Call Us Today216-696-3232
Serious car accidents may cause permanent injuries, costly medical treatment, or even death. When this happens, identifying all of the legal and financial consequences of a crash may require an investigation into how the collision occurred and how those injuries may impact your life moving forward. An Orlando car accident lawyer can help determine liability, insurance coverage, and damages after a crash causes significant losses.
Drivers in Orlando encounter multiple environments in which catastrophic collisions can occur. I-4 routes traffic through the heart of the metro area while SR 408 connects travelers east and west of the city. Frequent Florida roads, including Colonial Drive, Orange Blossom Trail, and John Young Parkway, also put local drivers in close proximity to large trucks and tourists who may be unfamiliar with the area. Accidents on these roads may raise questions about fault.
Spangenberg Shibley & Liber has been serving injured Floridians as a trial law firm since 1946. The firm handles serious personal injury, medical malpractice, and civil rights cases, with an emphasis on representing people who have suffered catastrophic injuries or lost a significant amount of money.
Attorneys at the firm have secured over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements on behalf of clients. However, past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own merits.
Published case results include a $2.1 million verdict on behalf of five children after their parents were killed in a head-on collision. We have also secured 25% of seven-figure-plus verdicts in Ohio over the past two years. Spangenberg Shibley & Liber works with major injury victims, knowing that every case is prepared with trial in mind.
Every car accident is unique. A minor crash that leaves you with temporary stiffness and a couple hundred dollars in medical bills is different from an accident that causes spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), amputations, lifelong mobility issues, or death.
The worth of a severe car accident typically hinges on assessing both current and future consequences. For instance, if you have a permanent injury, you may need additional surgeries, rehabilitation therapy, special equipment, home accommodations, or personal care assistance in the future. If you’re a professional whose injuries preclude you from working in your field, you should also anticipate a considerable loss in your ability to earn money going forward.
For these reasons, a proper valuation of a serious car accident claim involves looking beyond immediate medical expenditures. Instead, you must analyze the true impact of your injury and determine which losses were caused by the accident.
Traffic in Orlando includes interstate travelers and commuters from across the state, heavy commercial vehicles, rideshare drivers, and tourists. While any of these vehicles could be involved in a crash due to a driver’s negligent conduct, some accidents are the result of multiple causes. Some of the most common causes of serious accidents include:
Understanding what caused your crash is important because you may likely need to prove negligence on the part of another driver. Vehicle damage, roadway evidence, witness accounts, electronic data, surveillance videos, and post-crash records can all serve as evidence of how an accident occurred.
Florida uses a modified comparative fault system. Florida Statutes § 768.81 states that an injured person’s recovery can be reduced by his or her portion of fault. If a claimant is over 50% at fault for their own injuries, they cannot receive compensation for any damages.
Insurance companies can sometimes argue that a victim was partially or totally responsible for his or her own injuries. Fault is not always straightforward, and multiple vehicles can be involved in major accidents. If you were hit by a commercial driver, there could also be third-party liability.
Florida has a no-fault car insurance system. Florida Statutes § 627.736 requires qualifying automobile policies to include personal injury protection coverage, also known as PIP. Through this statute, drivers have access to up to $10,000 of medical expenses and disability benefits.
Even though PIP lets injured parties claim certain compensation without establishing fault, the $10,000 limit falls far short of what’s needed for devastating injuries. Hospital bills alone can run into the thousands of dollars, while surgical and rehabilitative care can increase the cost of a crash exponentially.
Victims of serious accidents should work with an attorney to determine what sources of recovery may be available. This could include the liability coverage of a negligent driver and/or underinsured motorist coverage through your own insurance policy.
In Orange County, there were 25,415 accidents in 2024. This equaled a rate of 1,667.8 per 100,000, as compared to 1,654.2 in the state. Every accident and injury is different, so available damages may depend on the facts of your case. Actual monetary losses fall under economic damages, with non-economic damages serving to compensate for the intangible impacts of an injury.
Economic damages can include medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. Non-economic damages can include pain and suffering and the impact your injuries have on your daily life. Serious injuries can permanently affect mobility, your ability to care for yourself, hobbies, and time with family.
Wrongful death damages are determined by different guidelines under Florida law. Each case is different and depends on the facts surrounding the death as well as surviving family members who have filed the claim.
