A car accident can change your life in an instant. One day, you're driving down the road on a sunny Fort Lauderdale afternoon, and suddenly, you're struck by another driver.
As Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers, we understand how collisions can cause significant injuries, substantial medical expenses, and the extreme turmoil that can surround an untimely death. Our team also knows that lost income, mental stress, and pain and suffering will only complicate things more.
We take pride in helping accident victims face the complicated legal process after serious motor vehicle accidents. If another driver's negligence injured you, we may be able to help you file a claim against the responsible party and recover compensation to help pay for your losses.
A compassionate car accident lawyer from Blakeley Law Firm P.A. is ready to help you. Contact us today online or at (954) 253-9445 for a free case evaluation.
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The Dangers of Car Accidents in Fort Lauderdale
In the Fort Lauderdale area, more than 38,000 car accidents resulted in more than 23,000 injuries and 223 fatalities. Nationally, nearly six million car crashes took place in one recent year, resulting in about 3.6 million medical consultations and more than 40,000 fatalities. To say that U.S. roads are dangerous for any driver is a massive understatement.
Auto accidents can result in significant, life-altering injuries for drivers and passengers. After a severe crash, these people may never go back to living the lives they did before.
Florida's No-Fault Insurance Laws
Florida is one of the few no-fault states in the country. This means you must carry car insurance to cover a minimum amount of damages regardless of who is at fault in a crash.
However, serious car accident damages can exceed your own insurance policy limit and meet Florida's serious injury threshold. In those cases, you may be able to hold the driver financially responsible for the harm they've caused.
Why You Should Partner With One of Our Experienced Car Accident Attorneys
For more than a decade, our team of experienced Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Lawyers has achieved a successful practice handling complex vehicle accidents. Our experience has protected survivors' rights to compensation and resolved many complicated wrongful death cases. As a result, our clients have been incredibly satisfied with our results, which have totaled millions of dollars in compensation.
Common Injuries Our Car Accident Lawyers Handle
Motor vehicles traveling at high speeds on the road can cause significant damage when they collide with each other. As a result, drivers and passengers can suffer a variety of life-altering injuries.
The most common car accident injuries are:
- Whiplash
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), including concussions
- Head, back, knee, and neck injuries
- Blunt and facial trauma
- Sprains and strains
- Paralysis
- Bone fractures and soft tissue injuries
- Herniated discs
- Burns
- Rib fractures
- Internal bleeding and soft tissue injuries
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Spinal cord injuries
Most of these injuries require extensive medical care that can lead to exorbitant bills. Expenses can include rehabilitation, home modifications, or ongoing care to help you regain normal bodily functions.
TBIs, for example, can result in long-term mental and psychological complications, including:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Thoughts of suicide
- Substance abuse disorders
- Abnormal behavior
- Bipolar disorder
In many cases, a car crash can affect your mental state. For example, a car accident can cause PTSD. You may feel unsafe on the road and unsure whether you want to drive again.
If you suffered any of these injuries, trust a Fort Lauderdale accident lawyer at Blakeley Law Firm PA to answer your questions during a free consultation and explain your legal rights.
Reasons Major Car Accidents Happen in Fort Lauderdale
Not all car accidents are the same. However, driver negligence causes most of them. Here are some of the top reasons why major car accidents take place:
- Driving under the influence
- Reckless and drowsy driving
- Distracted driving
- Inclement weather
- Night driving
- Speeding
- Dangerous road conditions
- Aggressive driving
- Vehicle defects
- Poor judgment
All of these actions could validate your claim for compensation. Make sure you have an accurate evaluation of your damages and losses by scheduling a free case evaluation now.
Most Common Types of Car Accidents in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale car accidents present unique dangers that can result in catastrophic injuries or even death. The most common accidents causing recoverable damages include:
- Hit-and-Run Accidents: These occur when drivers flee the accident scene, often due to warrants, intoxication, or lack of insurance. Florida law requires drivers to stay and exchange information. A Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer can help you file a claim to recover compensation.
- Head-on Collisions: These accidents pose a major risk for catastrophic injury, especially on undivided highways with high speed limits. Car accident victims can seek compensation with the assistance of an experienced car accident attorney.
- Lane Change Accidents: These collisions are often caused by distracted drivers who fail to check lanes properly. The serious injuries that result from these accidents can lead to substantial medical expenses. Liability typically falls on the negligent driver, and an auto accident lawyer can assist in pursuing claims.
- Left-turn accidents: These usually involve failure-to-yield situations, which occur due to illegal turns or obstructed views. Under Florida car accident laws, drivers must yield the right of way, and an attorney can help show that they were negligent in their actions.
- Rear-end Collisions: These accidents can lead to serious injuries and are often caused by distracted drivers. Personal injury attorneys can help gather evidence showing that the other driver was acting negligently and is responsible for providing compensation for your injuries.
- Rollover Accidents: These accidents can involve a single or multiple vehicles. The primary causes are driver error or manufacturer defects. Trust a lawyer to help uncover the cause of your rollover and pursue compensation for the sustained injuries.
