It only takes one person’s careless actions on the road to put surrounding drivers in serious danger. If you were in a car accident that wasn’t your fault in Bradenton, Florida, caused by another driver failing to respond to a stop signal, then you could be entitled to compensation for your damages and the suffering caused. Don’t stay silent in the face of someone else’s reckless driving. Contact our team today for some free legal advice.
Call The Law Place today at (941) 444-4444. Phone lines are open 24/7.
Why a Driver Might Ignore a Stop Signal
Stop signals such as red lights and stop signs are there for a reason. Their purpose is to remove uncertainty concerning whose right of way it is and indicate when it is, or is not, safe to drive. They are purposefully highly visible, and failure to notice or adhere to them seriously increases the likelihood of a collision. There is no justifiable excuse for ignoring a stop signal. However, these are some of the common reasons why a driver might:
- The driver misjudged when a traffic light was due to change.
- The driver was distracted, for example, by their phone.
- The driver was speeding.
- The driver was in a rush.
- Poor driving conditions, such as heavy rain.
- The driver was under the influence of a substance that impaired their reactions or judgment.
Not Recognizing a Two-Way Stop Sign
A stop signal car accident could also be the result of a driver failing to recognize a two-way stop sign at an intersection. A driver could reach an intersection and, after incorrectly presuming that the other car has stopped, keep driving instead of coming to a complete stop.
This type of error in judgment can result in a T-bone or side-impact collision. These are both dangerous types of collisions that can lead to life-changing injuries for drivers and passengers. In particular, T-bone collisions have the potential to cause serious harm as the impact is almost entirely absorbed by the driver and front passenger. This can commonly lead to injuries such as head trauma and spinal injury.
In this sort of accident, it can be tricky to prove who was at fault. We recommend that you immediately look for help from a personal injury lawyer that can guide you through the process.
The Dangers of a Car Accident Caused by Running a Stop Sign
Every year, thousands of collisions on the road are caused at stop sign-controlled intersections. No matter what the reason was for ignoring the stop sign, there is no excuse for this type of reckless driving behavior. All drivers have the responsibility to follow the rules of the road in order to keep others safe.
Some common injuries that result from these types of car accidents include:
- Broken bones.
- Whiplash.
- Internal bleeding.
- Traumatic brain injuries.
- Physical disfigurement.
- Wrongful death.
No-Fault Insurance Laws in Bradenton
In line with Florida Statute 627.7407, Florida is a no-fault state. This means that, following a motor accident, drivers are required by law to first seek compensation from their own insurance company, regardless of who was to blame for the accident. Drivers in Florida are required to hold a minimum insurance coverage of $10,000 for personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 for property damage. Insurance companies must payout 80% of PIP and 60% of property damage, up to the driver’s policy limits.
However, it is likely that damages following an accident in Bradenton will exceed that amount. Contact us today for a free case evaluation with a personal injury attorney. With our no-win-no-fee promise, we will work hard to recover the rest of your damages from the insurance company of the at-fault driver.
Dealing With Insurance Firms in Bradenton
After a stop sign accident in Bradenton, Florida, you are required by law to inform your insurance company that you have been in an accident. However, it is important that you are careful when speaking to insurance firms.
They are first and foremost a business, with profit at the top of their list of priorities. Thus, they will do everything in their power to reduce the amount they payout. This can include hiring insurance adjusters to devalue your claim, trying to downplay your injuries, shifting part or all of the blame onto you, or claiming that your injuries were not caused by the crash. We advise that you give them as few details as possible when first reporting the accident. Simply tell them that you have been in an accident and that you will give them more details when you are able to. Why not call us for a free consultation before you speak to them? We can advise you on exactly what to say and guide you through the whole process so that you don’t have to face the legal system alone.
What Damages Will an Attorney Help Me to Claim in Bradenton, Florida?
