Fort Myers car accident lawyer

Editorial Details

This page was written and legally reviewed by Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath’s team of Florida Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyers.

If you’ve suffered a severe injury in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, please get in touch with a Fort Myers car accident attorney with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath as soon as you can. We’ll work to help you obtain maximum compensation for the suffering you’ve endured.

Our attorneys have extensive experience in cases similar to yours, and we’ll do everything possible to make sure those responsible for the accident are held accountable for their carelessness. Schedule your free consultation with a skilled Fort Myers accident injury lawyer today.

Why work with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath

You want to work with a law firm with a long track record of delivering results. That’s exactly what you’ll get when you hire Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath. These are just a few examples of compensation amounts we’ve obtained on behalf of our car accident clients:

• $7.5 million
• $6.284 million
• $5.3 million
• $4.4 million
• $2.5 million

No reputable law firm would ever promise they could achieve similar results on your behalf. But if you need an attorney, you want one who knows how to win. A Fort Myers car accident lawyer with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath will work passionately to do just that.

Steps to take after being in a crash

While the aftermath of a car wreck can be overwhelming, keeping a clear head is essential. If you take the following steps, you’ll minimize the impact of your injury and improve your chances of obtaining full and fair compensation.

1. Move your vehicle to a safer location

If you’re in a wreck, try to get it off the road and away from further danger. If it won’t move, and if you’re physically able, get out of the vehicle and get to the safest spot possible.

2. Check yourself and your passenger(s) for injuries

See if you can move your arms and legs, and check for any visible injuries. Ask your passengers if they’re okay. Check to see if you can think clearly to assess for a head injury.

3. Call 911 and ask for police and an ambulance

The reason you should check for injuries is that the more information you can give to the 911 dispatcher, the better. They’ll relay that information to emergency medical personnel and the more they know, the more effectively they can treat you. Make sure you also ask the dispatcher to send a police officer to investigate the accident and make a report.

4. Tell your side of the story to the responding police officer

The officer is going to ask you how the accident happened. While you want to tell the truth, you should never admit any blame. If you do, the officer will include that in their report, which is going to be a critical piece of evidence in your case. If you admit fault, it will be difficult to obtain the compensation you deserve.

5. Notify your insurance company

Tell your insurer that you’ve been in an accident as soon as you can. Again, though, just stick to the facts. Let them know when and where the wreck occurred. Don’t say anything the insurer could be interpreted as fault for the accident.

6. Gather evidence at the scene

Your safety should always be your top priority. But if you can collect evidence, it will be helpful when fighting your case. Get pictures of all vehicles involved in the accident, as well as damage to guardrails and street signs. Make sure you also take photos of any skid marks that might be on the road. Those could indicate the at-fault driver was speeding and had to slam on their brakes.

7. Visit Urgent Care or your primary care physician

If you don’t go to the ER, you should at least see your doctor or go to the nearest urgent care facility. Adrenaline and other “fight or flight” hormones can mask injury symptoms, and many injuries don’t show symptoms for hours or even longer. If you delay medical help, it could make your injury much worse. A medical visit will also establish your medical expenses, which is a major component of your case.

8. Meet with a Fort Myers car accident attorney to understand your legal options

Next to your health, the most important thing to do will be to speak with a Fort Myers car accident lawyer immediately. Time is of the essence, because your attorney will need to investigate the accident as quickly as possible. The longer you wait, the higher the risk of critical evidence disappearing.

Make sure you file a claim on time

Florida has a two-year statute of limitations regarding personal injury cases. You’ll forfeit your right to pursue compensation if you let the statute of limitations expire. But as noted above, you need to take action immediately to have the best chance of getting the money you deserve.

Possible damages you can claim

The word “damages” is legal speak for financial losses stemming from a personal injury accident. The following is a look at the two most common forms of damages – economic and non-economic.

Economic damages

You’ve probably already received a lot of medical bills in your mail or email. There’s also a good chance you’re losing wages because you’re too hurt to work. These are examples of economic, or tangible damages. It’s very easy to prove them because you can produce documents showing your expenses and lost salary.

Non-economic damages

On the other hand, only a skilled Fort Myers car accident lawyer can prove non-economic damages because they’re subjective. You can’t, for instance, show receipts proving your emotional trauma, or your pain and suffering.

But the attorneys with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath have the experience it takes to place a monetary value on your non-economic damages and ensure you obtain maximum compensation.

Parties who may be liable for your injury

A car accident case can be complicated because of the possibility of multiple liable parties. The driver of the other car may have been speeding or distracted by their phone. But the car’s brakes might have failed because they were faulty. In a case like this, you could take action against both the other driver and the manufacturer of the braking system.

This is one of the reasons why you need to hire a Fort Myers car accident lawyer who can investigate right away. Your attorney will determine everyone to blame and pursue compensation from all of them.

How our Fort Myers attorneys prove negligence

At Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath, we have years of experience investigating car accidents. As stated earlier, we have tools at our disposal that non-attorneys simply don’t.

We can, for instance, get the phone records of the at-fault driver to prove they were using their phone when their focus should have been on the road. Our attorneys can also obtain footage from nearby surveillance cameras that might show how the collision occurred. We’ll use all of this evidence to help you win your case.

We fight the insurance company to get you the maximum compensation

Insurance companies can be intimidating. They have deep pockets and high-powered attorneys, and they’ll do everything they can to deny your claim. But when you choose a Fort Myers car accident lawyer with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath, you can rest easy knowing we’ll fight for your rights.

Insurers don’t bother us, no matter how large they may be. We defeat them on a regular basis because we have the truth on our side. That’s precisely what we’ll work to do for you.

Car accidents are more frequent and more dangerous

Since 2018, an average of more than 400,000 car accidents have taken place on Florida roads and highways each year. Tragically, these accidents have claimed more than 3,000 lives each year.

While today’s vehicles have much more advanced safety features than ever before, far too many people are severely injured or killed. One of the main culprits, ironically, is technology. Just about everyone has a smartphone, and too many of them can’t bear to put them down when driving. Even a momentary lapse of focus can have devastating consequences.

Common car accident injuries

Drivers and passengers often suffer debilitating injuries due to car wrecks. These injuries can sometimes be so severe a victim will lose their quality of life. Examples include the following:

• Traumatic brain injury
• Severely broken bones
• Amputations
• Burns
• Spinal cord injuries
• And many others

“Dos” and “don’ts” of dealing with insurance after a crash

The most important thing to remember when dealing with an insurance company is that you should never do it alone. Never speak with an insurance adjuster without having a lawyer present. Adjusters are highly skilled professionals; they know how to manipulate accident victims into admitting fault.

While you should notify your insurance company about the accident, you should refer any questions to your attorney. This is especially true when it comes to the insurer that covers the at-fault driver.

Cost of hiring a Fort Myers car accident lawyer

When you choose Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath, you won’t pay a dime upfront. The only way we’ll receive money is if we win your case.

Why you should visit a doctor as soon as possible

As noted earlier, you’ll need to get medical help to make sure you have the best chance of fully recovering from your injury and to protect your case. If you don’t see a doctor, the insurance company will claim that you’re not hurt as badly as you claim or that you’re not hurt at all, which will damage your case significantly.

Our Fort Myers car accident attorneys are here to help

Hurt in a crash? Don’t hesitate to contact a Fort Myers personal injury lawyer with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath. You can use our online form or call (561) 655-1990 for a free evaluation of your case.