New Port Richey Car Accident Lawyer
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you probably have enough to worry about already.
You may be dealing with pain, medical appointments, missed work, damage to your vehicle, and an insurance company asking questions about what happened. At the same time, you may be wondering who is responsible, what insurance coverage is available, and how you are going to pay for everything.
At Weber Law Firm, we believe you shouldn’t have to navigate those questions alone.
I’m Attorney Lauren N. Weber, and I represent people injured in car accidents and other personal injury matters in New Port Richey and throughout Pasco County.
When you work with my firm, you work directly with me. Your case isn’t simply handed off to a case manager. I take the time to understand what happened, investigate the circumstances of your accident, identify the insurance coverage that may be available, and help you understand your options.
Every accident is different. Sometimes the biggest issue is determining who was at fault. In other cases, the challenge is finding additional insurance coverage, dealing with disputed liability, or understanding whether your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may apply.
Those details can make a significant difference in a personal injury claim.
I’m Lauren N. Weber
I was born and raised in Pasco County, so this community is more than simply a place where I practice law.
Before becoming an attorney, I spent more than 12 years working as a paralegal. I also spent more than seven years working for Pasco County Schools in risk management and procurement.
That experience gave me a practical understanding of how organizations evaluate risk, handle claims, and make decisions.
I earned my J.D. from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School in 2021, graduating cum laude. During law school, I was recognized on the Honor Roll and Dean’s List, received Blue Book Awards, placed first in moot court, and participated in law journal activities.
I earned my bachelor’s degree from St. Petersburg College and passed the Florida Bar examination on my first attempt.
Before establishing my own practice, I worked as an associate at Kemp Ruge & Green. According to my published biography, I secured more than $3 million in personal injury settlements during my first year after admission to The Florida Bar.
Today, my practice focuses on helping people who have been injured understand their legal rights and the insurance issues that can affect their claims. You can learn more about the personal injury cases we handle throughout the area.
What My Case Results Tell You About How I Handle Claims
A settlement number by itself doesn’t tell you very much.
When I look at another attorney’s case results, I want to know what made the case difficult, what problem the attorney had to solve, and what work went into obtaining the result.
That’s how I approach my own cases.
My published results include claims involving disputed liability, uninsured and underinsured motorists, multiple insurance policies, insurance coverage disputes, evidence gathering, litigation, and policy-limit negotiations.
You can view our published case results to see the outcomes and circumstances of these claims.
Looking Beyond the Initial Insurance Coverage
In one rear-end collision, the available coverage initially appeared to be limited to $20,000—$10,000 in bodily injury coverage and $10,000 in uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
When I reviewed the insurance documentation, I identified an issue involving the insurer’s M-9 form and challenged the available UIM coverage.
The insurer ultimately increased the available UIM coverage to $100,000.
The client recovered $10,000 in bodily injury benefits and $100,000 in UIM benefits, for a total recovery of $110,000.
This is one reason I don’t want to look only at the other driver’s insurance policy when evaluating a claim. Your own policy may also be important.
Reviewing UM and UIM Coverage
An injured person may have an additional source of insurance coverage through their own automobile policy.
I have handled claims involving uninsured and underinsured motorists, including:
- $260,000 policy-limit settlement involving a drunk driver and BI/UIM coverage, secured before suit.
- $59,500 settlement involving a rear-end collision and BI/UIM policy limits.
- $10,000 UM policy-limit recovery after a T-bone collision involving an uninsured driver.
The important question isn’t simply whether the other driver has insurance.
I also want to know whether you have UM or UIM coverage and, if so, how that coverage may apply to your claim.
What If the Other Driver Doesn’t Have Enough Insurance?
This is one of the questions I hear frequently.
The other driver may have no bodily injury coverage, or the available limits may not be enough to fully address the damages caused by the accident.
That is why I also review my client’s own automobile insurance coverage when appropriate.
Uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage may provide an additional source of recovery depending on the policy and circumstances of the accident.
What Is UM/UIM Coverage?
Uninsured motorist coverage can apply when the responsible driver does not have applicable bodily injury insurance.
Underinsured motorist coverage can potentially provide additional coverage when the responsible driver’s available insurance is insufficient.
Florida law addresses uninsured motorist coverage and the written selection or rejection of coverage. The details of the applicable policy and insurance documentation matter.
Read Florida’s UM/UIM statute, Florida Statute §627.727.
I don’t assume that the information initially provided by an insurance company tells the entire story. When appropriate, I review the relevant insurance documentation to determine what coverage may actually be available.
What If Both Drivers Were Partially at Fault?
Car accident liability isn’t always completely one-sided.
Florida’s comparative fault law provides that a claimant’s recovery can be reduced based on the claimant’s percentage of fault, and a party found to be more than 50% at fault for their own harm generally may not recover damages in an action covered by the statute.
That makes the evidence surrounding the accident important, particularly when the other driver or insurance company is arguing that you were partially responsible.
Read Florida’s comparative fault statute, Florida Statute §768.81.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit?
For negligence claims, Florida Statute §95.11 generally provides a two-year limitations period.
