Orlando Car Accident Attorneys

We commonly use the term “car accident” to refer to a motor vehicle collision; however, in most cases, a collision is not really a true accident. In fact, most motor vehicle collisions are the result of negligence, with impaired driving accounting for more than 10,000 motor vehicle crashes fatalities annually and distracted driving accounting for another 3,166 accident-related deaths.

The victims of a collision can suffer physical injuries as well as psychological trauma, resulting in huge medical expenses, lost wages, pain, suffering, and a diminished quality of life. Fortunately, the law recognizes the impact a car accident can have on peoples’ lives and provides an avenue by which they can seek compensation from the responsible party.

If you or a family member has been seriously injured in an automobile accident that was caused by another driver in Orlando or elsewhere in Florida, an experienced car accident attorney at our firm can help you understand the law and obtain the compensation you deserve. At Bailey Fisher, we focus exclusively on personal injury cases and have more than 70 years of combined successful legal experience both in and out of the courtroom. We will put our legal expertise and commitment to justice for victims of other’s negligence and wrongdoing to work for you and your family.

Car Accident Facts and Figures

The number of vehicles on America’s roadways has steadily increased over the last several decades. The vast majority of motorists are responsible, conscientious drivers, but it only takes a split-second to make a potentially fatal error. The following facts and figures illustrate how dangerous the roadways can be for motorists and their passengers.

• Each year there are nearly 40,000 fatal car accidents in the U.S.
• Over six million car accidents are reported each year in the U.S.
• On average, about two million people suffer a permanent injury as a result of a car accident each year.
• The State of Florida has, on average, about 400,000 accidents a year.
• In 2018, there were 254,873 injury accidents and 3,174 fatalities from accidents in Florida.

Car Accident Causes

A motor vehicle collision can occur at any time and may happen under a wide variety of circumstances. Some of the most common car accident causes include:

• Impaired driving – efforts in recent years to reduce the number of injuries and deaths attributable to drunk driving have been successful; however, impaired driving remains a leading cause of vehicle crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) over 10,000 people are killed by an impaired driver in the U.S. each year, accounting for over 25 percent of all fatalities.
• Distracted driving – the increased use of handheld electronic devices has dramatically increased the number of injury accidents attributable to distracted drivers in recent years. NHTSA figures tell us that approximately one in ten fatal crashes is caused by a distracted driver. Florida became one of the last states to make texting while driving a primary offense in 2019.
• Drowsy driving – most people don’t realize how dangerous driving while drowsy can be. Studies show that a fatigued driver can be just as dangerous on the roadway as an impaired driver. In fact, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimates that one in five fatal crashes involves a drowsy driver.
• Speed –speed has consistently made it into the top five leading causes of motor vehicle accidents across the nation. Speed actually rivaled impaired driving for the top spot in 2016, according to the NHTSB. Year after year, speed is a factor in one out of every three accidents.

Florida’s No-Fault Law and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Insurance

Florida is one of several “no-fault” states. As such, drivers are required to carry a minimum amount of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance coverage. In the event of a collision, your own PIP coverage is supposed to pay your medical bills without regard to who was at fault in the collision.

Typically, your PIP insurance will pay for ambulatory services, diagnostic procedures, medical and surgical services, hospital expenses, medication, and rehabilitation. However, it pays only 80% of your medical costs, and if you do not seek medical care within 14 days of a motor vehicle accident or your injuries are not considered to constitute “an emergency medical condition,” your PIP coverage could be limited to a maximum of $2,500. In addition, your PIP insurance will pay 60% of your lost wages up to $10,000, if you are disabled from an accident.

The Florida no-fault law also does not entitle a victim to compensation for “pain and suffering.” A victim may only pursue a traditional personal injury lawsuit based on negligence (fault) if the victim suffered serious injuries that fit into one of the following categories:

• Are permanent
• Resulted in scarring or disfigurement
• Caused the loss of important bodily functions

If you suffered injuries that meet the serious injury threshold test, you may be entitled to recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include direct expenses for things such as medical bills or lost wages. Non-economic damages are intended to compensate you for the emotional trauma you suffered as a result of the collision and are what we commonly refer to as “pain and suffering.”

Get the Help You Need from Experienced Orlando Car Accident Attorneys

At Bailey Fisher, we understand that car accident injuries can have devastating effects on you and your family. The pain and suffering of injuries, coupled with mounting medical expenses and other financial burdens can increase your stress and further diminish your quality of life. We are committed to helping you and your family during this difficult time.

We bring a wealth of legal knowledge and experience and a strong sense of commitment to all of our clients who have suffered serious, often life-changing injuries due to someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing.

If you or a family member has been seriously injured in a car accident, call us at 407-628-2929 or submit our online form today. One of our experienced Orlando car accident attorneys will provide you with a FREE EVALUATION of your case. For viable personal injury cases, we will follow up with the necessary legal action to hold the responsible party accountable for their negligence and recover the financial compensation you deserve for your pain, suffering, and losses.

 

Sources

Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Florida crash dashboard. (2019).
https://www.flhsmv.gov/traffic-crash-reports/crash-dashboard/

U.S. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2019, Oct.) Traffic safety facts: Research note.
https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/