The majority of Florida car accidents are caused by the actions of a negligent driver. Other drivers, passengers, pedestrians, motorcyclists, and other road users can be left seriously injured or dead. The injured party or their family is then left to suffer the consequences of another driver’s negligence. These financial, physical, and emotional costs can potentially be compensated in a car accident lawsuit.
It can be helpful to have some perspective on what constitutes a typical Florida car accident when considering whether or not to file a personal injury claim against another driver. The car accident lawyers of Osborne & Francis can provide the expert knowledge and the resources needed to maximize your compensation. You can reach out to us at (561) 678-0156 or contact our offices in Boca Raton or Orlando to schedule a free consultation to learn more about the benefits of our services and how the car accident claims process works.
In 2021, there was an average of 1,100 car accidents a day on Florida roads, for a total of 401,540 auto accidents. Of those, 3,454 crashes resulted in fatalities. This is a 17% increase from the number of fatal Florida car accidents in 2019, according to data collected by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
In fact, the number of fatalities in auto accidents in 2021 is the highest it has been in at least 20 years. This alarming trend can be partially explained by the rise of cell phones, which contribute significantly to distracted driving, although the reason for the annual increases lacks a clear explanation.
Unfortunately, Florida is one of the worst states in the country for drivers by a number of metrics. We have the highest percentage of uninsured drivers, which can make the process of filing a car accident claim more complex once you’ve maximized your PIP insurance. Additionally, Florida lacks a mandatory helmet law for motorcyclists or a universal mandatory seatbelt law, putting us towards the bottom of the list according to safety advocates.
In terms of driver behavior, a study conducted by ranks Florida as the 14th worst drivers in the nation based on measures like the number of DUIs reported and the number of fatal car accidents. For fatal car accidents, Florida ranked 3rd in the number of fatalities as compared to other states.
Despite Florida laws prohibiting texting while driving and making it a primary offense, the FLHSMV estimates that 333 people were killed in distracted driving accidents in 2021, with many others injured. Texting while driving is a particularly dangerous form of distracted driving, as it engages the trifecta of distracted driving behaviors.
Floridians who text and drive are cognitively distracted because they are focused on replying to the message, visually distracted while reading the message, and manually distracted while typing out a reply. This creates the ideal conditions for a serious car accident to occur.
As in most states, the legal limit for a driver’s Blood Alcohol Level is 0.08 BAC. However, strict limits and harsh penalties for drunk drivers have failed to eradicate this dangerous driving behavior. In 2019, over 25% of car accident fatalities involved alcohol, claiming 814 lives. Of the fatal drunk driving accidents involving high BAC offenders, 84% of the intoxicated drivers were repeat offenders. This speaks to the fact that current safety measures are not necessarily an effective deterrent to drunk drivers.
The most fatal Florida car accidents tend to occur on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Specifically, the highest number of fatal car accidents in 2021 were attributed to Saturdays around 11pm and 2am and Friday at 9pm. During these times, drivers have reduced visibility. They also coincide with times when drowsy or drunk drivers are more likely to be on the road, increasing the risk of fatal car accidents.
The vast majority of Florida car accidents happen under clear weather conditions, on dry roads. Most occur on local roadways, although most fatal Florida car accidents happen on state roads. However, another common site of auto accidents is at intersections. Intersections require the driver to pay attention to several things at once, such as the traffic signal, the speed of the car in front of them, cars exiting business driveways, bicyclists and pedestrians crossing the street, and upcoming turn lanes. Even a moment of distraction can result in serious injury for another road user.
The amount that a car accident injury costs will depend on how debilitating it is. How much you are left to pay out of pocket will depend on the quality of your car accident lawyer. Any auto accident attorney will tell you, car accident injuries can have a significant financial cost outside of treatment expenses, although that is usually a substantial portion of the settlement.
For example, say that you break your right arm and leg in a T-bone car accident, leaving you in casts for several weeks. You can’t drive, cook, or manage laundry on your own. As a result, you have to pay for expensive Ubers, buy takeout meals, and rely on a laundry service while you heal. These costs can accumulate quickly, but they are potentially eligible for compensation in a car accident lawsuit as they are directly related to your injuries.
