Florida is a no-fault state, so a lot of people assume there is nothing they can do after a crash. That belief is wrong, and it can cost you thousands.
A Port St. Lucie car accident lawyer can go after the at-fault driver when your injury is serious enough, on top of your own no-fault benefits. At Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa, we handle crashes across St. Lucie County, in English and Spanish, and you pay nothing unless we win.
No-fault, also called PIP, only decides who pays your first medical bills. It does not mean the driver who hit you is off the hook.
Hurt in a crash in Port St. Lucie? Get a free case review before you give the insurance company a statement. Call +1 (772) 878-3880. No fee unless we win.
Table of contents
- Do You Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident in Port St. Lucie?
- What Are Florida's Car Accident Rules?
- When Can You Sue the Other Driver?
- Where Do Car Accidents Happen in Port St. Lucie?
- What Causes Most Car Accidents in Port St. Lucie?
- What Injuries Do Car Accidents Cause?
- How Do You Prove the Other Driver Was at Fault?
- What If a Truck or Motorcycle Was Involved?
- What Is a Car Accident Claim Worth?
- What Should You Not Do After a Crash?
- Why Do Drivers in Port St. Lucie Choose Us?
- About Steven C. Simon
- What If It Was a Hit-and-Run?
- What If You Were Just a Passenger?
- Port St. Lucie Car Accident FAQ
- Talk to a Port St. Lucie Car Accident Lawyer
Do You Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident in Port St. Lucie?
Not for a minor fender bender with no injuries. You do need one once you are hurt, missing work, or facing an insurer that disputes your claim. That is when the value of a case swings the most, particularly when assessing damages after a car accident.
Signs it is time to call a lawyer:
- You went to the doctor or the emergency room.
- The other driver's insurer is calling for a recorded statement.
- Fault is being disputed, or the driver was uninsured.
- The first car accident settlement offer feels low, or your claim was denied.
The first review is free, so it costs nothing to learn what your case is worth.
What Are Florida's Car Accident Rules?
Four rules decide most Florida car accident claims, and knowing them protects you. Here they are at a glance.
| Rule | What it means for your claim |
| No-fault (PIP) | Your own $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection pays first, if you treat within 14 days |
| Serious injury threshold | You can sue the at-fault driver only if your injury is permanent or serious |
| Two-year deadline | You have two years from the crash to file a lawsuit |
| The 51 percent bar | If you are found more than 50 percent at fault, you recover nothing |
Personal Injury Protection, or PIP, is the no-fault coverage every Florida driver carries. You can read the full rule in Florida Statute 627.736. The most common mistake we see is waiting past 14 days to get care, which can wipe out that coverage.
When Can You Sue the Other Driver?
You can step outside no-fault and sue when your injury is serious. Florida sets a "serious injury threshold," and meeting it is what unlocks money for pain and suffering.
Your injury generally has to involve:
- A permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability.
- Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement.
- A permanent loss of an important bodily function.
Whether you meet that bar is a medical and legal question, not something an adjuster decides for you on the phone. We build that proof with your treating doctors.
Not sure if your injury clears the threshold? Let us review your records for free. Call +1 (772) 878-3880.
Where Do Car Accidents Happen in Port St. Lucie?
Most serious crashes cluster on a few busy corridors that carry more traffic every year. Knowing the roads helps us understand how a crash really happened.
The hot spots we see most:
- US-1 and Port St. Lucie Boulevard, with heavy traffic and constant turns.
- Gatlin Boulevard, Crosstown Parkway, and St. Lucie West Boulevard.
- The I-95 and Florida's Turnpike interchanges, where speeds are high.
As one of Florida's fastest-growing cities, Port St. Lucie keeps adding drivers to these roads. For a closer look, see our PSL car accident statistics.
What Causes Most Car Accidents in Port St. Lucie?
Most crashes here trace back to a driver who was not paying attention or was in a hurry. These are preventable, which is what makes the other driver legally responsible.
The causes we see most often:
- Distracted driving, especially texting behind the wheel.
- Failure to yield while turning or pulling out of a lot.
- Speeding and tailgating, which turn small mistakes into serious crashes.
- Running red lights and stop signs.
When a driver's carelessness caused your crash, that is the foundation of your claim.
What Injuries Do Car Accidents Cause?
A crash can cause injuries that do not fully show up for days. That delay is exactly why you should get checked out early, especially when dealing with serious injuries from a car accident, and not rush to settle.
Common crash injuries include:
- Whiplash and other neck and back injuries.
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries.
- Herniated discs and spinal injuries.
- Broken bones and torn ligaments.
Some of these need months of care, so the full value of a claim is not clear until you understand your recovery.
How Do You Prove the Other Driver Was at Fault?
Fault comes down to evidence, and the best evidence fades fast. Skid marks wash away, video gets erased, and memories blur within days.
To pin fault where it belongs, we:
- Pull the crash report through the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles portal.