Most car accidents in Bradenton only lead to minor damages. However, some crashes can lead to serious damage, life-changing injuries, and emotional trauma. If you were in an accident caused by another driver failing to come to a complete stop or ignoring a stop sign, you should not be expected to face the consequences and costs of their reckless driving alone. Drivers that fail to adhere to clear traffic signals are endangering the lives of others, and the consequences can put victims in a difficult financial situation. Seeking justice sends a message that this type of behavior is unacceptable and holds negligent drivers accountable.
If you were the victim of this sort of auto accident in Bradenton, FL., we know that no amount of money will repair the trauma and suffering you might have endured. However, you deserve to recover without the added burden of mounting medical bills and other unexpected costs. One of our experienced attorneys may be able to help you win compensation for the following damages:
- Medical bills – Life following a car crash can be extremely expensive, even with the best medical insurance, particularly if your injuries require surgery, medication, or long-term treatment. Our attorneys can help fight for your right to compensation for a range of costs, including physical therapy and home adjustments.
- Loss of earnings – If you’ve had to take time off work following a car accident and suffered a loss of income as a result.
- Loss of potential future earnings – If the injuries caused by the accident could impact your ability to work in the future.
- Property damage – If the car accident caused damage to your car, phone, or anything else.
- Pain and suffering – For less tangible losses, which can be harder to quantify. Our attorneys can help to calculate the extent of emotional suffering caused by the accident and fight for your right to be compensated for them.
- Wrongful death – If you have lost a family member or loved one in a crash, you also deserve compensation.
Florida’s Comparative Negligence Laws
The State of Florida works within a system of comparative fault. This means that more than one party can be found to be at fault in a collision. If you are found to be less than 50% at fault, you can still make a claim. However, your settlement will be reduced.
If, for example, someone ignored a stop sign at an intersection, but you were talking on the phone, then the opposing party could try to claim that you were partly to blame. If your blame is found to be, for example, 20%, then your final settlement would be reduced by 20%.
The insurance company of the opposing party could try to increase your percentage of the blame, which is why we highly recommend that you don’t try to fight this alone. A personal injury attorney will fight to prove that your fault was minimal and reduce the risk of you being taken advantage of. Schedule a free consultation to review your case today.
What Will a Law Firm Do for Me in Bradenton?
Victims of car accidents that seek legal representation receive a payout 90% of the time, and this payout is on average 60% higher than those without representation.
We monitor our phones 24 hours a day and have a team with over 75 years of combined legal experience. Once you decide to call The Law Place, you will be put in contact with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers who will provide you with no-obligation legal advice specific to your case. During this consultation, the attorney will go through the details of your crash, evaluating the damages, pain, and suffering caused by the accident to calculate an estimate for the compensation you are likely to be entitled to. If the attorney determines that you have a valid claim and you decide to let us represent your case, we will handle all the legal proceedings on a contingency fee basis. This means that you will pay nothing upfront, and our fee will be deducted from the final settlement. Therefore, if your case is unsuccessful, you will not have to pay anything.
Once we begin work on your case, the first step will be to carry out a more in-depth review, where your attorney will assess the details of the crash, answer all your questions, and give you further legal advice. Your lawyer will take charge of collecting all evidence relevant to the case, contacting witnesses, accessing police reports, and evaluating your claim. They will also deal with all communication with the involved insurance companies. This will help to give us a rough estimate of the value of the compensation you are entitled to, which we can use to fight for a fair court settlement from the opposing party’s insurance company. No one should have to face the full force of the legal system alone. Our attorneys have a lot of experience in dealing with these types of firms and will fight your corner to give you the best chance at the compensation you deserve.
The Law Place
At The Law Place, we understand how stressful and traumatic car crashes can be. If you have been involved in a collision that wasn’t your fault in Bradenton, FL., you should seek out the justice and compensation that you deserve. If a driver was reckless enough to ignore a stop sign, then they need to be held accountable for their actions. Contact our firm today for access to free, legal advice. Our team has over 75 years of experience and is committed to giving you the best chance of getting the compensation you deserve.
Call The Law Place today at (941) 444-4444. Phone lines are open 24/7.