The specific deadline for your claim can depend on when the claim accrued and the circumstances involved. Some claims have different deadlines or additional requirements.
Because missing a filing deadline can prevent a claim from being pursued, I don’t recommend waiting until the deadline is approaching to determine what applies to your situation.
Read Florida’s statute of limitations, Florida Statute §95.11.
Can I Recover Damages for Pain and Suffering?
Florida’s no-fault system places limits on when a person can pursue certain tort damages for pain, suffering, mental anguish, and inconvenience arising from a motor-vehicle injury.
Florida Statute §627.737 identifies circumstances that can permit recovery of those damages, including certain permanent injuries, significant permanent loss of an important bodily function, significant permanent scarring or disfigurement, or death.
Whether a particular injury satisfies the applicable legal requirements depends on the facts and medical evidence.
Read Florida’s motor-vehicle tort threshold statute, Florida Statute §627.737.
How Do Medical Records Affect My Claim?
Medical records can provide important evidence about the nature and extent of your injuries and the treatment you received.
Florida law also establishes rules concerning the evidence that may be used to prove medical expenses in personal injury actions.
That’s why I encourage clients to keep their medical records, bills, treatment information, and other documentation related to the accident.
Read Florida Statute §768.0427 regarding evidence of medical expenses in personal injury actions.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
If you’ve been involved in a crash, your first priority should be your safety and medical needs.
When it is safe to do so, I generally recommend:
1. Get medical attention.
Some injuries aren’t immediately obvious. Follow appropriate medical advice and keep records of your treatment.
2. Report the accident.
Depending on the circumstances, contact the appropriate law-enforcement agency and make sure the accident is properly documented.
3. Exchange information.
Obtain the other driver’s information when it is safe and appropriate to do so.
4. Document the scene.
If you’re physically able and it is safe, photographs and video of the vehicles, roadway, surrounding area, and visible injuries may become useful evidence.
5. Preserve evidence.
Keep photographs, videos, medical records, bills, repair information, insurance documents, and other information related to the accident.
6. Notify your insurance company.
Your policy may contain requirements concerning notice of an accident.
7. Be thoughtful about recorded statements.
Insurance companies may ask questions about the accident, your injuries, and what happened. Before making statements about the value of your claim or agreeing to a settlement, make sure you understand the issues involved.
8. Get legal advice when the circumstances warrant it.
If liability is disputed, your injuries are significant, insurance coverage is unclear, or the other driver is uninsured or underinsured, talking with an attorney may help you understand your options.
How I Evaluate a Car Accident Claim
When someone comes to me after a car accident, I don’t want to know only who caused the crash.
I want to understand the entire picture.
Depending on the circumstances, I may look at:
- The accident report
- How the collision occurred
- The available evidence
- Photographs and video
- Potential witnesses
- Vehicle damage
- Medical records and bills
- Lost income
- The other driver’s insurance
- My client’s own automobile insurance
- UM/UIM coverage
- Whether liability is disputed
- Available policy limits
- Whether additional insurance policies may apply
- Whether litigation is necessary
I also want my clients to understand why these things matter.
You shouldn’t have to simply trust that something is being handled. You should be able to ask questions and understand what is happening with your case.
Questions I Encourage You to Ask a Car Accident Lawyer
If you’re speaking with an attorney after an accident, I think it’s reasonable to ask questions.
You may want to ask:
- Who will personally handle my case?
- Will I be able to speak directly with my attorney?
- How will you determine what insurance coverage is available?
- Will you review my own UM/UIM coverage?
- How will you investigate disputed liability?
- What evidence will you look for?
- How will you evaluate my medical expenses and injuries?
- Will my case require litigation?
- How will you communicate with me about my case?
At Weber Law Firm, you work directly with me.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I talk to the other driver’s insurance company?
You may need to notify insurance companies about the accident. However, you should understand what information you’re providing before making statements concerning liability, your injuries, or the value of your claim.
What if the other driver doesn’t have insurance?
Your own automobile insurance policy may include uninsured motorist coverage. Whether that coverage applies depends on the policy and circumstances of your accident.
What if the other driver has insurance but it isn’t enough?
Underinsured motorist coverage may provide an additional source of recovery if it applies to your policy and circumstances.
What if the other driver says the accident was my fault?
A disagreement about fault does not necessarily end a claim. The available evidence and Florida’s comparative fault rules can affect how liability is determined.
How much is my car accident case worth?
There isn’t a standard settlement amount for a car accident claim.
The value of a case can depend on liability, injuries, medical treatment, lost income, available insurance coverage, evidence, and many other factors.
I would rather evaluate those factors than give you a number based on limited information.
Do I need a lawyer after a car accident?
Not every accident requires an attorney.
However, legal advice can be particularly useful when liability is disputed, injuries are significant, insurance coverage is complicated, or the other driver is uninsured or underinsured.
Let’s Talk About Your Accident
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you don’t have to figure out every legal and insurance issue before you reach out.
Tell me what happened.
I’ll listen to what you’re dealing with, answer your questions, and explain the options that may be available based on the circumstances of your case.
At Weber Law Firm, you work directly with me—not a case manager.
Contact Weber Law Firm about your car accident.