Port St. Lucie averaged more than 13 car accidents a day in 2019. While not all of these accidents were serious, they resulted in nearly 3,000 injuries. If you’re a car accident victim in Port St. Lucie, you may be able to file a claim to seek compensation.
Costs resulting from auto accidents can build over time. You also have legal rights if you’ve been in an accident, and personal injury lawyers can explain them to you. You can find out how the process of filing a claim works and understand the steps involved.
You can speak to caring, experienced Port St. Lucie car accident lawyers to learn how to file a car accident claim. Our lawyers at Florin|Roebig’s can discuss your situation with you following a car accident so you can make the most informed choices possible. Remember when you sign your case with Florin Roebig, you are hiring attorneys who have secured some of Florida’s highest jury verdicts like the $42 million dollar verdict that involved an overserving drunk driving accident.
Common Causes Of Car Accidents In Port St. Lucie
The majority of car accidents are caused by human error or negligence, including many that are avoidable. Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is a leading cause of car accidents.
Distracted driving is also a major cause of car crashes, and it doesn’t just include texting behind the wheel, which became illegal in the state of Florida in January 2020. Distracted driving can result from noisy passengers or multi-tasking while driving. With the new City Center development of downtown Port St. Lucie, restaurants and bars will increase pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Ensuring distracted driving like texting and driving doesn’t happen in Port St. Lucie will become even more important.
Additional causes of accidents include aggressive and reckless driving, sometimes called “road rage.” Other drivers may have impaired vision or hearing which contributes to a crash. And finally, some drivers may not see or heed road signs or signals, leading to crashes in intersections or on-ramps.
Some motor vehicle accidents are also caused by acts of nature, like severe weather or road obstructions. In Florida, potholes and sinkholes can open, leading to sudden disasters on the road. Whether caused by humans or nature, the reason an accident happens will influence the auto claims process. Drivers found responsible for an accident in Florida can be held accountable in the claims process, especially if they are found to be negligent. Also, the weather in Port St. Lucie has caused many accidents due to the high amounts of rain causing slippery road conditions.
Reasons To File A Car Accident Claim
If you’ve been in a car crash in Port St. Lucie, you should seek medical treatment and follow Florida law regarding reporting accidents first. Then, you should consider if you should file a claim following the accident. You are under no obligation to talk with the insurance adjusters representing other vehicles and drivers who were in the accident.
You may not be aware of all the implications of the accident or long-term results immediately following the crash. You could experience delayed injuries or other forms of damage. A car accident claim can help you to identify the damages you have suffered. Car accident lawyers are experienced and can help you understand your rights and the steps you need to take to file a claim.
Some insurance companies, even your own, may be motivated to reduce the amount of money they pay out in claims following a car accident. Having a Port St. Lucie car accident attorney to offer legal advice can help protect your rights and ensure you receive the financial compensation you are entitled to receive.
Factors That Affect Car Accident Cases
How serious the accident was and if serious injuries were sustained are two of the main factors affecting car accident claims in Port St. Lucie and other areas in Florida. You can be entitled to file a substantial claim if the accident has caused a major disruption in your life, including significant time off work, or even injuries that require rehabilitation.
As a type of personal injury claim, auto accident claims are influenced by the statute of limitations. In the state of Florida, the statute of limitations for filing a claim is four years following the date of the accident.
Florida’s laws regarding driver fault and negligence will also affect your claim. Your claim can also be affected by the type of insurance coverage you and other involved drivers have. All Florida drivers are required to have a personal injury protection (PIP) policy.
Florida uses a legal doctrine called comparative negligence to determine how awards are made. A car accident case award depends largely on how the claims process determines comparative negligence between the drivers involved.
How Much Compensation Can You Win?
If serious injuries have been suffered in a car accident, damages will be higher than if there were no injuries.
Compensation following an accident can increase depending on the following factors:
- how severe injuries are and how much treatment is required
- if anyone has lost their life (wrongful death)
- how much time off work you’ve experienced
- ongoing need for medical care or rehabilitation
- impact on your family and future plans
- how much evidence is available regarding fault in the crash
- whether you had fault in the accident, and your degree of fault
In Florida, a driver who is found to be at fault in an accident could have their damages reduced or eliminated through the principle of comparative negligence.
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Types Of Damages Awarded In Car Accident Cases
In the claims process, the term “damages” means specific categories where a personal injury can be identified and a specific monetary amount can be assessed.
Damage categories in car accident claims include economic damages and non-economic damages, which cover both costs that are tangible, like medical bills, and costs that aren’t easily calculated, like pain and suffering.
Some damages which can be awarded for an auto accident case in Port St. Lucie include:
- reasonable medical expenses, including surgery, prescriptions, and hospitalization
- lost income, including wages and earnings
- rehabilitation or retraining
- psychiatric care and medications
- pain and suffering
Damages can restore financial losses and compensation for accident injuries. Florida allows punitive damages, which means you could be awarded an additional amount of money if a driver has been found to be extremely negligent in causing an accident.
An example of extreme negligence could be reckless driving with the intent to cause an accident or injure others. Although not common, punitive damages can be awarded to car accident victims in Florida.
Car Accident Rates In Port St. Lucie
Port St. Lucie resides along the Atlantic coast of St. Lucie County. As of 2019, the population is 189,396. Like other parts of Florida, St. Lucie County can have its fair share of unsafe driving conditions. Port St. Lucie experienced these traffic accidents in 2021:
- 3,995 total accidents this year, including automobiles, bicycles, and motorcycles.
- 2,420 people reported injuries after their accident. This number has also risen since 2020.
- Of these accidents, 36 resulted in death.
- Of these accidents, 6 were the results of alcohol and/or drug consumption.
St. Lucie’s Worst Intersections
While no roads can guarantee 100% safety, there are roads in St. Lucie County that Port St. Lucie residents should proceed with caution. Be sure to obey any and all traffic laws. St. Lucie County contains one of the most dangerous intersections.
- US-1 and Prima Vista Boulevard: There was a crash with a fatality as recent as January 2021. During that time, there were 578 crashes within a 200-foot radius of the US-1 and Prima Vista Blvd intersection.
- US-1 and Walton Rd: Located near the MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event Center, this dangerous intersection has been the site of many distracted driving and DUI accidents over the years.
- Bayshore Blvd. and St. Lucie West Blvd: This busy intersection is located near the Florida turnpike and has many shopping centers and a tricky light that is confusing for tourists.
- Gatlin Blvd. and Rosser Blvd: This intersection is extremely dangerous not because of the large amount of traffic, but rather of the high speeds vehicles drive. Be extra cautious of the traffic traveling westbound on Gatlin Blvd.
List Of Car Accident Lawyers Serving Port St. Lucie
When you’re ready to file a claim to recover your losses following a car accident, you’ll want experience and knowledge on your side. The law offices of Florin|Roebig have been helping accident victims in Florida seek the compensation they deserve for more than three decades.
Our car accident attorneys serving Port St. Lucie and other areas in Florida include:
- Wil H. Florin, B.C.S.
- Tommy D. Roebig, B.C.S.
- Luca G. Esposito
- Michael L. Walker, B.C.S.
- Michael A. Ossi, O.C.
We Are Nationally Awarded Lawyers
Find Help Filing A Car Accident Claim
If you live in Port St. Lucie and have been in a car accident, you should seek compassionate and qualified legal advice. The auto injury lawyers at Florin|Roebig have experienced board-certified trial attorneys with an outstanding track record since the firm was founded in 1985.
If you have been in an auto accident, learn your legal rights and the next best steps in filing a car accident claim in Port St. Lucie by contacting Florin|Roebig for a free case evaluation today.
