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In 2019, Palm Beach County experienced an average of more than 72 car accidents a day. Also in 2019, nearly 46 people a day in Palm Beach County were injured in auto accidents. Although accidents may not seem serious at first, their impact can be felt for a long time afterward.
You may require help to pay for medical bills, or need reimbursement for lost wages and time off work. You can also receive help in understanding your rights following a car accident in Delray Beach.
Speaking with car accident lawyers following a crash can help you to understand your alternatives, as well as your rights. Car accident lawyers can explain the claims process to you and help you to determine your best course of action.
Common Causes Of Car Accidents In Delray Beach
Car accidents can result from natural causes such as bad weather or debris on the road. They can also occur because of mechanical failures, including tire blowouts or engine failure. Most accidents occur due to preventable causes, including driver error and driver negligence.
Driver inexperience can also lead to accidents. In 2019 in Palm Beach County, teens ages 15 to 17 were involved in 942 crashes, and 18- to 20-year-olds were involved in 2,692 accidents.
Car accidents can also be caused by:
- bad weather and poor visibility
- not paying attention to traffic signals and road signs
- reckless driving and speeding
- road debris and road damage
- animals on the road
Drivers who don’t get enough sleep or who drive while taking prescription medication may also cause car accidents.
Reasons To File A Car Accident Claim
Following an accident, you should pull off the road to a safe location and take advantage of medical attention to ensure you’re not seriously injured. Florida law specifies that you must report an accident to law enforcement immediately if anyone has been hurt and if there has been more than $500 in property damage.
Filing a car accident claim in Delray Beach can help to protect your rights. You should be aware that you are not under an obligation to speak with insurance company representatives. An attorney can help you to understand your responsibilities and rights following a car accident.
The total impact of the car accident may not be felt for months, and in some cases, even years. Filing a car accident claim can help you to obtain the compensation you’re entitled to receive. You can receive compensation for medical treatment, damage to your vehicle, damage to your property, and to help you to recover from the accident.
Factors That Affect Car Accident Claims
Financial compensation after a car accident is based upon assessment of damages that have resulted from the crash. Damages are often higher depending on the severity of the accident, severity of injuries, and the amount of property damage that has occurred.
Florida provides a “statute of limitations” that limits how long people have after an accident to file a claim. Florida’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is four years following the date of the injury. Car accident claims are a type of personal injury claim.
Another aspect of Florida law regarding personal injury claims is the legal doctrine of “comparative negligence.” Claim awards following an accident can be reduced based on the amount of negligence each driver is assessed as having during the claims process.
A driver in an accident who was found to be 10 percent negligent who received a $20,000 award would have the award reduced by 10 percent. The driver would ultimately receive $18,000, instead of $20,000, in damages.
How Much Compensation Can You Win?
The degree of injury and the amount of damage to vehicles and equipment can influence the amount of compensation awarded in a car accident claim. Car accident attorneys are experienced in determining compensation that takes into account all the factors that could influence your life and future following a car accident.
You could receive more or less compensation after an accident because of the following factors, as well as other factors:
- injuries and their degree of severity, including fatalities
- the need for rehabilitation or long-term care
- lost income and wages
- pain, suffering, and emotional stress
- psychological needs, including counseling and medication
The more serious injuries and property damage that has occurred, the greater the potential for higher compensation. Compensation in an auto accident claims process is intended to help you and your family to recover and rebuild your lives.
Types Of Damages Awarded In Car Accident Claims
Car accident lawyers are experienced in determining damages that have occurred as a result of an automobile accident. The claims process uses damages to determine how much money (compensation) can be awarded.
Car accident damages can include:
- vehicle repair or replacement
- medical bills, hospitalization, and prescriptions
- rehabilitation costs
- psychiatric care, counseling, and medication
- lost salary, wages, or self-employment earnings
- emotional pain and suffering
At times, some car accident claim awards can include “punitive damages.” Punitive damages are intended to punish people involved in an accident who have been negligent. Although punitive damages aren’t a common occurrence, they can be awarded after a car accident in Delray Beach where significant negligence was involved.
Auto Accident Rates In Delray Beach
In 2019, Palm Beach County, where Delray Beach is located, had 26,721 accidents, including 11,070 accidents leading to injuries:
- The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reported there were 158 fatal crashes in Palm Beach County in 2019, leading to 167 deaths.
- Overall, 16,732 people suffered injuries in auto accidents in Palm Beach County in 2019.
- More than 620 accidents in Palm Beach County in 2019 also involved pedestrians, and 36 pedestrians lost their lives.
- The FLHSMV reported more than 7,500 hit-and-run accidents in Palm Beach County in 2019.
List Of Car Accident Attorneys Serving Delray Beach
If you’ve been in a car accident in Delray Beach, it’s understandable that you’ll feel a lot of worry and stress, and you may not know where to turn next. You can find out how best to proceed and learn your rights by talking to experienced and compassionate car accident attorneys.
Florin|Roebig’s esteemed and highly experienced attorneys are able to help you, including:
- Wil H. Florin, B.C.S.
- Tommy D. Roebig, B.C.S.
- Shaun M. Cummings
- Kavon P. Smith
Find Help Filing A Car Accident Claim
With the honor of selection as one of the best law firms in America by U.S. News & World Report each year since 2010, Florin|Roebig is dedicated to fighting for client rights.
Our firm has achieved some of the highest awards recorded in contested jury verdicts in Florida, with a total of over $1 billion in awards since the firm’s founding in 1985. The attorneys at Florin|Roebig strive to ensure compensation for our clients’ losses. Contact Florin|Roebig today for a no-obligation consultation about your car accident claim in Delray Beach.