Car Accidents

Do You Need A Miami Car Accident Attorney?

Whether it’s a simple fender bender in your neighborhood or a pile-up on I-95, chances are there will be a car wreck not too far from you at some point in the day; and when that happens, you’ll want an Miami car accident attorney that can help you file your car accident claim.

According to the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHSTA), we can expect about 18,000 car wrecks to occur today in the US, about 650 just in the state of Florida. While most of these accidents will be minor, some will unfortunately be serious, even fatal.

In Florida there were nearly 248,000 crashes in 2021, resulting in 2,592 deaths and 189,554 injuries; there were over 27,000 crashes in Miami Dade County alone.

Automobile crashes are caused by a variety of factors, including driver behavior, vehicle design, road conditions and environmental-related factors. 

Faulty or defective car parts, such as worn tires, broken lights and bad brakes are also a contributor. When driver behavior is a contributing cause to a car accident, it usually means that impaired driving, speeding or distracted driving was involved.

Drunk Driving. Alcohol and driving under the influence is a major contributor to accidents and fatalities. Despite coordinated efforts by government, law enforcement and social programs to raise levels of awareness  about the many possible dangers of drunk driving and to keep intoxicated individuals off the state’s roads, too many impaired drivers are still getting behind the wheel and driving, putting themselves and everyone else on the road at risk. 

There are about 9,900 alcohol-related traffic fatalities per year in the US, according to the National Transportation Safety Board, an average of one alcohol-impaired-driving fatality every 53 minutes. Almost one-third of all motor vehicle traffic deaths in the US are alcohol-related. In Florida, there were 806 alcohol-related fatalities in 2020.

The threat of steep fines, jail time, community service and even the lasting stigma of a criminal record is apparently not enough to keep some drivers from drinking and driving. Unfortunately the state of Florida currently has nearly 109,000 individuals with three or more DUI convictions on their record.

Even relatively small amounts of alcohol in the bloodstream can impair one’s ability to drive safely. The legal blood-alcohol concentration limit is .08 in Florida just like it it is in all 50 states and DC. For most, it only takes a few drinks to reach the legal threshold. 

Speeding. Speed kills. According to NHSTA, approximately one-third of all traffic fatalities can be attributed to driving too fast for conditions or speeding. Speeding almost quadruples the likelihood of finding yourself in a car wreck.

Even a seemingly minor, low-speed collision can result in serious injuries but the risk for catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries increases with higher rates of speed. It is not only the case that speeding increases the likelihood of having a crash, but various recent studies also demonstrate that the severity of a traffic accident is largely a function of vehicle’s speed at impact. 

NHTS statistics suggest that alcohol impairment and speeding are often co-contributors to car crashes.  The annual economic costs imposed on all of us by speeding-related accidents are estimated to be $43.4 billion. 

Distracted Driving. Although texting while driving has received a lot of attention in the media lately, anything which takes the drivers eyes off the road and mind off the primary task at hand – safely getting to their destination- is dangerous. Distracted driving includes everything from applying makeup to reaching on the floorboard for a lost item to tending to the children in the back seat.

Authorities claim texting while driving is by far the most alarming distraction because it requires visual, manual and cognitive attention from the driver. At any given daylight moment across America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devises while driving. Sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent-at 55 mph-of driving the length of an entire football field, blind, according to a report by the Virginia Tech Traffic Institute.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2011 there were 3,331 people killed and an additional 387,000 injured in the US in crashes involving a distracted driver, up slightly from the 3,267 deaths attributed to distracted driving the previous year. Fatigue plays a significant role in distractibility, as well. A 2012 study conducted by researchers at Virginia Tech found that 20 percent of all accidents have sleepiness as a contributing factor.

Whether it’s the result of driving while impaired, speeding, inattentive driving, dozing off behind the wheel, or faulty equipment, if you have or a loved one has suffered due to a negligent driver, you may be entitled to compensation. Drivers who engage in negligent and reckless driving can and should be held accountable when they cause personal injury or death, and property damage. Accident victims deserve compensation to assist them with medical bills, property damage, and other losses, including lost income, and pain and suffering.

Car accident victims are often shocked at how difficult dealing with the insurance company can be after a crash. Insurers, including the victim’s carrier, regularly delay claims and offer low settlements to try to minimize the amount they have to pay out.

For an evaluation of your potential claim, contact Orlando car accident attorney Frank Eidson, P.A., today. A car accident lawyer in Orlando, convenient to Kissimmee, Melbourne, and all Central Florida will evaluate your case and explain your legal options.

 

What to Do After a Car Accident

Getting in a car accident can be traumatizing and knowing what to do after an accident can be confusing. To help victims, our lawyer has provided a step-by-step guide to what you should do if you are involved in a crash. This information can help you avoid problems later, and help your case if you decide to file a lawsuit.

 

Contact Our Miami and Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney

We know that auto accidents can be overwhelming and even scary; however, knowing your legal rights are being protected can help you focus on your or our loved one’s recovery from injuries instead of legal and financial concerns. Miami car accident attorney and personal injury lawyer Edward Busch can protect your rights and help you obtain fair compensation after a car, truck or motorcycle accident.

We know how to deal with insurance companies and have recovered million-dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of past clients from South Florida.

We can help you too. Edward Busch is the sole attorney in his law practice, so our clients get to know and trust their personal injury attorney. If you’ve been injured in an car accident, don’t hesitate to contact our car accident lawyer in Miami, Edward P Busch PA

 

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