Technically, the answer is no. In reality, the answer is a resounding yes.

In Florida, individuals have the legal right to represent themselves in civil court. While legal entities like corporations and limited liability companies must retain licensed counsel, an individual can legally negotiate directly with an auto insurance company or even file a lawsuit without representation.

In legal practice, this is known as proceeding pro se. In theory, an injured driver can investigate the collision, file pleadings, conduct depositions, and present evidence before a jury in a courtroom entirely on their own.

Very few people do this, and doing so is rarely advisable.

When you file an injury claim on your own, you are not dealing with a neutral adjuster looking to provide fair reimbursement.

You are facing a dedicated team of insurance defense lawyers, adjusters, and retained experts whose objective is to deny liability or pay as little money as possible.

Why Early Insurance Settlement Offers Usually Fall Far Short

Insurance carriers routinely deploy aggressive tactics immediately following a crash. In many instances, adjusters reach out to an injured person within days of a collision, extending a fast, nominal cash offer.

The carrier makes this quick offer hoping the injured driver will accept the check and sign a broad release before consulting experienced counsel.

Once signed, that release functions as a legally binding, enforceable contract. You permanently forfeit the legal right to reopen the claim or demand additional compensation later.

Even if you require spinal surgery months down the road, or miss substantial work, you cannot seek further payment for:

• Medical expenses and physical therapy costs
• Lost wages and reduced future earning capacity
• Vehicle repairs or total loss property damage
• Pain and suffering damages

Over more than 30 years of litigating personal injury and wrongful death disputes across South Florida, I have found that initial carrier offers are typically a fraction of what a case is truly worth.

How Filing a Lawsuit Changes Claim Valuations

Insurance carriers understand that individuals without legal representation rarely possess the capacity to conduct complex discovery or challenge corporate defense teams in court.

As a result, carrier offers tend to reflect what they believe an unrepresented person will settle for under immediate financial stress—not the actual liability exposure.

In a recent matter handled by our firm, a driver was rear-ended at a red light by a commercial pickup truck. Prior to filing a lawsuit, the insurance carrier offered a total settlement of $8,000. Rather than accepting an undervalued payout, our team filed a civil lawsuit in court. Through formal litigation, we recovered the full available liability insurance policy limits of $200,000.

In another case, our firm was retained by the surviving children of a father who was killed in a motor vehicle collision. Several law firms had already evaluated the case and turned it down, asserting that a financial recovery could not be achieved for the adult heirs.

We accepted the representation, conducted a targeted liability investigation, and recovered the maximum policy limits available under both bodily injury coverage and uninsured motorist coverage.

Contingency Fees and True Financial Recovery

When you retain a personal injury lawyer, Florida law structures the representation on a contingency-fee basis.

You pay no upfront retainers or hourly fees, and attorney’s fees and litigation costs are paid solely as an agreed-upon percentage from the financial recovery obtained.

Some people wonder whether paying an attorney’s fee diminishes their net compensation. Without an experienced civil litigator analyzing liability, coverage limits, and medical damages, an injured claimant has no accurate measure of what their case is worth under Florida law.

Because initial insurance offers to unrepresented individuals are often drastically undervalued, the substantial difference between that preliminary offer and the final settlement or verdict routinely leaves the client with more net money in their pocket—even after legal fees and litigation costs are deducted.

Have questions about your rights? We are here to help

You do not have to navigate this stressful time alone. At Wites & Rogers, P.A., we invite you to schedule a Friendly & Free Consultation with our legal team. We handle cases on a pure contingency-fee basis, which means you pay absolutely no upfront attorney’s fees or litigation costs unless we successfully recover money for you.

Call Us 24/7: Toll-Free at 866-277-8631.

Contact Us Online: Submit your details directly on our secure Contact Us Page to receive a rapid response.

ADVERTISEMENT. All content in this post is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Viewing this post, submitting a contact form, or communicating with the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship with Wites & Rogers. Past case results, verdicts, or settlements are described for informational purposes and afford no guarantee, warranty, or prediction of a similar outcome in any future legal matter. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. Wites & Rogers is responsible for the content of this publication. Our primary bona fide office is located at 4400 North Federal Highway, Lighthouse Point, FL 33064.

