Madeira Beach Car Accident Attorney
Our Florida personal injury attorneys can help ensure your voice is heard after a Madeira Beach car accident caused by a negligent driver leaves you injured.
Summary
- Car accidents can significantly impact victims’ lives, leading to severe injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and other long-term consequences.
- Insurance companies often offer low settlements, making it crucial to hire an experienced Madeira Beach car accident attorney to secure fair compensation.
- Common causes of Florida car accidents include distracted driving, reckless driving, intoxication, and poor vehicle maintenance.
- Victims may suffer car accident injuries such as traumatic brain injuries (TBI), spinal cord injuries, broken bones, burns, and internal injuries, which may require expensive, long-term care.
- Compensation for car accident claims includes economic damages and non-economic damages. Hiring competent and dedicated legal representation can increase settlements for car accident victims.
After a car accident occurs, victims often experience a significant change in their lives, including extensive medical bills resulting from severe injuries, lost wages, sometimes lost jobs, and more.
Therefore, getting in a car accident can have a huge impact on one’s life, changing it completely. For this reason, it’s important to hire a car accident attorney to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve for your damages.
Insurance companies will often try to lowball victims, taking advantage of their vulnerability, but an experienced FL car accident attorney can help prevent this from happening.
If you or your loved one has suffered injuries due to a car accident in Madeira Beach that wasn’t your fault, the car accident lawyers of Jones Law Group are here to help. Call us at (727) 571-1333 to schedule a free consultation or submit our online contact form.
How Common are Car Accidents in Madeira Beach, Florida?
In the United States, there are approximately six million car accidents that occur each year. Out of those six million accidents, three million people are injured (two million of which incur permanent injuries).
When it comes to fatalities, there are around 36,000 to 37,000 each year, with 36,096 car accident deaths in 2019. In Florida in the same year, there were 3,183 fatalities because of car accidents, with a death rate of 14.8 per 100,000 people.
Per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, there were 1.41 fatalities. When compared to the national averages, both of these numbers are pretty high. The United States as a whole averaged 11 deaths per 100,000 people and 1.11 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.
Madeira Beach, Florida (with a population of fewer than 5,000 people) saw only one fatal car accident in 2017. With their low population, this is still above the national average.
What Are My Rights if I’ve Been Involved in a Car Accident?
After a car accident occurs, you have certain legal rights. Those rights include:
- The right to protect yourself against adverse legal consequences. You have no legal obligation to admit fault at the scene of the accident.
- The right to be treated for your injuries. Florida is a no-fault state, so your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance coverage will pay for any medical costs regardless of who’s at fault.
- You have the right to seek compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance company or file a lawsuit against the party if you believe your injuries were caused by negligence, recklessness, or carelessness on behalf of another party.
Common Causes of Madeira Beach Car Accidents
There are many reasons why car accidents occur. For the most part, they occur at the fault of another driver. This means that another driver is negligent and therefore at fault for their actions leading up to the accident. That negligence often looks like:
- Distracted driving, such as texting, talking on the phone, eating, applying makeup, looking for directions, choosing a song from your phone, or talking to someone in the back seat.
- Reckless or aggressive driving, such as speeding, cutting people off, or running red lights or stop signs.
- Driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.
- Drowsy or fatigued driving.
- Failing to adapt to changes in weather conditions.
- Failing to keep one’s vehicle properly maintained.
Common Injuries Associated with Car Accidents
Car accidents can result in injuries that range from minor to severe. The severity of one’s injuries is based on how fast the vehicle is traveling at the time of impact and where the impact occurs in relation to the driver.
Examples of Typical Auto Accident Injuries in Madeira Beach
Common injuries that occur in Madeira Beach car accidents include:
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) occurs when the head is struck or penetrated with great force. In their mildest form, TBIs manifest as concussions. The top cause of concussions is car accidents. Severe traumatic brain injuries tend to be costly as patients often require surgery. TBI can also cause coma, vegetative state, and death.
- Spinal Cord Injuries are also quite expensive and can require a lifetime of treatment depending on severity. Spinal cord injuries may result in paralysis or death. Minor injuries may only require physical therapy and outpatient treatment.
