St. Petersburg Accident Blog

Tampa Area Traffic Accident Statistics for 2009

Recently released accident statistics for Florida reveal what types of traffic collisions are occurring in the Tampa Bay area. If you have been seriously injured in a traffic accident in St. Petersburg or the surrounding area, contact an experienced St. Petersburg personal injury lawyer; 727-345-4566 or 866-836-4947.

Stages of a Florida Personal Injury Lawsuit

Knowing how a basic Florida personal injury lawsuit progresses is important to understand when you or a loved one has suffered serious injury in an accident. When you are looking to recover damages from a personal injury claim in St. Petersburg or the surrounding area, contact an experienced St. Petersburg personal injury attorney from the Law Offices of William K. Saron at 727-345-4566 or 866-836-4947.

The Crimes Compensation Trust Fund for Hit & Run Victims

The Crimes Compensation Trust Fund was established to help victims of crimes where adequate compensation for damages is not available. If you have been seriously injured in a hit and run car accident in St. Petersburg or the surrounding area, contact an experienced St. Petersburg pedestrian accident attorney at the Law Offices of William K. Saron, 727-345-4566 or 866-836-4947.

First Steps After a Florida Car Accident

After a Florida car accident your personal health is priority No. 1. Once you’re stable you need to focus on what needs to be done to ensure you can file a claim for damages from your accident. If you have been seriously injured in a car accident in St. Petersburg or the surrounding area, contact an experienced St. Petersburg car accident attorney; 727-345-4566 or 866-836-4947.

The Truth About Insurance Adjusters

The truth about insurance adjusters is that no matter how nice they seem on the phone or how sympathetic to your plight, they have one job: to save their company money. If you have been seriously injured in a car accident in St. Petersburg or the surrounding area, contact an experienced St. Petersburg car accident attorney 727-345-4566 or 866-836-4947.

Florida Teen Drivers and Nighttime Risks

Florida teen drivers are hitting the roadways and becoming distracted while using cell phones. This is especially dangerous " >;/while driving at night.

Florida Motorcycle Accidents and How to Avoid Them

Florida motorcycle accidents can be serious. May is Motorcycle Awareness Month and many motorcyclists will hit the Florida highways. There are safety steps you can take to keep yourself safe such as never allow yourself to become distracted.

Palm Harbor Car Accident Leaves Two Men Injured

A Palm Harbor car accident leaves two men hospitalized after two vehicles collide.

Why the Insurance Company Won't Pay (Part 3)

Ok, let's look at some final excuses.

Why the Insurance Company Won't Pay (Part 2)

Part 2 of the excuses Insurance Companies use to not pay claims.

Why the Insurance Company Won't Pay

Why the Insurance Company Won't Pay - because they make more money not paying! It is as simple as that. And even if they do eventually pay, the longer they wait, the more interest they earn on your money before they pay it to you. But here are some of the excuses they will use against you - and after 25 years of practice, I've seen a lot of them!

Don't Text and Drive!

There have been several studies that prove driving while texting is actually more dangerous than driving drunk. One study found that when a person is driving and texting at the same time, they are over 20 times more likely to be involved in a serious traffic accident.

Wearing a Seatbelt Can Save Your Life in a Car Accident

The NHTSA has released good news regarding seat belt usage. More people are buckling up than the previous year. Find out more by reading this blog and contact an experienced injury attorney in St. Petersburg if you have been injured in a car accident.

Is The Threat of Aggressive Drivers As Big As Drunk Drivers?

Aggressive drivers are a major hazard on Florida roads. If you have been injured in a Florida auto accident, contact an experienced St.Petersburg accident lawyer at the Law Offices of William K. Saron.

Too Many Drivers are Distracted in Florida School Zones

A national study discovered that as many as one in six drivers are distracted while driving in active school zones.  This behavior puts children at risk of suffering serious injuries and death from pedestrian accidents.

The report is titled, “Distracted Drivers in School Zones,” and it states that 170 out of every 1,000 motorists were distracted in school zones.  The distractions that were observed ranged from eating, grooming, talking on a cell phone to smoking and reaching for an object inside the vehicle.  Researchers in the past have noted that being distracted for only three seconds can increase the chance of being involved in a collision.  For drivers in school zones, that could make the difference of a child being hit by a car.

This national study came to the conclusion that when traveling in a school zone with a posted speed limit of 30 mph, it takes a total of approximately 203 feet to come to a complete stop after recognizing a road hazard.  If a driver is distracted, he or she may not be able to react in time to avoid a pedestrian accident.