Evidence can be lost or become harder to collect over time. For instance, a car may be scrapped or go through repairs, or witnesses may forget details after time has passed.
For a significant accident, getting a police report is likely just the first step in your investigation. Photographs of the vehicles and roadway, data from the event data recorder, legally accessible cell phone records, commercial driver logs, and firsthand accounts from witnesses can all be crucial evidence.
Medical records have a different purpose. These records can aid in establishing the diagnosis and treatment history, while also connecting the claimed injuries to the collision. If there are lasting limitations, medical professionals or chosen professionals can potentially present evidence concerning what future medical attention may be necessary.
Proving a substantial claim isn’t just about showing that an accident occurred. You have to prove who was at fault and what damages were caused by that conduct.
Some of the most severe car accident claims involve damages that may last for years, or even decades. That’s one reason your medical records are so important in a catastrophic injury case.
Injuries like spinal cord damage can impact your ability to perform routine daily tasks and work independently. For example, serious traumatic brain injuries can impact your cognition and behavior by the time many of the physical injuries have resolved. Also, complex orthopedic injuries can lead to multiple surgeries and years of rehab.
Analyzing these claims often requires medical testimony regarding the injured person’s prognosis and future treatment needs. You also may need a financial professional to determine the economic impact of your injuries, especially if you are a high-wage earner or were trained for a specific career that you can no longer perform.
The purpose of this analysis is not to guess at every possible future expense the injured person may incur. Instead, it’s about building a record of expected losses based on their diagnosis, medical requirements, occupation, age, and other factors.
You may decide to hire a car accident lawyer after any collision. Serious injuries, significant financial losses, disputed liability, and complex insurance issues can all mean that a significant claim should be evaluated by an attorney. Major claims often require investigation beyond what is found in a police report.
An Orlando car accident attorney can identify who might be at fault and which insurance policies could cover the damages. Counsel can also help preserve evidence, use subpoenas to obtain records if necessary, retain the appropriate professionals, and calculate damages using evidence from doctors, insurance companies, and elsewhere.
This might involve obtaining testimony regarding future care requirements or lost ability to earn money in a catastrophic injury case. If an insurer denies liability or offers a damage estimate that’s too low, an attorney can get a case ready for trial and represent your interests in court.
A: After a car accident in Orlando, you should first contact emergency services right away. If you are able to, get to a safe side of the road and turn your hazard lights on. Contact law enforcement and report the accident to them so they can make an official report. Exchange contact information with the other driver.
A: Yes, you can pursue compensation if the other driver was in Orlando from another state. The mere fact that someone was visiting Orlando when an accident occurs does not prevent Florida law from applying. That driver’s insurance policy may still apply, even if it was issued by an out-of-state company. However, visiting Florida is not likely to bar a valid injury claim by the person who was hurt.
A: If a rental car driver causes an accident, the outcome depends on the insurance available. Rental car accidents can involve multiple sources of insurance coverage. The at-fault driver’s personal auto policy may provide coverage, as well as coverage bought as part of the rental agreement or possibly from other policies. Rental companies are typically only responsible for accidents caused by their negligence.
A: If a family member was severely injured in a car accident and can no longer make legal decisions for themself, Florida allows another person to be granted authority to act on someone’s behalf if needed. Which legal process is needed would depend on the circumstances and legal arrangements that person has in place. Guardianship issues and others may therefore need to be addressed in addition to the injury claim.
If you were severely injured in a car accident in Orlando, Spangenberg Shibley & Liber can help you seek the compensation you deserve from the party responsible. Contact us today for more information and to speak with an attorney.
We have been helping individuals since 1946 and have secured over a billion dollars on behalf of our clients.
We take our clients’ struggles personally. We fight tirelessly for those we represent and never back down when justice is on the line.
We believe in doing what is right, not what is easy. We stand by our clients, our word, and our principles.
We measure success by the difference we make, holding wrongdoers accountable, changing lives, and delivering the justice our clients deserve.
Spangenberg Shibley & Liber offers free, no-obligation
consultations so you have nothing to lose!
*Indicates Required Fields
"*" indicates required fields
Call Us
216-696-3232
© 2026 Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP• All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer | Site Map | Privacy Policy. Digital Marketing By: 
*Images are obtained under license from Canva and other third-party stock image providers, with attribution included where required.