Yes, if you suffered any injury or property damage, filing a claim protects your legal rights. The most common reason people file is to cover obvious medical bills, but there are many other recoverable losses, including lost wages, future medical care, and pain and suffering. Florida's no-fault system requires you to first file a PIP claim with your own insurer, and if your injuries are serious...
read more? Experienced St. Petersburg injury attorneys know the tactics insurance companies use to minimize payouts, even when there is substantial coverage. A quality attorney navigates the laws surrounding settlement negotiations, handles the paperwork and deadlines, gathers evidence, and stands up to the insurance company on your behalf. While you are not legally required to hire an attorney,...
read more? One of the most important services our St. Pete car accident lawyers provide is a meticulous understanding of what Florida law permits in a claim. Factors that influence how much you may recover include the available limits of your own policy and the at-fault party's policy, the severity and permanency of your injuries, your total medical expenses and lost wages, the strength of the liability...
read more? If you're searching for the best St. Petersburg car accident lawyer, three critical aspects to look for are experience, focus, and resources. A trusted firm like The Ruth Law Team has all three — 40+ years of experience, a practice focused on injury victims, and the financial resources to stand up to large insurance companies. We've recovered more than $100 million for our clients and are led...
read more? Our process for accidents and
personal injury claims is simple: we receive no payment from you unless you get paid. It's a standard practice known as a contingency fee where we retain an agreed-upon percentage of the settlement or verdict we recover on your behalf. We advance all the costs of investigating, litigating, collecting evidence, and negotiating your claim until the case is resolved....
read more? Some St. Petersburg cases resolve in just a few months, while others take longer. Many clients suffer serious injuries requiring long periods of recovery and continued treatment, and we want to establish the full scope of those injuries so any settlement includes all recoverable damages because settling too early risks leaving future medical costs uncompensated. Straightforward cases may settle...
read more? A settlement generally accounts for the victim's lost wages and loss of earning capacity, medical treatment and rehabilitation expenses, and property damage. The value of non-economic harms (the loss of use of a body part, or physical and mental suffering) is harder to quantify but very real. Settlements also vary based on the insurance coverage available and the strength of the evidence. Our...
read more? There is no reason to delay this process, the sooner you contact a
car accident lawyer, the sooner they can preserve evidence like skid marks, debris location, and witness testimony. For accidents on or after March 24, 2023, Florida's statute of limitations is two years from the date of the crash under Florida Statute § 95.11. For older accidents, the prior four-year deadline may apply. Missing...
read more? Yes, we recommend visiting a doctor immediately after a car accident, ideally the same day, for a full medical examination. Documentation of your injuries is crucial to your claim, and Florida's PIP law requires treatment within 14 days to preserve your benefits. Insurance companies will want to see proof of injuries, and some serious conditions —
concussions, soft tissue damage, internal...
read more? We recommend contacting an experienced St. Pete car accident attorney before speaking to any insurance company, even your own. Insurance companies look for ways to minimize payouts, and the representative's questions are often designed to elicit statements that can be used against you later. Even a casual “How are you doing today?” can be twisted to suggest you weren't hurt. An attorney can...
read more? Florida has one of the highest rates of uninsured drivers in the country. If you're hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, you may be able to file a claim under your own Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, or pursue a lawsuit directly against the at-fault driver. Florida law requires insurers to offer UM coverage, though many drivers waive it without realizing what they are...
read more? When determining whether a car is a total loss after an accident, two common methods are used. The Total Loss Formula (TLF) adds the car's repair costs to its salvage value; if that sum meets or exceeds the car's actual cash value, it's a total loss. The Total Loss Threshold (TLT) declares a total loss when repair costs reach a set percentage of the vehicle's value. Florida uses an 80% threshold....
read more? If you feel the insurance company's offer for your car is insufficient, there are steps you can take. First, determine your vehicle's worth by considering its make, model, body style, mileage, and condition. Get a detailed repair estimate from a qualified mechanic, and research comparable vehicles for sale in your area to support a higher valuation. Present this documentation to the adjuster in...
read more? Insurance payouts for damage to a car generally take between 30 and 45 days, assuming the process has been clean and straightforward at every step. Disputes over liability, valuation, or documentation can extend that timeline. If your payout is being delayed unreasonably, an attorney can help move it forward.
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read more? Florida law requires exchanging your full name, address, driver's license number, vehicle registration, and insurance information. Take a photo of the other driver's license and insurance card rather than writing the details down because photos are faster and more accurate. Collect names and phone numbers of any witnesses, and note the responding officer's name and the crash report number. Avoid...
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