In Florida alone, 200,000 car accidents are reported every year. This is according to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department which reported that approximately 650 car collisions occur in the state every day. This brings us to the importance of understanding personal injury law and negligence in the state. Although these laws are complex, the general principle is that when a car accident occurs, someone must be held responsible and will pay for the damage that he/she has caused. This means that when a car accident case is brought in court, it must be determined who is liable for the accident.
Liability issues are complicated, to say the least, especially when it comes to car accidents. In other personal injury cases such as medical malpractices, you may sue the surgeon, it’s basically that simple. This is never the same with traffic collision. Determining who is responsible can take time and requires adequate evidence because it’s not always so obvious who is at fault.
In Florida, if you are injured in a car accident, you are entitled to complete reimbursement of all damages because of the car crash. This includes the cost of medical care, lost wages and more. However, before you get compensated for anything, you must prove that the injuries were because of the driver’s negligence. No one is just handed compensation because they’re injured. You must go through the right process- hire an attorney, file a personal injury claim and prove that the other driver was negligent.
Sometimes your personal situation can make it even harder to prove that your injuries are because of the negligent driver. For instance, if you have a history of back pain and you’re back is injured in the car crash, it’s hard to prove this. That’s why it’s always recommended that you seek medical attention immediately when you’re involved in a car accident whether you think you’ve been injured or not. You may experience pain or latent injury days after the accident occurs, seeking medical advice will help ensure that you are compensated.
It’s one thing to prove that the other driver was negligent and that this negligence resulted in injuries and it’s another to prove the extent and total cost of your injuries. At the end of the day, it’s equally important for you to get a fair settlement amount. You can use documentation to prove your medical costs, lost wages and other injury-related costs and get compensated for all the damages.
In the state of Florida, there are certain presumptions that will determine liability in car accident cases. For instance, if involved in a rear-end crash, the driver at the rear is often considered at fault even if the other driver stopped improperly. The general assumption is that the driver behind should break safely to avoid a collision. If involved in a car accident, don’t admit fault or confess anything, don’t even speak to any insurance company until you consult your Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer.