In Florida, there are almost 400,000 car accidents every year, and some of them are caused by drivers who (intentionally or not) drive the wrong way. Florida is a very popular vacation place, which means that a lot of tourists, who don’t know the local roads, come here every year to enjoy the sun and the beaches. An accident can then happen quite easily. It may involve reckless or drunk driving, but also just a confused tourist failing to navigate a complicated crossroad.
No matter the reason, driving the wrong way is unacceptable because it can lead to a lot of damage and serious injuries. If you have been injured in an auto accident caused by a driver who went the wrong way, you should hire a reliable attorney to ensure justice for yourself. They will help you get the damages you deserve and take all the stress off your shoulders. This way, you will be able to relax and focus fully on your treatment.
Attorneys like this can be found at The Law Place. We have 75 years of combined experience, and most of our attorneys have been rated 10.0 on AVVO, which is the highest rating an attorney can achieve. Moreover, we hire skilled car accident lawyers who specialize in car accident cases and have already handled many personal injury claims similar to yours. They will know how to help you and will work tirelessly to ensure you receive the highest possible settlement. So don’t hesitate and contact The Law Place today to consult your case for free with us at (941) 444-4444.
Most Common Causes of Wrong-Way Driving in St. Petersburg, FL.
Wrong-way driving occurs when a driver ignores the traffic rules and drives in the opposite direction than they should. This may happen due to many reasons, mainly due to poor light conditions or the driver’s fatigue. That is why wrong-way accidents usually happen at night. It’s easier to overlook a sign and not realize that you are facing the wrong direction. Afterward, there isn’t enough time to react and prevent an accident if a car approaches from the opposite direction.
The most common causes of wrong-way accidents include:
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Distracted driving (e.g., using a phone, changing the radio, eating, drinking, or talking to other passengers).
- Driver’s fatigue.
- Reckless driving.
- Poor visibility.
There might be countless explanations why a driver was driving in the wrong way. However, most of them aren’t excusable in any way. Every driver should follow the traffic rules, and if they don’t, they should be held liable for the consequences. Contact The Law Place today for a free consultation with a St. Petersburg car accident attorney and ensure justice for yourself and your loved ones.
Dangers of Wrong-Way Accidents in St. Petersburg, FL.
Wrong-way driving usually leads to head-on collisions, which is the most dangerous type of motor vehicle accidents. The impact is generally very strong, and even though new technology tries to find better solutions to protect the passengers, the risk of serious injuries or even death is still very high. Below, we list the most common risks associated with wrong-way car accidents:
- Bone fractures.
- Internal bleeding or injury.
- Disfigurement.
- Head injury.
- Wrongful death.
If you are suffering these or other consequences of a wrong-way car accident, you should be compensated for it. However, you have to receive medical attention within 14 days from the accident to be entitled to any kind of compensation. The best way to ensure this is to let the paramedics check you on the spot. You should do so even if you feel fine because you just might be in shock and not notice your injuries at the moment.
To find out what damages you might be entitled to claim after a St. Petersburg car accident, contact The Law Place as soon as possible. Our personal injury attorneys will provide you with professional legal advice to help you reach the highest possible settlement.
We’re here to serve you. Our phones are open 24 hours a day. Most Common Damages After a St. Petersburg Car Accident
Any car crash can have life-altering consequences, and its victims should be compensated fairly for their damage and injuries. The most common damages you can claim after a St. Petersburg car accident include:
- Medical bills – Life after an auto accident can be very expensive, especially if your injuries are more serious. However, with the help of a personal injury attorney, you could get all your medical expenses reimbursed. This includes the cost of the surgery, rehabilitation, medical treatment, or medical aids.
- Lost wages – Apart from paying all your medical bills, your injuries or treatment can also prevent you from going to work and earning money. A good compensation should take this into account and compensate you for current and future lost wages.
- Property damage – You should also get compensated for any damage you incurred in the accident. This can include the repair costs of your vehicle, but also a new phone or laptop.
- Pain and suffering – An auto accident doesn’t only cause physical pain but also leads to emotional distress. Many car accident victims suffer from PTSD, for instance. These damages are designed to help you overcome your pain and suffering.
- Wrongful death – If you have lost a loved one in an auto accident, we would like to offer our deepest condolences to you. We understand that no compensation can bring your loved ones back, but it can at least improve your current situation. You might have lost an important source of income for your family or have to pay for the funeral. All these costs can be refunded to you. Moreover, you should be compensated for your loss of consortium.
If you have been involved in a St. Petersburg car accident, you have the right to receive compensation for all your injuries and damage. However, you will need a skilled car accident attorney to actually get the damages you deserve. While seeking justice, you will find many obstacles and resistance. For example, the other party or your insurance company might try to devalue your claim so that they don’t have to pay damages to you. Our car accident attorneys know this, of course, so they know what to do to be able to help you as much as possible. Call The Law Place today and schedule a free case evaluation with us.
We’re Florida’s top litigation team with over 75 years of combined experience Dealing With Insurance Companies in St. Petersburg, FL.
If you get injured in an auto accident in St. Petersburg, Florida, you usually have to contact your insurance company within 24 hours. However, if you have already gone through something like this, you know that insurance companies are often reluctant to give you the damages you actually deserve. Their main goal is to make a profit, so they might try to devalue your claim. Some of them even hire lawyers, especially for this purpose.
The best protection against these practices is to hire a personal injury lawyer. They know very well how to deal with insurance companies to improve their clients’ chances of receiving the damages they deserve. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you contact a personal injury lawyer before you call your insurance firm. They will advise you how to react, what to say, and most importantly, that you shouldn’t agree to anything on the spot. They might try to use the “limited offer” trick on you, but such offers are never as good as they sound.
Do you have a personal car accident attorney? If not, contact The Law Place and schedule a free consultation with us. And if you do, call us anyway. We will explain everything you need to know to you and advise you regarding your next steps. It is always good to have more points of view regarding the matter.
From the initial call to updates on your case status, we are here to get you answers. No-Fault Law in St. Petersburg
According to Florida Statute 627.7407, Florida is a no-fault state. This means that everyone should claim damages from their own insurance companies first, regardless of who caused the crash. Florida law requires that all drivers have their vehicle and personal injury protection insured. The minimum coverage of these obligatory policies is set to $10,000. Afterward, if you end up in an auto accident, the insurance company must give you at least 60% for property damage and 80% for personal injury.
However, wrong-way accidents tend to be quite serious, so the medical bills and repair costs usually exceed the $10,000 limit. If this happens, you should contact one of our personal injury attorneys. We will take care of your personal injury claim and work hard to ensure that you get compensated fairly. Call us today for a free case evaluation and professional legal advice.
Comparative Fault Law in St. Petersburg
In Florida, more than one party can be found liable for a motor vehicle accident. This is called the comparative fault law, and it’s stipulated in Florida Statute 768.81. The court will examine your case, and if you are found partially guilty, your damages will be lowered accordingly. However, if your percentage of fault is lower than 50%, you can still pursue your personal injury claim.
For example, if the other driver was driving on the wrong side of the road, but you were on your phone while driving, you might be found partially liable for the accident. Let’s say that your percentage of fault will be 20%, for example. This means that the damages to which you are entitled will be reduced by 20%.
The other party will try to increase your percentage of fault as much as possible to ensure the best possible outcome for themselves. In a situation like this, you will need strong legal backing to support you throughout the whole process and lower your share as much as possible. Call one of our St. Petersburg car accident attorneys for a free consultation of your personal injury case.
Filing a Lawsuit After a Car Accident in St. Petersburg
If you get involved in a wrong-way car accident and aren’t happy with the amount of the damages offered, you and your car accident lawyer might decide to file a personal injury lawsuit. You can do so if your case meets the following criteria:
- You have sustained permanent or long-lasting injuries.
