More than 200,000 car accidents occur in Florida each year. Sections 316.065-6 of the Florida Statutes require drivers involved in a crash to immediately contact local law enforcement if the crash results in or includes:
According to recent data, Florida has the highest percentage of uninsured drivers of any state, with over 25% of drivers being uninsured. If you are in a car accident caused by an uninsured motorist, you have several options to cover your expenses, starting with your own insurance.
Florida law requires that all vehicles be insured by a minimum of $10,000 personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 property damage liability (PDL). These two coverages provide some financial compensation for expenses related to your physical injuries and any damage you cause to another car or other property.
Commercial trucks are big vehicles. When they cause accidents here in Florida, they are usually serious with significant damage to the people in the other vehicles. The difference between an accident with another car and an accident with a large truck, such as a construction vehicle or a tractor-trailer full of products, is that trucks are usually connected to big companies with big insurance companies behind them. And those companies are experts in limiting or avoiding compensation to injured parties. If you are involved in a truck accident, you will not get the fair compensation you deserve without an experienced personal injury lawyer.
As a lifelong Florida resident and personal injury lawyer, I’ve represented many injured parties who were hurt by a truck. Trucks cannot stop or accelerate as quickly as automobiles; they can’t take tight turns and they swing wide; they sometimes drive over the yellow dividing line in the road; they often go through yellow or red lights, simply because it is easier than stopping a huge load; and frankly, some truck drivers (not all, but some) act like they own the road. Any one of these factors can cause an accident that seriously injures drivers and passengers in smaller, lighter vehicles.
If you have been injured in an accident here in Florida, make sure you are treated by a doctor who is an expert in accident injuries, because not all doctors know what to look for, especially in car accident victims, slip-and-fall victims, and those injured by recreational vehicles or sporting equipment. Here in Florida, the vacation destination of the world, injuries are unfortunately not rare. As a personal injury attorney and lifetime Florida resident, I am committed to helping my fellow Floridians get the compensation they need when they are injured due to the negligence of others.
If medical personnel come to the scene of your injury, or if you are transported by ambulance to a hospital for immediate treatment, do not refuse such treatment. An immediate examination to find any obvious injuries and any possible internal bleeding or other critical medical emergencies is always a good idea. But be sure to follow up with specialists.
Florida is the number one tourism state in the country, and many of those millions of tourists every year choose to rent a car. Unfortunately, being in an unfamiliar vehicle in unfamiliar territory is often a dangerous combination, which is why our beautiful state has one of the highest rates of auto accidents in the country. If you are hit by someone driving a rental car, there are a few things you should know.
Regardless of who is driving what type of car, there are certain things everyone in Florida should do immediately after an accident and within the subsequent days:
If you are involved in an automobile accident in Florida, call 911 right away. A 911 call will automatically record that an accident occurred, will dispatch the police, and will allow you to request medical assistance. Florida law states that drivers are required to contact the police as soon as possible after an accident when:
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability for both adults and children in the United States. According to the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Florida, 1.4 million Americans sustain TBI each year; about 50,000 die, 235,000 are hospitalized, and 1.1 million are treated and released. But often those treated and released have sustained injuries that were not properly recognized, and their injuries go undiagnosed for too long.
What is TBI?
A TBI is caused by a bump, blow, jolt, or other injury to the head that disrupts the normal function of the brain. The most common causes of TBI are falls, vehicle accidents, and being struck by or against an object. Vehicular accidents are the leading cause of TBI resulting in hospitalization or a visit to the ER.
Florida is a destination state year-round. Visitors from around the country and the world flock to Florida because of our state’s natural beauty, many attractions, amusement parks, and resorts. The presence of a large number of tourists creates unique traffic conditions in the Sunshine State because so many drivers are unfamiliar with the region. This almost guarantees a lot of distracted drivers or erratic driving, which translates into car accidents.
If you are in a car accident in Florida, whether you’re a native or a visitor, there are several things you should NEVER do in the aftermath of the accident.
Florida is a destination state for so many people from around the world because of our incredible natural beauty and our many attractions, amusement parks, and entertainment venues. The downside of this is that many drivers aren’t familiar with the area, giving Florida a very high auto accident rate.
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Florida involving a motor vehicle, whether you were driving or riding in a vehicle, operating a bicycle or motorcycle, or were a pedestrian, and the accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, you are entitled to compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, and loss of income.
What you should do right away
Florida is one of the most beautiful states in the nation. It is also one of the most favored for retirement and is the most visited by tourists. As a life-long Floridian, I’m proud of our state and encourage visitors and retirees to enjoy our beauty and our many attractions. But the downside of all of this activity is an increase in car accidents. Therefore, Florida residents and visitors need to take extra precautions to stay safe on the road, and they need to remember to take certain actions if an accident does occur.
Causes of car accidents in Florida
Four of the five most dangerous highways in the nation are in Florida, with Route 1 being the most dangerous highway in the United States. This is a dubious honor, to say the least. But what causes our roads to be so dangerous? The reasons are varied and include both human error and the roads themselves:
South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog