Car Accident Lawyer Near Me

When you have a serious injury from a car accident, especially if the accident is a result of another’s negligence, you are entitled to fair financial compensation. South Florida is home to many different types of lawyers. So, if you are looking for a car accident attorney, your search will certainly produce many results.

As our readers know, Boca Post regularly reports on many car accidents in our reporting area. Unfortunately, many of the car and motorcycle accidents we report are serious that involve serious injuries and death.

Our readers tell us that after a car accident they often times use a car accident lawyer to help them deal with the legal issues that follow the auto accident. A car accident lawyer knows that many injuries lead to large medical expenses, the need for expensive therapy, and the loss of income. Pain and suffering are another major reason people may want to hire a good car accident lawyer to represent them.  A car accident lawyer may even be able to hold the responsible party responsible for punitive damages.

When looking for a car accident lawyer to represent you, it is important that you pick the right one. Some readers have told Boca Post that picking the right car accident lawyer is the most important thing you can do when seeking compensation for damages. A reputable personal injury law firm will have the experience and resources needed to pursue the monetary compensation you deserve.

What Are Common Causes Of Car Accidents?

Not every car accident is the same. Car accidents vary in many ways including severity, cause, location, and many other factors. Some of the most common causes of car accidents are:

• Driving while intoxicated
  • Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of alcoholic beverages, chemical substances, or controlled substances. In Florida, a driver with a blood alcohol level of .08 or above is in violation of FSS 316.193.
• Aggressive driving
  • According to The National Traffic Safety Administration, Aggressive Driving is defined as “when individuals commit a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property.”
• Driver passing illegally
  • There are many laws around how to properly pass or overtake a vehicle. In most cases, in order to legally pass another vehicle, a driver must signal, check their blind spot, check mirrors, and leave a safe distance from the other vehicle. When this doesn’t happen, the passing driver may create an unsafe condition for other drivers and may also be breaking the law.
• Driver failing to yield
  • In Florida, a driver can be ticketed and considered at fault during an accident if he or she does not slow down or stop for a pedestrian or other vehicle that has the right-of-way. When operating a motor vehicle in Florida, it is important to fully understand who has the right of way in which situations. Failing to yield is a very dangerous cause of auto accidents as they often times occur at high speeds or involve pedestrians.
• Distracted driving
  • Distracted driving is probably one of the most common causes of accidents today. Thanks to The Wireless Communications While Driving Law (FSS316.305), law enforcement is able to pull drivers over for using cell phones while driving. Even with this new law enforcement tool, far too many accidents occur due to distracted driving.
• Driving the wrong way
  • A wrong-way driving crash occurs when a vehicle fails to observe the posted signage and markings and travels a lane in the wrong direction, causing an accident.
• Tired driving
  • According to FLHSMV, drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as impaired driving. Fatigue slows down a person’s ability to think and react to dangerous situations that can occur while operating a motor vehicle. In Florida, commercial drivers are cited if they are found to be fatigued at the time of the crash.
• Driver failing to obey traffic lights, stop signs, or other traffic signs
  • Violating a traffic control device examples
    • Speeding
    • Sidewalk encroachment
      • When a vehicle is over the white stop bar and into the pedestrian’s crosswalk.
    • Making an illegal U-turn
    • Ignoring temporary signs
    • Failing to yield to a yield sign
    • Ignoring Railroad crossing signs
    • Ignoring flashing lights
    • Running a red light or a stop sign

Again, there are many causes of traffic accidents. Someone involved in a traffic accident may want to speak to a car accident lawyer about identifying what the cause of the accident was and what their legal options may be.

What Are Common Car Accident Injuries?

• Broken bones

  • Spinal vertebrae of the neck and/or back commonly break during rear-end or head-on collisions.
  • A fractured Clavicle is a common car accident injury because it is a thin and fragile bone.
  • Pelvic bone fractures are common in motorcycle accidents but possible in severe automobile accidents as well.
  • Legs bones (Fibula and Femur) can be fractured by the force of a vehicle that crushes the legs.
  • Cranial (skull) fractures are serious and are treated immediately. Skull fractures usually occur when the victim’s head impacts the dashboard, window, steering wheel, or some other surface during the collision.
  • Facial bone fractures often times accompany cranial fractures due to the head impacting a hard surface during a car accident.
  • Sternum and ribs are often broken by the sudden lurching forward into a seatbelt during an automobile accident.

