Driving down the wrong side of the road significantly increases the risk of a car accident. This type of reckless driving is a common cause of accidents in Bradenton, which often leads to serious damage and injury. Traffic accidents can be caused by several different factors, but this type of reckless behavior and failure to adhere to traffic laws is unjustifiable.
If you were in an accident in Bradenton caused by someone driving the wrong way, contact The Law Place today for a free case evaluation. If the accident wasn’t your fault, then you could be entitled to compensation for damages and suffering caused. We will work tirelessly to gather evidence, communicate with insurance companies, and create a strong case to enable you to claim the compensation that you deserve.
Our phone lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. So, call The Law Place now, on (941) 444-4444 for some free legal advice.
Most Common Causes of Wrong-Way Accidents
There is no excuse for wrong-way driving. By driving on the wrong side of the road, the driver is putting themselves and others on the road at risk.
Most wrong-way personal injury accidents in Florida happen at night. This is most likely a consequence of lower light conditions and driver tiredness. It is also true that drivers will be unlikely to predict and react to vehicles coming from the wrong way, as they will likely not have realized that they were driving in the wrong direction.
Another possible cause of wrong-way accidents is distracted driving, a common cause of many car accidents in Florida. Other common causes of accidents include:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol.
- Driving under the influence of drugs.
- Drivers using their phones while driving.
- Drivers changing stations on the radio.
- Drivers eating or drinking while driving.
The Dangers of Car Accidents Caused by Wrong-Way Driving
Crashes that occur due to wrong-way driving often have a high speed and impact as the cars are driving directly toward each other. Head-on collisions are one of the most dangerous car accident types and can lead to serious injury or even wrongful death. Crumple zones in new cars have helped to reduce this impact, but it is not mandatory for cars to have this, and many older models do not.
Driving on the wrong side of the road causes thousands of crashes every year. Some of the most common injuries to result from this type of collision include:
- Broken bones.
- Internal injuries.
- Disfigurement.
- Brain injuries.
- Death.
Making the simple mistake of driving on the wrong side of the road can put the driver and other drivers on the road in serious danger. If you are suffering from injuries caused by an accident in Bradenton, FL., your insurance company coverage may not be enough to cover all of the expenses, particularly if your recovery involves surgery, medication, and long-term rehabilitation. That’s why we advise you to seek the aid of a personal injury lawyer that can help you get the justice and compensation that you deserve.
What Damages Will an Attorney Help Me to Claim in Bradenton, Florida?
Wrong-way car accidents can lead to life-changing injuries, as well as loss of income and prolonged suffering. If you or a loved one have been in a car crash that caused damages, you deserve compensation. Furthermore, it is important that reckless drivers be held accountable for their actions.
One of our knowledgeable personal injury lawyers may be able to help you with compensation for the following damages.
- Loss of earnings – If the accident resulted in time off work, this could impact you and your family.
- Loss of potential future earnings – If injuries caused by the accident mean that you will not be able to work in the future.
- Medical bills – Life following an accident can be extremely expensive, particularly if your injuries require long-term treatment. Our accident lawyers can help you argue your right to compensation for medical bills, physical therapy, and even home adjustments.
- Pain/suffering – For damages that are less tangible, such as trauma and anxiety. Your attorney will be able to help you calculate how much you could be owed due to pain and suffering.
- Wrongful death – If you have lost a loved one in an accident, you also deserve compensation. This will help cover funeral expenses, lost household income, and loss of consortium.
Dealing With Insurance Firms in Bradenton, FL.
If you have been in a car accident in Bradenton, Florida, you need to be careful when dealing with insurance companies. They are often focused on profit, and many of these firms will hire insurance adjusters to devalue the claims of accident victims. They could challenge the severity of your injuries and even try to claim that your injuries were not a result of the crash.
You are required by law to inform your insurance firm that you have been in a car accident. However, you should try not to give too many details, as they could later be used against you. Our advice would be to tell them that you have been involved in a crash and that you will discuss it with them in more detail when you are able.