- The injuries directly resulted in a loss of mobility or function.
- The injuries caused significant disfigurement or permanent scarring to you.
- The accident resulted in the worst-case scenario: wrongful death of a loved one.
Moreover, it is important to have in mind the Florida Statute of Limitations. This particular Statute stipulates different deadlines for filing lawsuits. If you want to sue the other party for your personal injury, you have four years to do so. If your case includes wrongful death, you only have two years. You might think that there is plenty of time, but in fact, the deadline is quite short. There is a lot of bureaucracy involved in filing a lawsuit, and the court deadlines are relatively long. That is why you should start with your lawsuit as soon as possible to meet all its requirements in time. Your St. Petersburg car accident lawyer from The Law Place will monitor the deadlines and obligations so that you don’t miss anything.
What Can a St. Petersburg Car Accident Attorney Do for You?
Research has shown that having the support of a professional attorney significantly increases your chances of receiving compensation. Furthermore, people with legal representation receive 60% higher damages, on average, than those without it. So, there is a high chance that a St. Petersburg car accident lawyer from The Law Place will be able to significantly improve your situation.
How does the cooperation with The Law Place look like? We provide all our potential clients with the opportunity to consult their auto accident for free. During our initial consultation, we analyze the case and discuss what options you have. Everything is non-binding, which means that you can decide that you don’t wish to be represented by us and walk away with no strings attached. If we agree on representation, you will be assigned one attorney, who will be your contact person for all matters related to your case. However, all our attorneys work as a team, so you will benefit from their combined knowledge.
After we shake our hands on it, we’ll schedule a second consultation with you to discuss the case in more detail. Your attorney will also conduct a thorough investigation of your accident. They will review the CCTV footage, interview the witnesses and examine the site. This way, they will be able to gather enough evidence to support your case and defend you in case of a lawsuit. They will also take care of all the communication with your insurance firm to ensure the best possible settlement for you.
Is It Worth Getting a Lawyer for a Minor Car Accident in St. Petersburg?
If the car crash didn’t result in serious injuries, high medical costs, lost wages, serious property damage, or wrongful death, you might not need legal assistance. In St. Petersburg, Florida, a minor car accident is defined as an accident resulting in less than $500 in property damage and no serious injury. However, if you sustained only minor injuries, you should have them checked by a medical professional anyway. If left without treatment, they can slowly turn into major injuries and have a significant impact on your life.
Are you unsure whether your accident classifies as minor? Schedule a free consultation with one of our car accident attorneys today to find out. We will evaluate your case and inform you if you would benefit from taking it to court. Many minor car accidents can be resolved just with your insurance firm, but it is always useful if a professional attorney gives you their perspective on the case.
How Much Does a St. Petersburg Personal Injury Attorney From The Law Place Cost?
Many people think that they can’t afford professional legal services. And indeed, some lawyers will charge you a lot of money without guaranteeing you that they will actually help you. This won’t happen to you with The Law Place. All our lawyers work on a contingency basis, which means that our law firm won’t get paid unless we win a settlement for you. Don’t worry. This is a standard system monitored by the State Bar Association. You pay nothing in advance, and our fee gets deducted from your settlement if we are successful.
Our law firm believes in a strong attorney-client relationship. That is why we are always honest about all our fees. We explain our fee structure to our clients during the first meeting and make sure that they understand it. The price on which we agree will be final. There will be no hidden costs or extra fees.
Call The Law Place Today
Have you been injured in a wrong-way auto accident in St. Petersburg? Then don’t hesitate and call The Law Place as soon as possible. Our attorneys are experienced in many practice areas, including personal injury caused by car accidents. They have already helped many clients with their claims, so they will be able to help you.
Call us today at (941) 444-4444 and join our happy clientele. Our phone lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
