in the hours, days and definitely weeks after an accident can impact case value significantly. I will listen to the details of what happened in your accident, as well as the basics of your injuries, then give detailed, tailored instructions regarding what you need to do next. Many clients do not understand, but their actions can impact the value of their injury case, a LOT. The problem is that many call lawyers handling high volumes of cases, and are unable to speak with an actual attorney (because often paralegals handle the entire case from start to finish–no joke). If that’s who you call, you are very unlikely to get tailored instructions about what you need to do next, in terms of your medical treatment, and evidence preservation (most importantly medical treatment).
Ms. Willis is an experienced injury & accident attorney with offices in Orlando and Winter Garden. She has won numerous awards during her career. She has Clermont and other Lake County residents as clients. She spends whatever time is needed to help her clients get the most money possible from their accident case.
Text or Call 24 Hr Attorney Hotline (407) 803-2139
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