Head-on collisions are not as common when compared to other types of motor vehicle accidents, but they are also usually among the most severe accidents, according to 2018 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Alliance (NHTSA) about the circumstances of crashes, represented in Table 29. The force of a head-on collision can cause serious or debilitating injuries and death.
If you or your loved ones suffered an injury or death in a head-on collision due to the negligence of another driver, you could be entitled to receive compensation for your losses. Florida law allows you to pursue compensation through a personal injury lawsuit for serious injuries incurred in car accidents.
A St. Petersburg head-on collisions lawyer may be able to help you with your case. The team at Ben Crump Law, PLLC, can discuss your legal options with you and negotiate for you to receive a fair settlement. Call (844) 730-0233 today to schedule a free consultation at no obligation.
Potential Legal Avenues After a Head-On Collision
You have two main courses of action you could take to recover compensation after a head-on collision or any car accident:
- Receive compensation through car insurance. Florida is a no-fault insurance state, which means that, after most car accidents, you may be able to recover the medical costs of the accident by filing a claim with your own insurance company. Your insurance company should pay for medical bills through your personal injury protection. However, there may be limits to what they will reimburse, and you may not be able to receive money for pain and suffering or other non-economic losses. You can file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company for property damage costs, such as vehicle repairs or replacement.
- Sue for compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. An insurance claim does not always cover all the expenses of an accident. Since head-on collisions often cause very serious injuries, you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit to be able to recover enough compensation. Florida law allows you to go beyond the no-fault insurance rules and file a claim against the other driver if you suffer a serious injury.
A St. Petersburg head-on collisions lawyer can help you navigate no-fault insurance rules and liability requirements, discuss your options with you, file a lawsuit for you, and manage all the necessary legal actions.
For a free legal consultation with a head-on collisions lawyer serving St.Petersburg, call (844) 730-0233
Causes of Head-On Collisions
A head-on collision occurs when one vehicle strikes the front of another vehicle. This typically means that one driver was in the wrong lane, and that person is usually at fault for the accident.
Going the wrong way down a one-way street, veering across the dividing line or median into oncoming traffic, and making a left turn across lanes of traffic are all common reasons that head-collisions occur. Other possible causes of head-on collisions include:
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence
- Road rage
- Poor visibility or road conditions
- Speeding
- Failure to read traffic signs
If it is clear that the head-on collision is completely the fault of one driver, it can sometimes be simple to recover the cost of the accident through an insurance company. However, if you are even somewhat at fault for the accident, recovering compensation can be more difficult.
Florida uses a comparative negligence system, according to Florida Statute § 768.81, to determine financial responsibility for accidents. With this system, each person who shared some blame for the accident receives that much less of the total award. If you are 20% at fault for the collision, you will be eligible to receive only 80% of the financial damages, for instance.
Some cases are not straightforward as others, and a lawyer could be able to help you recover compensation. The St. Petersburg head-on collisions lawyer at Ben Crump Law, PLLC, can investigate the collision, gather evidence of liability, file a claim on your behalf, and negotiate for you to receive a fair settlement for your injuries and the costs of the collision.
St.Petersburg Head-On Collisions Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-0233
Possible Recoverable Compensation for a Head-On Collision
You should not have to pay the expenses of an accident that was not your fault. The types of losses you may be able to recover through a personal injury lawsuit in Florida include:
- Medical expenses, such as hospital bills
- Pain and suffering
- Income lost immediately after the accident and income you may no longer be able to provide
If you lost a loved one in a head-on collision, you might be able to recover funeral expenses and other losses. If your losses were caused by another driver’s negligence, you should pursue compensation to avoid suffering even more injury. Recovering funds after a head-on collision can not only help to pay for your medical bills and vehicle damage, but could also help to prevent more accidents in the future by holding the negligent driver responsible for their actions.
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How the Statute of Limitations Can Affect Your Compensation
A statute of limitations is a law that states how long you have to pursue legal action after a wrongful event occurs. According to Florida Statute § 95.11, the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits in St. Petersburg, Florida, is four years. The timeframe for filing a wrongful death suit is two years.
In most cases, you will be unable to recover damages if the head-on collision occurred more than two to four years ago, depending on your case. Since some rare exceptions to statutes of limitations do occur, learn about your legal options by contacting a St. Petersburg head-on collisions law team.
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Find Assistance at Ben Crump Law, PLLC
You do not have to go through this difficult time alone—the team at Ben Crump Law, PLLC, is here to help you.
To assist you in recovering after a head-on collision, we can:
- Examine police reports of the accident
- Gather evidence of who was at fault, such as photos, video surveillance, eyewitness statements, and other evidence
- Identify what damages in what amounts that you may be able to recover
- Negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf
- File a lawsuit for your head-on collision
- Handle the communication amongst all parties
At Ben Crump Law, PLLC, we want to get you the compensation you deserve. You can trust us to negotiate on your behalf so you can spend your time healing and recovering. Call us today at (844) 730-0233 for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation. Since we work on contingency, you will never owe us any fees unless we can negotiate a settlement for you. Our St. Petersburg head-on collisions lawyer may be able to help you.
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