- Broken Bones are very common in car accidents. Victims may experience breaks in multiple locations or multiple bones. Broken bones aren’t often serious, as they can be repaired with surgery (if necessary) and a cast.
- Burns can range from mild to severe depending on the victim’s proximity to the fire and duration of exposure. Severe burns will require surgery and skin grafts, while more minor burns may heal on their own.
- Soft Tissue Injuries include damage to tendons, ligaments, and muscles. Sprains, strains, and tears aren’t as common as other types of car accident injuries, but they still occur. Most soft tissue injuries don’t require surgery.
- Amputations may occur at the accident scene due to the crushing of the vehicle or may be deemed medically necessary once the patient arrives at the hospital with crush injuries. Amputation, as a procedure, is very expensive.
- Internal Injuries, such as internal bleeding and organ damage are fairly common amongst car accident victims. These injuries are dangerous, as they may not present right away. The longer they go untreated, the more dangerous they are. This is why it’s important to see a doctor even if you don’t believe you’re injured.
How Much Compensation Can I Receive?
The amount of car accident compensation that you can receive depends on the damages that you’ve incurred because of your accident.
You can receive compensation for economic damages (damages that have a monetary value associated with them) and non-economic damages (damages that don’t have a monetary value associated with them).
Economic Damages
Past and future medical bills: These personal injury damages encompass all expenses related to medical care that the injured party has incurred or will incur in the future due to the incident.
This includes costs for hospital stays, surgeries, doctor visits, prescription medications, rehabilitation, and any necessary medical equipment or home modifications needed for recovery or ongoing care.
Past and future lost wages: This compensation covers the income lost as a result of being unable to work due to injury.
It accounts for the salary or hourly wages you would have earned during the recovery period. Additionally, it considers future earnings if the injury impacts your ability to return to your previous job or work at the same capacity.
Loss of earning capacity: This compensation addresses the reduction in your ability to earn income in the future.
It considers factors such as your age, skills, education, and the nature of your injuries that might hinder your ability to perform your job or advance in your career.
Property damage: This type of damage compensates for the repair or replacement of any property that was damaged in the incident.
It includes the costs associated with restoring vehicles, personal belongings, or real estate to their pre-incident condition or replacing them if restoration is not feasible.
Non-Economic Damages
Pain and suffering: These damages provide compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress experienced as a result of the injury.
Pain and suffering compensation can include chronic pain, mental anguish, anxiety, depression, and other psychological impacts that diminish your quality of life.
Loss of consortium: In wrongful death cases, this damage accounts for the loss of companionship, love, and support provided by the deceased. It compensates family members for the emotional and relational void left by the loss of a loved one.
Compensation for disability, disfigurement, or scarring: These damages relate to the long-term physical changes resulting from an injury.
Compensation is provided for permanent disabilities, visible disfigurement, or scarring that affects your appearance and can lead to social stigma or emotional trauma, thereby impacting your overall quality of life.
Hire a Madeira Beach Car Accident Attorney
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident, you’re likely asking yourself whether not hiring an attorney is worth the cost. At Jones Law Group, we don’t take any money unless we win your case,
Your case evaluation is free, so there’s no risk in speaking with a Madeira Beach personal injury attorney. If you’ve experienced severe injuries and high damages, hiring an attorney is your best bet.
Our team will work tirelessly to negotiate a high settlement on your behalf or bring your case to trial if needed. For more information, please contact us online or at (727) 571-1333.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Florida statute of limitations for filing a car accident claim in Madeira Beach?
The statute of limitations for filing a car accident claim in Florida is generally four years from the date of the accident. However, exceptions may apply, so it’s crucial to consult with an attorney promptly to ensure your rights are protected.
How can a Madeira Beach car accident lawyer help?
A Madeira Beach car accident lawyer can assist by investigating the accident, gathering evidence, and negotiating with insurance companies. They can also represent you in court, if necessary. They aim to secure fair compensation for your injuries and losses.
How much does a car accident lawyer cost?
Jones Law Group FL car accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. Therefore, you only pay if we win your case. The fee is typically a percentage of the settlement or award, so there are no upfront costs.