The post Do You Need A Lawyer For A Florida Car Accident Claim? appeared first on Wites & Rogers.

Every day on South Florida highways—whether driving Interstate 95 through Broward County or Federal Highway in Lighthouse Point—drivers pass billboards and see commercials from personal injury attorneys. Most of these advertisements deliver a lengthy, confusing list of legal tasks.

The real answer is straightforward. Only three steps demand your immediate focus after a collision:

1. Prioritize Your Health and Follow Medical Directives

Your physical and mental well-being is the single aspect of an accident where you retain complete control. Calling 911 must always take precedence over contacting a law firm.

• Allow paramedics to evaluate you at the scene. Even if adrenaline conceals initial symptoms, accept an on-site evaluation by trained first responders.
• Go to an emergency facility if you experience pain. Area facilities such as North Broward Hospital can detect internal trauma, perform vital imaging, and document crash-related injuries.
• Follow every treatment instruction. Attend follow-up appointments, complete rehabilitative therapies, and take prescribed medications to return to your pre-accident condition.
• Protect your insurance coverage. Under Florida’s 14-day Personal Injury Protection (PIP) framework, receiving prompt medical attention is legally required to preserve your personal injury medical benefits.

2. Document the Scene Without Endangering Your Safety

If your injuries allow you to safely move about the crash site, collect physical evidence before the scene is cleared:

• Photographs and Videos: Document vehicle damage, resting positions, skid marks, road hazards, and traffic signals.
• Identifying Information: Note vehicle make, model, license plates, and any commercial markings.
• Witness Information: Record the full names and contact numbers of any independent bystanders before they depart the area

If your injuries require immediate transport, ask a passenger or witness to document these details on your behalf. Never compromise your personal safety on a high-traffic roadway to gather evidence.

3. Record Your Recollection Confidentially for Legal Counsel

Memories degrade quickly following a traumatic crash. Specific facts regarding weather conditions, vehicle speed, and driver statements can become unclear within days.

Write an email, create a written document, or record an audio file detailing everything you recall about the event.

Draft or record this summary specifically as a communication addressed directly to your attorney.

Structuring your account as a direct client communication ensures that your impressions remain protected by attorney-client privilege, preventing insurance adjusters and defense counsel from compelling its production during initial claim inquiries.

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ADVERTISEMENT. All content in this post is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Viewing this post, submitting a contact form, or communicating with the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship with Wites & Rogers. Past case results, verdicts, or settlements are described for informational purposes and afford no guarantee, warranty, or prediction of a similar outcome in any future legal matter. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. Wites & Rogers is responsible for the content of this publication. Our primary bona fide office is located at 4400 North Federal Highway, Lighthouse Point, FL 33064.

Have questions about your rights? We are here to help.

You do not have to navigate this stressful time alone. At Wites & Rogers, P.A., we invite you to schedule a Friendly & Free Consultation with our legal team. We handle cases on a pure contingency-fee basis, which means you pay absolutely no upfront attorney’s fees or litigation costs unless we successfully recover money for you.

• Call Us 24/7: Toll-Free at 866-277-8631 or locally at 954-933-4400.
• Contact Us Online: Submit your details directly on our secure Contact Us Page to receive a rapid response.

The post What Should You Do After A Car Accident In South Florida? appeared first on Wites & Rogers.

D’abord, vous pouvez demander le remboursement de vos frais médicaux, y compris les frais médicaux qui ont résulté de l’accident, comme une visite à l’hôpital, la rééducation et/ou la chirurgie. Vous pouvez également être dédommagé au titre des dépenses médicales futures si la blessure que vous avez subie dans l’accident n’est pas consolidée et nécessite des soins complémentaires et supplémentaires sur le long terme.

The post L’Assurance auto et moto en Floride : quelle couverture en cas d’accident ? appeared first on Wites & Rogers.