When these accidents occur due to someone else's negligence, our attorneys can help you navigate the claims process, appeal decisions, or seek further compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.
Damages Our Motor Vehicle Crash Attorneys Can Request For You
If you decide to file a personal injury claim in Fort Lauderdale, you can seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages, including but not limited to:
- Medical and rehabilitation bills
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
Unfortunately, car accident injury victims who don't have an experienced attorney may accept a lowball settlement offer from insurance companies because they have no idea how much their claim is actually worth.The founder of our firm, Jarrett Blakeley, has secured millions in car accident settlements for clients. He knows injured parties can recover more damages when they work with an experienced personal injury lawyer than if they file a claim without an advocate. With our aggressive representation style, proven track record, and extensive network, we can help you reach the fair settlement you deserve.
How We May Prove the Other Driver Was At Fault
A significant component of building a successful claim is proving the other driver caused your injuries through a preponderance of evidence. The main step in proving fault is presenting evidence of negligence. Negligence is the failure to act as a careful person would. For example, if a driver speeds through a red light and hits another car, they may have acted negligently.
Here is how our auto collision attorneys can help establish fault:
- Physical evidence: Debris, damaged property, skid marks, and vehicle damage can show who was at fault for a car accident.
- Photos and videos: Footage from photos taken at the scene or nearby traffic cameras can help recreate the accident and provide a clearer picture of what happened.
- Accident reports: Police officers create a report documenting the events leading to a car accident. This police or accident report can serve as valuable evidence in your pursuit of compensation from an insurance company or the negligent party.
- Witness statements: If anyone was nearby when your accident occurred, they can testify on your behalf.
- Medical records: Based on your injuries, your doctors will compile a medical report to establish the extent of your injuries and any current or ongoing medical treatment needed. These findings can help bolster a claim for compensation based on the severity of your injuries.
- Expert testimony: Your lawyer can call on an expert witness to provide testimony that combats the narrative pushed by an insurance company or opposing counsel.
The attorney you hire will directly affect the chances of success for your car accident claim. Make sure you choose the award-winning auto accident attorney from Blakeley Law Firm P.A. With an extensive track record of success, we can help you recover the compensation you need from a personal injury lawsuit or claim.
Why You Should Hire a Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Lawyer
A Car Accident Lawyer Will Investigate Your Claim
The stronger the evidence, the greater the chance you'll have at negotiating a fair car accident settlement for your injuries. Our car accident lawyers can compile police reports, eyewitness testimony, and crash footage to bolster your claim. We can include these documents and information in your claim.
A Lawyer Will Spearhead Negotiations
Negotiations begin when your lawyer sends a demand letter to the at-fault party or their insurer. The demand letter contains the basis of your auto accident claim and the compensation amount you are seeking. Often, the requests are diminished or denied by car insurance companies. This is where your experienced car accident lawyer will use aggressive negotiation tactics backed by strong evidence to help you recover fair compensation.
Our Lawyers Have Extensive Courtroom Experience
Most civil cases settle out of court, but this doesn't mean all car accident cases will end this way. The at-fault driver could accept your offer, make a counteroffer, or deny it altogether. If they deny your claim or refuse to offer a fair settlement, you may have no choice but to go to trial. The Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer at our firm have extensive courtroom experience. We can help you obtain a fair verdict through trial or encourage the defendant to settle out of court.
Lawyers Can Meet Important Deadlines
After a Fort Lauderdale crash, you don't have long to gather evidence and submit a worthy claim. This time frame is generally two years from the accident date.However, with injuries making it difficult to perform even the simplest task, it's possible that this statute of limitations could go by before you can resolve a personal injury case.An auto accident lawyer can help you meet these critical filing deadlines. Without their help, you may miss out on the opportunity to obtain compensation for your injuries.
An Attorney Can Determine Which Damages Car Accident Victims May Be Entitled To
Lawyers have a wealth of experience dealing with car accident claims. This means they can help determine the value of a car accident claim and which damages you may be eligible to receive. Often, these calculations consider compensation you didn't know you were eligible to receive. With their experience and legal understanding, you benefit from maximized settlements that help you on your path to recovery.
No Up-Front Legal Fees
Our personal injury law firm operates on a contingency fee basis, which means our clients incur no upfront costs. This lets you access experienced legal representation without adding to the stress and financial burden of an automobile accident. When we recover compensation for your car accident case, we will receive a portion of the settlement along with any associated court or filing fees.
Call Today for a Free Consultation With Our Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorneys
If someone's negligence caused you physical or emotional harm, you don't have to sit by and accept all financial responsibility for your losses. Florida car accident law gives you the legal right to file a claim for compensation for injuries sustained in the collision.
An experienced Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer from Blakeley Law Firm P.A. can help pursue a favorable outcome in the claims process. Whether negotiating for better personal injury protection coverage, filing a lawsuit, or assisting with any part of the claims process, our team is ready to fight for your rights.
Contact us online or at (954) 253-9445 to learn how much your case could be worth and what our lawyers can do to help recover maximum compensation.