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Miami-Dade County averaged more than 176 car accidents a day in 2019 which resulted in a total of over 31,400 injuries. The impact of a car accident can still be felt for a long period of time following the day of the crash.
After an accident, a car accident claim could help you to cope with the effects. You may need reimbursement for medical expenses, or you may need money to repair your vehicle or replace damaged equipment.
If you’ve missed work or you’re self-employed and are losing income, an accident claim might help. Locate experienced car accident lawyers in Kendall who can explain your rights and guide you through the process of filing a claim.
Common Causes Of Car Accidents In Kendall
Some car accidents are unavoidable. They occur due to natural causes or mechanical failures. Many other accidents are preventable and can result from human error or negligence.
Driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs continues to be a leading cause of auto accidents in Miami-Dade County. In 2018, 338 accidents resulted from drivers who were under the influence of alcohol, leading to 164 injuries.
A total of 19 drug-involved accidents occurred in Miami-Dade County in 2018. Drivers under the influence of both drugs and alcohol were involved in 16 crashes, leading to the deaths of 17 people and injuries of 17 others.
Distracted driving can include talking on cell phones, using navigation devices or music/video players, texting while driving, or responding to distractions among passengers or outside the vehicle. It became illegal to text while driving in Florida in 2019, and drivers can be assessed fines if law enforcement officers see them texting while on the road.
Additional causes of car accidents in Florida include:
- failing to acknowledge road signs and traffic signals
- poor visibility and bad weather
- mechanical failures
- reckless driving and “road rage”
- debris on the road
- animals on the road
Driving without adequate sleep and some forms of prescription medication can also lead to accidents.
What To Know About Filing A Car Accident Claim
If you’ve been in a car accident, you should first seek medical attention. You are also responsible to follow Florida law regarding reporting an accident. If anyone has been injured and there is any property damage over $500, you must report the accident to law enforcement immediately.
Florida’s rules about car accident claims are complex. After an accident, your first priority should be to seek medical help to make sure you haven’t been seriously injured.
Claims resulting from car accidents in Florida are influenced by the state’s rule of comparative negligence. You are under no obligation to speak with insurance company representatives who are involved with the drivers of other vehicles involved in your accident.
In addition, the rule of comparative negligence can inspire insurance companies to try to place blame in an accident on any other involved party, reducing their financial liability.
Even if you do not believe you’ve been seriously injured, a car accident attorney can advise you of your rights following a car accident. Filing a claim after a car accident can help to protect your rights and it can help you to receive the maximum compensation you may be entitled to receive.
Factors That Affect Car Accident Claims
The amount of damages awarded in a car accident claim usually vary based upon the severity of injuries suffered by the people involved in the crash. The amount of time off work and the severity of damage to vehicles and equipment can also influence a car accident claim and award.
Like other states, Florida has a statute of limitations, or a legal limit on the time between an accident and the time a claim is filed. The statute of limitations in Florida following car accidents is four years.
Florida’s “no fault” insurance policies can affect car accident claims in cases where there are no serious injuries, as can the concept of comparative negligence.
The doctrine of comparative negligence says that if an involved driver is found to be partially at fault for an accident, their claim award will be reduced based on the amount of comparative fault they are found to have. For example, if a person is found to be 30 percent responsible for an accident, their award would be reduced by 30 percent at the end of the claim process.
How Much Compensation Can You Win?
Compensation in auto accident claims is usually influenced by the severity of the accident, injuries, and property damage. Following an accident, you are understandably under stress and may not realize the full weight of the impact the accident could have on your life over time. The accident claims process is designed to take all of these factors into consideration.
The amount of money that could be paid in compensation after a car accident can increase or decrease because of these factors and others:
- fatalities or serious disability and/or injury
- rehabilitation needs and long-term medical needs
- time off work or lost wages and income
- negligence and fault among the involved parties
- stress, pain, and suffering
Accidents that result in severe injuries or long-term loss of ability to work or support your family have greater potential for substantial financial compensation in the accident claims process.
Types Of Damages Awarded In Car Accident Claims
The legal and insurance term “damages” refers to the categories of compensation that should pay for personal injuries and property damage.
Categories of damages include, but aren’t limited to:
- repair or replacement of vehicles or other equipment
- reimbursement for medical bills
- payment for rehabilitation and future medical care
- psychiatric care, counseling, and medications
- pain and suffering
- lost wages or earnings
In Florida, sometimes an additional category of damages intended to punish negligent drivers can be added to a car accident claim. “Punitive damages” are not common.
But they can be assessed in addition to specific damages for medical bills, property damage, and pain and suffering. Punitive damages are intended to punish severe negligence or wrongdoing, and act as a deterrent against repeated negligent behavior.
Car Accident Rates In Kendall
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) reported over 64,500 auto accidents in Miami-Dade County in 2019, a slight decrease from the 64,627 accidents in 2018.
Check out these facts:
- In 2018, a total of 293 people died in car accidents in Miami-Dade County.
- By 2019, a total of 316 fatal auto accidents led to 335 deaths in Miami-Dade County.
- Miami-Dade County had 818 accidents involving cars and bicycles in 2019, including 14 fatal bicycle accidents.
- In 2019, more than 21,193 crashes in Miami-Dade County led to 31,471 injuries.
- A total of 87 pedestrians lost their lives in over 1,600 crashes involving people on foot in Miami-Dade County in 2019.
- Over 20,770 crashes in Miami-Dade County in 2019 were hit-and-run accidents, according to the FLHSMV.
List Of Car Accident Attorneys Serving Kendall
If you or someone in your family has been involved in an auto accident in Kendall, you may not know where to turn.
You can learn your rights and discover how to proceed by speaking with experienced car accident lawyers serving Kendall, including the following members of our Florin|Roebig team and many others:
- Wil H. Florin, B.C.S.
- Tommy D. Roebig, B.C.S.
- Matthew L. McMullen
- Taylor D. Roebig
- Shaun M. Cummings
Find Help Filing A Car Accident Claim
Between 2010 and 2020, Florin|Roebig was named one of the best law firms in America by U.S. News and World Report. Florin|Roebig was founded in 1985, and we are dedicated to fighting for our clients and helping them receive compensation for personal injuries and property losses, including car accident claims.
You can speak with an experienced, caring attorney about filing a car accident claim in Kendall. Contact one of Florin|Roebig’s car accident lawyers today for a no-obligation, no-cost consultation.