In 2017, car accidents in Florida accounted for 3,116 deaths, while 166,612 crashes resulted in injuries, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). If you or a loved one is the victim of negligence by another motorist, then you may qualify to collect compensation for your losses.
The Miami car accident lawyers with Ben Crump Law, PLLC can protect your rights to recovery. Call us today at (844) 730-0233 to discuss the next steps in pursuing any compensation for your injuries and losses.
Negligence on Florida’s Roads
Advancements in technology, such as cell phones and cloud-based services, subject drivers to far more distractions on today’s roads. In 2017, FLHSMV also reported 234 fatalities attributed to distracted driving and 3,096 accidents severe enough to require hospitalization. If driver distraction or other risky driving behaviors caused or contributed to the accident in which you or a loved one suffered injuries, then you may have a case for financial compensation.
Distracted driving is any behavior that leads you to take one or more hands off the wheel, to take your eyes off the road, or to think about anything other than driving.
The following types of distractions can lead to auto accidents:
- Texting
- Making a phone call
- Using a cell phone for any activity, such as posting on social media or getting directions from a navigation app
- Adjusting an entertainment system, such as the radio or a DVD player
- Tending to pets, children, or other occupants of the vehicle
- Interacting with other motorists
Consider whether the motorist who caused your or your loved one’s accident did any of these things leading up to the crash. If so, they may have acted negligently, and you may qualify for compensation from the responsible party. If the liable party violated Florida traffic law, we can prove they are at-fault for the accident.
Every personal injury or wrongful death claim is unique, and possible losses in your case will depend on the circumstances of your accident. Whether you—and the other driver—have more than the minimum insurance required coverage might be relevant as well.
For a free legal consultation with a car accidents lawyer serving Miami, call (844) 730-0233
Obtaining Legal Representation to Help You with Your Case
Calling a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident may allow you to ensure your personal injury claim abides by the relevant time limitations. Under the 2019 Florida Statute of Limitations, wrongful death claims generally allow you two years from the date of your loved one’s death, and personal injury cases generally allow you four years from the date that the accident occurred.
Once you obtain legal representation, an auto accident attorney may help your case by:
- Filing the necessary paperwork quickly to move your case forward as soon as possible
- Speaking with you in person or over the phone to obtain an official account of the accident, including the cause
- Collecting evidence of the circumstances that led to the accident, such as video, photographs, eyewitness accounts, and police reports
- Speaking with any relevant medical professionals to obtain any documentation that could benefit your case
- Interviewing eyewitnesses to see if they remember the defendant engaging in dangerous or negligent behavior
If you believe another driver’s negligence caused your accident, call a car accident lawyer with Ben Crump Law, PLLC at (844) 730-0233 for a free consultation regarding your case.
Miami Car Accident Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-0233
Proving Fault in a Personal Injury Claim
Your lawyer may follow this four-step process to prove that the defendant in your case acted negligently in causing the accident:
- Establish that the defendant in your case owed you a duty of care: Every driver on the road is expected to follow the rules of the road and not endanger himself, his passengers, other motorists, bikers, and pedestrians. This principle is known as the duty of care.
- Show that the defendant breached their duty of care: Your lawyer may cite evidence of wrongdoing, such as police reports, eyewitness accounts, admissions by the defendant, or other indicators of negligent behavior.
- Establish a link between the breach of the duty of care and your injuries and losses: Your lawyer will then show the link between your injuries and losses from the accident to the defendant’s breached duty of care.
- Calculate losses: Your lawyer does not want you to suffer any further losses as a result of the accident, nor should you pay for those losses, so the amount of financial awards requested may vary based on the circumstances of your case.
Possible Compensation in a Wrongful Death Claim
Every personal injury or wrongful death claim is unique, and possible losses in your case will depend on the circumstances of your accident.
Some of the possibilities for compensation in your case may cover emergency transportation that you or your loved one required following the accident, any medical care required in the aftermath of the accident, emergency care, and rehabilitation and therapy. Lost wages or diminished earning capacity stemming from your injuries may also qualify you for additional compensation. Pain and suffering and punitive damages against the defendant could also apply to your personal injury claim.
If your case results in a wrongful death claim, then you may qualify for additional awards, including the loss of financial protection for you and your family, which may account for your loved one’s projected future income. The loss of spousal companionship or guidance for children of the deceased may also apply for compensation, along with funeral costs.
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Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC for a Free Consultation
We want to help ensure that you do not suffer any further harm than you already have.
Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing upfront or out of pocket. We only collect a fee if we secure awards in your favor.
A Miami car accident lawyer with Ben Crump Law, PLLC is here to help you recover your losses. We are not afraid to handle tough cases, so call us at (844) 730-0233 today for a free consultation regarding your case.
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