As personal injury lawyers, it is our goal to maximize your compensation and ensure that it accounts for your past and future expenses. That being said, it is difficult to name an exact amount for the average car accident settlement, as injuries and their impact vary widely. Within the category of car accident claims, there is a range of injuries, from minor bruising and lacerations to life-threatening traumatic brain injuries.
Beyond that, the same injury can have different repercussions for different people. For example, even in a case where two people have very similar spinal cord injuries from comparable rear-end auto accidents, one may receive significantly less than the other because their ability to perform their job was not impacted and they have support from their family. To get a clearer picture of what your claim may be worth, you should take advantage of a free consultation with a car accident attorney.
The best way to protect your claim from being undermined by profit-driven insurance companies is to hire a tenacious auto accident attorney. At Osborne & Francis, we have a reputation for being tough litigators who won’t back down from a fight. Instead, we will work tirelessly to ensure that our clients are fairly compensated for their injuries and damages, just like we have for nearly a decade.
Our team has an unparalleled work ethic that puts us a cut above other personal injury law firms. As former clients will confirm, we make it a point to provide each claim, regardless of size, with the personalized attention it deserves. Floridians who have been injured in a car accident know that they can trust our team to get the job done.
In the aftermath of a serious Florida car accident, you may be left to handle hefty medical bills, take time off work to heal, and grapple with a diminished quality of life. You don’t have to take on the additional burden of filing a car accident lawsuit on your own. The auto accident attorneys of Osborne & Francis can help you secure a fair settlement for your damages in a personal injury lawsuit.
Our team has ample trial experience that can be a significant asset when facing an insurance company that refuses to make a fair offer that compensates you for damages like medical bills, lost wages, and loss of quality of life. We will dedicate the necessary time, effort, and resources to ensure that you secure a settlement that meets your needs.
If you have been injured in a Florida car accident caused by another driver’s negligence, you have the right to see compensation for your damages in a personal injury lawsuit. The auto accident attorneys of Osborne & Francis are prepared to help guide you through the claims process. You can reach out to us at (561) 678-0156 or contact our offices in Boca Raton or Orlando to schedule a free case evaluation. Our team of highly skilled car accident attorneys will unapologetically protect your right to recover compensation.
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“Attorneys Greg Francis and Ryan Fletcher at Osborne & Francis Law Firm represented me in my personal injury case.The defendant drew a line in the sand and was adamant on a settlement amount I was almost willing to accept. After the dust settled and the smoke cleared, we settled for 3 times that amount!!! When they say ‘Real Tough Lawyers,’ they mean it.”
“I am so thankful for EVERYONE, the entire staff at Osborne & Francis Law, for mentoring me through the mediation process with my hip replacement failures. I didn't realize how MUCH pressure they relieved me of by helping me deal with the reality of this traumatic time in my life, as it was OVER so quickly with a positive result. My family is grateful to have their mom HAPPY & FOCUSED on the future, rather than worrying over what happened in the past! FAST FORWARD, we are LIVING LIFE to the fullest once again!”
“I couldn’t have asked for a better lawyer/ firm — everything was done professionally exactly how I wanted. Due to COVID my personal attorney Mr. Garcia was still able to make things work in a timely manner and he never made me feel like he wasn’t working. Overall I’m happy with how my case turned out and I would recommend him and this law firm to anyone. 100% satisfied.”
Dennis and the other Osborne & Francis staff were amazing! Our case was HUGE and required tender loving care. Everyone on our case did their part by putting all the puzzle pieces together. We were given step by step updates and put at ease when our nerves got the best of us. For every inquiry we made we received a timely response...You are appreciated!
Quick and fair resolution to a unique case. On advice of my own attorney, I engaged Joseph Osborne of Osborne & Francis of Boca Raton, FL. Mr. Osborne had considerable experience in cases such as mine and the results showed that. Mr. Osborne and his staff were very helpful, kept me up to date, and listened to my input. The settlement was very fair as far as I am concerned.
"Best personal injury attorney around, I could not be happier! I was seriously injured in a car accident and Osborne and Francis helped me through the entire process. I was blown away by how knowledgeable the staff and attorneys are at this incredible law firm. I would not hesitate to recommend this law firm to friends and family!"
Hiring a lawyer is the first step towards recovering a better quality of life. At Osborne & Francis, we devote our undivided attention to each client, and all communications are held in the strictest privacy. Contact us by filling out the form or calling us directly at (561) 621-1385.
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