• Bruises

  • The most common bruising experienced from car accidents is over the chest and abdomen where the seat belt would make contact with a person. The bruising found will generally alert medical professionals on what type of internal damage to investigate.

• Head Injuries

  • A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is defined as sudden damage to the brain caused by a blow or jolt to the head. TBIs are commonly found in victims of motorcycle accidents as well as severe car accidents.
  • People who survive such a brain injury may require rehabilitation to learn even the most basic skills.

• Burns

  • Many car accident victims suffer burns. A person may be burned by toxic chemicals, extreme heat, or even electricity. There are varying levels of burns that are categorized based on the depth of the skin affected by the burn.
  • Airbag deployment can cause burns to car accident victims
  • A car accident victim may come in contact with dangerous chemicals during the accident
  • Vehicle fires and explosions may cause burns during the accident

• Spinal cord injuries and nerve damage

  • According to the NSCISC, car accidents are the leading cause of spinal injuries. A spinal injury will require long-term treatment and care which is all the more reason to hire the right car accident lawyer to ensure you are properly compensated.

  • Common spinal cord injuries from car accidents:

    • Fractured Vertebrae
      • When one of the 33 vertebrae in your spine is fractured it can pinch or compress the spinal cord.
    • Quadriplegia
      • This form of paralysis is characterized by the lack of movement from the neck down. This could be caused by damage to the Cervical spine during a severe car or motorcycle accident.
    • Paraplegia
      • This form of paralysis is characterized by the lack of muscle control from the waist down. This could be caused by damage to the Thoracic spine during a severe car or motorcycle accident.
    • Herniated and Ruptured Discs
      • The sudden and significant force applied to the spine, such as in a car accident, can cause a painful condition known as a herniated or a ruptured disc.
    • Bulging Discs
      • A neck whip from a car accident can cause what people know as whiplash. A bulging disc can form if the sudden force causes a disc to protrude of out alignment.

• Internal injuries

  • Collapsed lung (Pneumothorax)
    • Broken ribs are common in major car accidents. When a broken rib punctures a lung, it can cause the lung to collapse. A collapsed lung causes air to escape and fill the chest cavity. This painful injury can be deadly if left untreated.
  • Organ damage
    • A major car or motorcycle crash can cause damage to organs which can lead to internal bleeding or organ failure. While the Kidneys and Liver are the most commonly inured organ in car and motorcycle accidents, and internal organs can be damaged by the impact of a violent car crash.
  • Ruptured Spleen
    • Internal bleeding could be caused by a ruptured spleen. Doctors have to quickly identify what organs may have been damaged by the impact of an automobile accident. If a spleen is ruptured, doctors may perform surgery to repair or remove the spleen completely.
  • Rupture of Abdominal Aorta
    • When the stomach is compressed due to the impact of a car accident, a rupture in the aorta is possible. This type of injury is typically fatal.
  • Internal Bleeding
    • Any severe damage to internal organs can cause bleeding. Severe car and motorcycle accidents can cause trauma to blood vessels inside of the body which prevents them from clotting or repairing themselves.
    • Common symptoms of internal bleeding:
      • Abdominal pain
      • Lightheadedness
      • Thirst
      • Feeling Cold
      • Palme Complexion
      • Fatigue

What Does A Car Accident Lawyer Do?

• Work directly with the other driver’s insurer
• Discover and categorize all of your associated medical records and costs
• Work directly with the car accident victim’s doctors to ensure that the appropriate medical information is provided to prove damages
• Negotiate with lien holders to potentially reduce the amount of the liens
• Identify and collect the required evidence to determine who was at fault in the accident
• Work directly with your health care providers to identify and acquire any missing records
• Prepare a case that will present evidence to provide liability and damages
• Negotiate a settlement with the insurance adjuster or defense attorney

DISCLAIMER: The intent of this article is not for the author, Pledged Media, LLC d/b/a BocaPost.com, to provide legal or medical advice. Nothing contained in this article should be interpreted as legal or medical advice.