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In 2019, Broward County averaged more than 112 auto accidents a day. Some of those accidents involved serious injury and fatalities. In addition to stress and potential injury, car accidents can lead to missed time from work and lifestyle disruptions. Even if it doesn’t seem serious at first, the aftereffects of an auto accident can be felt long after the actual incident is over.
Filing a car accident claim can help you to cope following a car accident. The claim can help you to deal with potential long-term effects, stress, and financial needs. Car accident attorneys in Lauderhill are experienced and knowledgeable about personal injury claims, including auto accident claims. Get guidance and helpful advice, and learn your options by speaking with experienced car accident attorneys.
Common Causes Of Car Accidents In Lauderhill
Auto accidents can happen at any time, and they result from several different causes. Some causes contributing to car crashes are preventable, while others come from acts of nature, or from unavoidable circumstances like road hazards.
Preventable car accidents include people who are driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. In 2018, Broward County had 178 confirmed accidents resulting from driving under the influence of alcohol. These crashes led to 10 confirmed deaths and 109 injuries. A total of 23 crashes in Broward County in 2018 were caused by drivers under the influence of drugs, and 12 involved both drugs and alcohol.
Inexperienced drivers, including teens and young adults, are especially vulnerable in auto accidents. Over 1,200 teens ages 15-17 were involved in accidents in Broward County in 2018, and 3,914 drivers ages 18 to 20.
Distracted driving is another major cause of car accidents in Florida. In 2018, 236 people in Florida lost their lives and 3,100 suffered serious injuries due to distracted driving accidents. Distractions include cell phones, navigation devices and CD players, passenger distractions, and texting while driving.
Additional car accident causes include:
- aggressive and reckless driving
- failure to see or heed road signs and signals
- mechanical failure, including tire blowouts
- bad weather
- driving while tired
In Florida, some accidents can result from debris on the road after storms and from animals on the road, including, on rare occasions, alligators.
Reasons To File A Car Accident Claim
Florida’s laws 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. Under Florida state law, you are also required to report an accident immediately if there have been any injuries or significant damage to cars or other property (over $500 in damage).
Following an accident, filing a claim will help to protect your rights and help you to receive the full amount of compensation you’re entitled to receive.
Factors That Affect Car Accident Claims
Awards made through the car accident claims process are determined based on the amount of property damage that has occurred and injuries suffered. Florida also has a statute of limitations that influences when you can file a claim following an accident. Florida’s statute of limitations on personal injury claims including car accidents is four years.
Although Florida has “no fault” auto insurance and PIP insurance (personal injury protection), it applies to car accidents where there have been no serious injuries. When serious injuries or severe damage to property is involved, then the doctrine of “comparative negligence” will impact the claims process.
Comparative negligence means that a driver who is found to have 20 percent responsibility in an accident will find their damage award following a claim to be reduced by 20 percent.
How Much Compensation Can You Win?
The compensation you’ll be entitled to receive if you are eligible to file a car accident claim in Lauderhill will be influenced by the severity of property damage, the seriousness of injuries, and the impact the accident has had on your life. The severity of problems resulting from the accident can increase the award you could be entitled to win.
Money awarded as compensation following an accident can increase depending on the following factors (as well as others):
- long-term disabilities or fatalities
- the amount of medical care or rehabilitation needed
- missed time from work or lost income for self-employed people
- fault or negligence among the involved drivers
- negative impacts on your life and relationships
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 are intended to 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
Although it isn’t common, some car accident claims can result in “punitive damages.” Punitive damages are intended to punish individuals or companies that have been negligent in serious road incidents. For example, a trucking company could be found negligent in its hiring practices and could be required to pay punitive damages if an unqualified driver caused a serious accident.
Car Accident Rates In Lauderhill
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety And Motor Vehicles, Broward County, including Lauderhill, had over 41,000 car accidents in 2019.
Here are some statistics:
- There were 188 fatal crashes in Broward County in 2019, leading to 203 deaths.
- A total of 715 car accidents in Broward County in 2019 also involved bicycles, contributing to the deaths of 11 people.
- More than 16,180 accidents in Broward County in 2019 resulted in 23,689 injuries.
- Broward County had a total of 12,345 hit-and-run crashes in 2019, which caused 16 fatalities and more than 2,130 injuries.
- Over 1,080 of the car accidents in Broward County in 2019 involved pedestrians, resulting in 53 pedestrian fatalities.
List Of Car Accident Attorneys Serving Lauderhill
If you’ve been in a car accident in Lauderhill, you could be unsure where to turn or what your next steps should be.
You can learn more about your rights and the best next steps you can take by consulting with our experienced car accident attorneys, including:
- Wil H. Florin, B.C.S.
- Tommy D. Roebig, B.C.S.
- Jordan A. Kolinski
- Kavon P. Smith
Find Help Filing A Car Accident Claim
Since the firm’s founding in 1985, Florin|Roebig has excelled in representing people in personal injury claims. We have been named one of the best law firms in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report every year starting in 2010 and achieved over $1 billion in case awards to date.
If you’ve been in an auto accident in Lauderhill, contact Florin|Roebig’s experienced and caring attorneys for a no-charge consultation today and learn about your right to file a car accident claim.