To give you the best chance of getting the compensation you deserve, call one of our car accident attorneys for a free consultation on your case before you call your insurance firm. We can advise you on what to say to them, and if you decide to continue working with us, we will help you through the entire process so that you don’t have to face the legal process on your own.
No-Fault Insurance Laws in Bradenton
Florida is a no-fault state, in agreement with Florida Statute 627.7407. This means that, regardless of who was to blame for an accident, drivers must first seek compensation from their own insurance company. Drivers in Florida are required to carry minimum insurance coverage of $10,000 for personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 for property damage. Insurance companies must then pay 80% for PIP and 60% for property damage, up to the driver’s policy limits.
However, damages caused by a head-on collision are likely to be higher than this amount. To ensure that you are not losing out, we encourage you to seek a personal injury lawyer who will work tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve. If you or a loved one were involved in an accident in Bradenton that wasn’t your fault, call us today for a free consultation with one of our accident attorneys.
Florida’s Comparative Negligence Laws
The State of Florida abides by comparative fault law, meaning that more than one party can be found at-fault. You can still make a claim if you are found to be less than 50% at fault, but your settlement will be reduced by this percentage.
If, for example, a person was driving the wrong way, but you were speeding, then the opposing party could argue that you shared in the blame. If you are found, for example, to be 15% at fault, then your settlement will be reduced by 15%.
The other party could try to prove that your share of the blame was higher, which is why it is so important to have experienced attorneys on your side. A personal injury lawyer will fight to determine that your fault was minimum and to ensure that you aren’t taken advantage of. Driving on the wrong side of the road is a serious disregard for the law and should be treated as such.
What Will Your Attorney Do for You?
Research has shown that car accident victims who seek representation from a personal injury lawyer are more likely to receive a payout than those without representation, and this payout is on average 60% higher than those without.
Our phones are monitored 24 hours a day, so why not contact us right away for some no-obligation legal advice. Once you decide to call The Law Place, one of our experienced car accident lawyers will provide you with a free case evaluation. During this consultation, the attorney will go through the details of your crash and evaluate the damages, pain, and suffering caused by the accident. This will help to determine how much compensation you are likely to be entitled to and whether we believe that you have a valid claim. We will also give you some general advice regarding your case.
After this initial free consultation, we hope that you will enlist us to help you with your case. Then you will have our full support, along with 75 years of combined experience, for the entire process.
First, we will organize a more in-depth review of the details of the accident, give you further legal advice, and give you a chance to ask any questions. We will then assign you with a car accident lawyer suited to your case, who will be by your side throughout your car accident claim.
This experienced car accident attorney will get to work on your case, collecting relevant evidence, speaking to witnesses, looking over police reports, speaking to first responders, and evaluating your claim. We will deal with all communication from the involved insurance companies on your behalf so that you can relax and focus on your recovery. This will give us an initial idea of the rough value of the compensation we believe you will be entitled to. We can then use this to fight for a fair and reasonable court settlement from the other party’s insurance company.
As with all insurance companies, they will no doubt have a strong legal team who will fight to lower their liability, for example, by claiming that you were at fault or by claiming that some of your injuries were not a result of the crash. However, we have a strong, committed team with decades of combined experience and legal knowledge. We are well-equipped to deal with whatever the insurance companies may throw at us to give you the best chance of winning the compensation you deserve.
Most automobile accident cases in Bradenton, Florida, do not go to court, but in the case that yours does, rest assured that we will stand up for you in court and represent you to the best of our abilities.
Our firm works with clients on a contingency basis, monitored by the State Bar Association. This means that you pay nothing upfront, and our fee will be deducted from the final settlement. Therefore, if your case is unsuccessful, you won’t have to pay at all.
The Law Place
Here at The Law Place, we understand how stressful and disorienting car crashes can be. If you or a loved one has been involved in a wrong-way driving crash that wasn’t your fault, then you should not have to deal with added stress.
For no-obligation, free legal advice with one of our accident attorneys, contact us today. Our team is committed to ensuring that justice is served and giving you the best chance of getting the compensation you deserve.
We are here to help. Call The Law Place today on (941) 444-4444. Our phone lines are open 24/7.