By Marc A. Wites
Florida is a peculiar state for car insurance. We are one of the few states in America with a no-fault auto insurance system.  This means that if you are in a car accident, your own automobile insurance covers your claims for lost wages and medical expenses, up to $10,000 (less applicable deductibles). This is known as Personal Injury Protection, or “PIP” for short. So, even if the other guy caused the crash, your own insurance pays first.

Another thing that makes Florida unique is that it is one of the few states that requires only that drivers carry the no-fault coverage, PIP, and Property Damage coverage in the amount of $10,000.  If you find this odd, you are not alone.  $10,000 in PIP coverage, and $10,000 in Property Damage coverage, is all it takes to legally drive a car in Florida (that, and passing your driver’s test). 
Florida drivers are not required to have bodily injury coverage, which pays for claims that might be brought against you if you cause the crash; are not required to have Med Pay, which would provide for the payment of your medical bills in excess of $10,000; and are not required to have what is called UM Coverage, which covers you in the event that the driver that caused the crash does not have any insurance (i.e., Uninsured Motorist) or enough insurance (i.e., Underinsured Motorist).
One could debate whether or not Florida’s non-fault/PIP insurance scheme is a good system, given that it was passed in 1971 when medical expenses and the costs to repair a car were far, far less; the minimum coverages have never been raised.  Also, the system is arguably unconstitutional now that the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) requires everyone to have insurance. Moreover, in consideration for this bargain, whereby you can recover from your own insurance carrier for lost wages and medical expenses regardless of fault, you cannot pursue claims against the driver that caused the crash (commonly called the at-fault driver) for pain and suffering unless you suffer what the law defines as a permanent injury. These, however, are topics for another day. 
So, let’s say you are unfortunately in a car crash, it’s the other driver’s fault, and you have significant medical expenses, lost wages, and/or pain and suffering. Hopefully, the other driver has bodily injury coverage and/or you have UM coverage. 
As another aside, in a state like Florida, where millions of people drive without a license or any insurance, with only the minimum insurance required, or with very little bodily injury coverage, it’s a very good idea to have UM coverage.  Again, UM coverage protects you when the at-fault driver has no insurance or does not have enough insurance to cover your claims.  You also should carry enough bodily injury coverage to protect your assets in the event you cause a crash.  And always remember, if you don’t have Bodily Injury and UM Coverage, you don’t have “full coverage” despite what your insurance agent may tell you. But, I digress.
If the at-fault driver has bodily injury coverage, and/or if you have UM coverage, you can bring a claim against the at-fault driver and/or your UM insurer, and pursue four main areas of relief through a claim based on the driver’s negligent operation of the vehicle.
First, you can seek the recovery of your medical expenses, including the medical expenses that resulted from the crash, such as a hospital visit, physical therapy and/or surgery. You can also recover future medical expenses if the injury you suffered in the crash will require more care later in your life. 
Second, you can recover money for your lost wages.  Of course, you’ll need proof that you were unable to work, and of the amount of wages that you lost.
Third, you can seek monetary damages for pain and suffering, and mental anguish, which resulted from the crash if you can prove that you suffered a permanent injury.
Last, and not necessarily least, you can seek to recover the cost to repair your own vehicle, or the value of your vehicle if the vehicle is deemed a total loss.
Keep in mind that whether the claim is brought against you, or if you bring the claim against someone else, your insurance will only pay up to the amount of coverage available under the policy.  For example, if your policy includes a limit of $50,000 in bodily injury coverage, you are the at-fault driver, and the person you injured has a claim valued in excess of $50,000, you will be personally liable for any damages in excess of $50,000. 
Car insurance is something that most of us pay for, and hopefully never have to use.  But, if you do, it is good for something.  Just make sure that you have enough coverage to protect you and your family, and hope that the at-fault driver does too.
Or, better yet, since you are buying insurance, don’t “hope” for the right outcome; instead, insure for it.  Buy UM coverage.  Although I hope I will never need it, I have it, and you should too.
Marc A. Wites is an attorney and a shareholder of Wites & Rogers, a law firm which represents injured people and their families in personal injury and wrongful death actions, class actions, investment fraud matters, consumer debt litigation, and immigration.

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