Car accident attorney, Melbourne FL Hit by another driver? Call your neighbor.
Renee Dial represents people hurt in car accidents in Melbourne, Palm Bay, and across Brevard County. You talk to him, not a call center.
After a car accident
What Renee does for you.
A car accident attorney deals with the insurance companies, gathers the evidence, and pursues payment for your medical bills, lost income, and pain, so you can focus on healing.
After a crash on US-1, Wickham Road, or I-95, the phone calls start fast. Adjusters want statements. Bills show up before you feel better. Renee steps in between you and all of it.
- Explains how your own PIP coverage and the other driver’s insurance apply to you
- Collects the crash report, photos, medical records, and witness statements
- Deals with the adjusters so you are not pushed into a quick, low offer
- Files suit before the Florida deadline if the insurer will not be fair
The first two weeks
What to do after a crash.
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Get safe and call 911
Florida requires reporting a crash that involves injury, death, or at least $500 in apparent property damage.
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See a doctor within 14 days
PIP generally only pays if you get initial medical care within 14 days of the accident.
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Document the scene
Photograph the vehicles, the road, the signals, and your injuries. Get names and numbers for witnesses.
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Trade information
Exchange names, license, registration, and insurance details with the other driver.
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Watch what you say
You can report the claim without giving the other driver’s insurer a recorded statement.
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Call Renee
The sooner he knows, the sooner evidence is preserved and deadlines are tracked.
Florida law in plain English
How a car accident claim works here.
Your own insurance pays first
Florida is a no-fault state. Your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) pays 80 percent of reasonable medical bills and 60 percent of lost income, up to $10,000, no matter who caused the crash.
Source: Florida Statutes section 627.736
Serious injuries can go beyond PIP
To recover for pain and suffering from the at-fault driver, your injury generally has to meet the Florida threshold, such as a permanent injury or significant and permanent scarring.
Source: Florida Statutes section 627.737
Fault is shared by percentage
Florida uses modified comparative negligence. Your recovery is reduced by your share of the blame, and if you are found more than 50 percent at fault you generally cannot recover damages.
Source: Florida Statutes section 768.81
You have two years
Most negligence claims in Florida must be filed within two years of the crash. Evidence fades much faster than that, so do not wait.
Source: Florida Statutes section 95.11
Google reviews
Word gets around.
After a crash
Straight answers. No runaround.
The questions Renee hears most from people in Melbourne and Palm Bay after an accident. This is general information about Florida law, not legal advice for your situation.
Ask ReneeDo I have to call the police after a car accident in Florida?
Yes, if anyone is hurt or killed, or if there is at least $500 in apparent property damage. In those cases the driver must report the crash to law enforcement right away. A crash report also becomes key evidence for your claim.
Source: Florida Statutes section 316.065
Who pays my medical bills after a car accident?
Your own PIP coverage pays first, no matter who caused the crash. It covers 80 percent of reasonable medical bills up to $10,000. That amount can be limited to $2,500 if a qualified provider finds you did not have an emergency medical condition.
Source: Florida Statutes section 627.736
Can I sue the other driver for pain and suffering?
Only if your injury meets the Florida threshold. That generally means a permanent injury, significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement, a significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function, or death.
Source: Florida Statutes section 627.737
What if the driver who hit me has no insurance?
Your own uninsured motorist coverage can step in, if you bought it. Many Florida drivers carry little or no bodily injury coverage, so it is worth checking your own policy. Renee can review it with you.
How long do I have to file a claim in Florida?
Generally two years from the date of the crash. Florida shortened the deadline for negligence claims to two years for accidents on or after March 24, 2023.
Source: Florida Statutes section 95.11
Hurt in a crash in Brevard County?
Call your neighbor.
Tell Renee what happened. He will tell you where you stand and what he would do next.
(321) 926-8002