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Car Accident Lawyer
Alan Sackrin Knows How to Maximize Your Recovery — No Fee Unless We Win.
40+ years of experience representing clients in car accident cases.
Were you injured in a Florida car or auto accident?
Insurance companies are trained to minimize your claim. Board Certified Civil Trial attorney Alan Sackrin has 40+ years fighting for accident victims throughout Florida. Free consultation. No fee unless we win.
If You Were Just in a Car Accident in Florida Here Is What Matters for Your Claim
The minutes and days after a car accident can feel overwhelming. Insurance companies move fast — their adjusters are already working your claim. Here is what you need to do on your end.
1. Get medical attention immediately, even if you feel fine.
Adrenaline masks pain. Injuries like whiplash, herniated discs, and concussions may not surface for hours or days. A gap in treatment gives the insurance company an argument that you were not seriously hurt. See a doctor the same day.
2. Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company.
You are not required to. Anything you say will be used to minimize your claim. Speak with an attorney first.
3. Document everything at the scene.
Photograph the vehicles, the road, traffic signs, skid marks, and any visible injuries. Get the names and contact information of all witnesses. Request the police report number.
4. Report the accident to your own insurance company.
Florida is a no-fault state. Your own PIP (Personal Injury Protection) coverage pays first, up to $10,000, regardless of who caused the accident. You must seek treatment within 14 days to activate your PIP benefits.
5. Contact an attorney before you sign anything.
Settlement offers made in the days after an accident are almost always far below what your case is worth. Once you sign a release, your claim is closed permanently.
Florida’s statute of limitations for car accident claims is two years from the date of the accident. Do not wait. The sooner Alan is involved, the better your position.
Car Accidents and motor vehicle crashes are responsible for over 3 million injuries a year and more than 2,000 deaths per year in Florida.
Alan is a Board Certified Civil Trial Expert who for 40+ years has successfully litigated car accident cases where the insurance company refuses to pay a fair settlement to the victim or where a prior car accident lawyer withdrew or turned down the case (due to issues related to questionable liability and damages or a pre-existing condition).
What sets Alan apart from other car accident lawyers are his extensive trial skills and experience with juries and his understanding of accident reconstruction analysis, crash analysis, road condition analysis, speed analysis, analysis of driver reaction times and perception and other elements that are essential to prove driver negligence. Additionally, Alan adds value to his clients because he will go to trial when the insurance company denies coverage or doesn’t make a settlement offer that he believes is fair. Alan won’t send his client to a different lawyer to file a lawsuit, he’s a lawyer that other lawyers send their cases to when they are unable to obtain a reasonable settlement offer.
Florida Lawyer Alan Sackrin is a Board Certified Trial Expert — one of only 1069 Lawyers in the State of Florida to Achieve This Distinction (as of January 2012)
Sample Settlements and Car Accident Cases Won at Trial By Alan Where The Prior Lawyer Could Not Settle The Case
$165,000 Defendant rear-ended Plaintiff’s vehicle, resulting in one or more herniated disc(s) and severe lower back pain. | $100,000 Defendant came out of a parking lot negligently speeding and struck the Plaintiff’s vehicle. | $85,000 Plaintiff sued Progressive American Insurance Company after a car accident where the person at fault was under-insured. |
Read: Car Accident Attorney Fees Are Negotiable
More of Alan’s Car Accident Settlements:
Alan has settled and won at trial motor vehicle cases related to:
- single-vehicle car accidents
- motorcycle accidents
- truck accidents
- environmental factors
- multi-car collisions
- rear-end collisions
- school bus accidents
- passenger injury
- ambulance accidents
- pedestrian accidents
- bicycle accidents
- backing car accidents
- drunk driving accidents
- distracted driving
Read Alan’s 200+ Car Accident Articles On His Personal Injury Blog
Proving Fault In Car Accident Claims
Determining fault is one of the most important aspects of a personal injury claim. In order to receive any compensation, you must prove that someone else’s negligence caused the car accident, resulting in severe injuries to you.
This can be done through physical evidence, witness testimony, and/or hiring experts.
In Florida, drivers have a legal duty of care to other motorists on the road. For example, if the motorist was texting while driving and caused an accident, he or she breached this duty and therefore was at fault.
Read: Car Accident Lawyer for Baby Boomers
Another important aspect in proving fault in an injury claim is being able to show you incurred damages. For more on damages, see below.
However, a victim of a car accident must be prepared for an insurance adjuster to try to argue “Comparative Fault.” This is when the victim contributed (at least partially) to his or her own injuries and/or the accident itself. Comparative fault reduces the amount of compensation you can recover based on your percentage of liability.
What Kind Of Damages Can A Car Accident Victim Recover?
If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident in South Florida due to the negligence of another driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. The goal of personal injury compensation is to pay an amount that is necessary to make a victim whole again.
However, Florida Statute 627.737 states that due to Florida’s no-fault law, car accident injuries should not be recoverable unless they are significant.
When making an injury claim with an insurance company, there are two most common damages you can receive compensation for. These are Economic and Non-economic damages.
Economic damages are those that can be calculated through bills and invoices such as:
- Lost wages
- Hospital bills
- Doctor bills
- EMS bills
- Physical therapy bills
Non-economic damages are not as easily calculated, as they are not a monetary value to begin with. A monetary value for these damages is typically calculated by a jury through evaluation of aspects such as time, the severity of injuries, amount of medical treatment needed, etc. Some Non-economic damages include:
- Emotional distress
- Loss of Consortium
- Pain and Suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life
For more information, read our article: Economic vs Non-Economic Damages
Also see: What Is My Claim Worth?
Passengers in Auto Accidents and Car Wrecks May Have Legal Claims Too
Passengers injured in an automobile accident have rights too and they should seek legal advice to learn about the compensation they can receive for their injuries. The first thing a passenger should do is seek immediate medical treatment for their injuries, even if they do not seem serious at the time.
6 Links To Articles About Common Car Accident Injuries:
- whiplash neck injury
- back injury
- spinal cord injuries
- broken bones & crushed limbs
- traumatic brain injuries
- shoulder injuries
For those who are interested in learning more about what to do in the event you are in an auto accident, Alan has prepared a list of 8 important steps you should take at the time of the accident and has written about the type of damages an experienced car accident lawyer will seek on behalf of his or her clients.
Read:
- Don’t Wait to Seek Treatment After a Car Accident!
- Car Accident FAQ
- Did Your Car Insurance Company Deny Coverage?
Car Accident FAQ
More Car Accident Blog Posts of Interest
- Do You Still Have an Injury Claim if You Wait to See a Doctor After an Accident?
- Florida Car Accident Compensation Law
- Pre-Existing Injury: How It Can Impact Your New Personal Injury Claim
- 5 Things You Should Know About Car Insurance Adjusters
Sample Car Accident Lawsuits and Other Resources
See our index of sample injury lawsuits and other court documents which contain several car accident lawsuits Alan has filed over his 40+ year career as a Florida accident lawyer.
See: Car Accident Initial Consultation Questions
Want to Know More?
To learn more about Alan and his qualifications, see his bio.
Do You Have a Question?
Please fill out the “Talk With Us” form above to ask a question or you can call us at 954-458-8655. We promise to get back to you promptly. Ask now.
Representing clients with car accidents occurring in Pembroke Pines, Miramar, Plantation, Hollywood, Davie, Hallandale Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and throughout Florida since 1982.