- Secure traffic and business camera footage before it is deleted.
- Download vehicle data and, when needed, bring in a crash reconstruction expert.
We also get ahead of any claim that you shared the blame, because under Florida law even a small fault percentage cuts your recovery.
What If a Truck or Motorcycle Was Involved?
The vehicle that hit you changes the whole claim. Bigger vehicles mean bigger insurance policies and, often, more than one party who can be held responsible.
- A crash with a commercial truck brings in federal rules and company insurance. See how we handle commercial truck crashes in Port St. Lucie.
- A rider hit by a car faces severe injuries and unfair blame. Here is how we handle motorcycle accidents in Port St. Lucie.
Matching the claim to the right vehicle and insurer is part of getting you full value.
What Is a Car Accident Claim Worth?
It depends on your injuries and how the crash changed your life. There is no set average, because a sprained neck and a spinal injury are worlds apart.
A fair claim can include:
- All medical care, now and in the future.
- Lost wages and reduced earning power.
- Pain, suffering, and the lasting limits the crash created.
Over four decades, our firm has recovered more than $500 million for injured Floridians. We will tell you honestly what your case is worth before you accept anything.
What Should You Not Do After a Crash?
Skip the moves that make the insurer's job easier. A few early mistakes can shrink a strong claim.
Try not to:
- Admit fault at the scene or apologize to the other driver.
- Give the other insurer a recorded statement before talking to a lawyer.
- Post about the crash on social media.
- Accept a fast settlement before you know your injuries.
If you have already slipped up, tell your Port St. Lucie personal injury lawyer. We will work with the facts as they are.
Why Do Drivers in Port St. Lucie Choose Us?
Because we prepare every case as if it will be tried in the 19th Judicial Circuit, which is the court that hears St. Lucie County cases. Insurers pay more when they know you are ready to go to trial.
A few more reasons drivers trust us:
- We handle your case in English or Spanish, from the first call on.
- Our Port St. Lucie office is right here on St. Lucie West Boulevard.
- We work on contingency, so there is no fee unless we win.
About Steven C. Simon
Steven C. Simon is the managing shareholder of the firm's Port St. Lucie office and a civil trial litigator with more than 30 years of experience. He began his career representing insurance companies, so he knows the tactics they use to limit a claim.
Since 2001, he has represented only injured people and their families. He carries the AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the National Trial Lawyers Top 100. He earned his law degree with high honors from St. Thomas University.
What If It Was a Hit-and-Run?
You may still have a claim, even if the other driver fled. If you carry uninsured motorist coverage, known as UM, it can pay for your injuries when the driver cannot be found.
Report the crash to police right away, because that report is key to a hit-and-run claim. We also work to identify the driver through video and witnesses while the trail is fresh.
What If You Were Just a Passenger?
You almost always have a claim as an injured passenger, because you are rarely the one at fault. You may be able to recover from more than one driver's insurance, depending on who caused the crash.
That can include the driver of your own car and the other driver. We sort out which policies apply so your bills are covered.
Port St. Lucie Car Accident FAQ
How much does a Port St. Lucie car accident lawyer cost?
Nothing up front. We work on contingency, so our fee is a percentage of what we recover and we only get paid if you do. The first case review is free, so there is no risk in calling.
Should I give the other driver's insurance company a statement?
Report the crash to your own insurer, but be careful with the other driver's adjuster. You are not required to give a recorded statement, and what you say can be used to shift blame onto you. It is smart to let a lawyer handle that call.
What if the driver who hit me had no insurance?
You may still have coverage. If you carry uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, called UM or UIM, it can pay for your injuries. Checking every policy that might apply is one of the first things we do.
What should I do right after a car accident in Port St. Lucie?
Get medical care within 14 days so you do not lose your PIP coverage, even if you feel okay. Photograph the scene and damage, get the other driver's insurance and plate, and ask for the crash report number. Then talk to a lawyer before accepting any offer.
How is fault decided in a Florida car accident?
Fault is based on evidence like the crash report, witnesses, camera footage, and vehicle data. Florida uses a modified comparative fault rule, so each side's share of blame matters. Being more than 50 percent at fault ends the claim, which is why fighting an inflated number is key.
How long will my car accident case take?
It depends on your injuries and whether the insurer disputes the claim. A clear case can settle in months, while a disputed one or a serious injury can take longer. We keep your case moving and do not let the insurer stall.
Do I have to go to court for a car accident claim?
Usually not. Most cases settle out of court, but we prepare every one as if it will be tried. That readiness is often what pushes the insurer to make a fair offer without a trial.
Talk to a Port St. Lucie Car Accident Lawyer
The other driver already gave their version, and the insurer is building a file. The strongest version of your case exists right now, while the evidence is fresh.
Call +1 (772) 878-3880 or visit our Port St. Lucie office at 1660 SW St. Lucie West Blvd, Suite 300. We also serve West Palm Beach and work with clients in English and Spanish. No fee unless we win.