If your child has been the victim of a pedestrian accident in St. Petersburg or other area in Florida, you should contact the Law Offices of William K. Saron at 727-345-4566 or 866-836-4947 for legal advice.

Protect Yourself in a Car Accident By Choosing a Safe Car

If you are in the market to buy a new car, think safety.  While it is nearly impossible to completely eliminate the risk of being involved in a St. Petersburg car accident, a safe car can provide extra protection.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, many of the vehicles today have advanced safety features, including electronic stability control.  These crash avoidance features can help lower the risk of a single car accident significantly.  Also, the size and weight of the vehicle can make the difference when it comes to injuries.  The risk of death is higher in smaller, lighter weight vehicles.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducts tests that measure the crashworthiness of vehicles.  These tests rate how a vehicle performs in a front, side and rear collision.  Most of the popular vehicles have been tested and you can go to the Institute’s website for information on how a car rates.

If you have been injured in a Florida car accident caused by the other driver, you should contact a St. Petersburg car accident lawyer at the Law Offices of William K. Saron at (727) 345-4566 or (866) 836-4947 for legal advice.  You may be able to recover compensation for your injuries.

A Must Read Before Filing a Florida Auto Accident Claim

Were you injured in a car accident in Florida?  If you answered “yes,” you need to read the article, “Filing a Florida Car Accident Insurance Claim.”  A car accident is un-chartered territory for most of us and the whole claims process can be overwhelming.

After a Florida auto accident, you need to notify your insurance company.  However, if there were serious injuries from the crash, you should contact a St. Petersburg car accident attorney first.  A lawyer can make sure that you rights are protected and that you are fairly compensated for your injuries.

Once the insurance company has received report of your accident, you will be contacted by an insurance adjuster.  The adjuster will complete an investigation into the collision and may ask you for information. An insurance adjuster usually looks at medical records and the police report and may even talk to witnesses to the accident.  This investigation will help the adjuster determine the amount of settlement in which you will be offered.

Be aware that the insurance adjuster has a settlement range to work with and will most likely start at the low end.  If you feel that you cannot come to a resolution with the insurance company or if the insurer is being uncooperative, you may want to ask for assistance from an injury lawyer in St. Petersburg.

Contact the Law Offices of William K. Saron at (727) 345-4566 or (866) 836-4947 for advice.

A Florida Car Accident Can Cause a Traumatic Amputation

Living with amputation has improved over the years with advanced rehabilitation and new prosthetic designs.  However, if you have suffered from traumatic amputation, you know that life changes for good.

Traumatic amputation can occur from a car accident or other catastrophic event.  Sometimes a person’s limb has to be removed during the rescue effort following a crash.  In this situation, re-attachment of the amputated limb can be difficult as there is often damage to the blood vessels and tissue.

There are complications associated with traumatic amputation, including infection, bleeding and shock.  Medical expenses can add up quickly following a Florida car accident, especially when complications arise.  As an accident victim, you may be facing financial challenges in addition to the physical demands of coping with an amputation.

If your car accident was caused by the other driver, you may be able to recover compensation, which will not only help you with your medical expenses, but may also offset your lost income and other costs.

You should contact an experienced injury attorney in St. Petersburg at the Law Offices of William K. Saron at (727) 345-4566 or (866) 836-4947 if you have been injured in a Florida auto accident.

Your Options When Offered a Low Florida Auto Accident Settlement

Working with an insurance company following a Florida auto accident can be a nightmare.  The insurance adjuster’s job is to protect the interests of the insurance company, not yours.  They will be listening and watching for information that they can use to offer you a low settlement.  You should consult with a Florida car accident attorney following an accident to ensure you are treated fairly.

If you have already started the negotiation process with the insurance adjuster without an attorney, you need to be aware of your options if you come to a standstill with the settlement.  Sometimes the insurance adjuster will not budge on their Florida car accident settlement, despite your best efforts to prove that your claim is worth more.  In that situation, you can take your case to arbitration, where a neutral party will decide the outcome of your claim.  Another option is to contact the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation to find out how to file a complaint against the insurance company.

You might be able to sue the driver who caused your car crash, if the insurance company is being uncooperative.  A knowledgeable Florida car accident lawyer will be able to advise you on your best course of action following an accident and will gather all of the necessary evidence to build a strong case on your behalf.

Contact the Law Offices of William K. Saron today at (727) 345- 4566 or (866) 836-4947 for legal advice.

Falls and Car Accidents Cause Most Children’s Injuries

More children die from a preventable injury than all the diseases combined.  According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) car accidents are a leading cause of children’s deaths.  The report by the CDC also found that falls are the major cause of injuries among children.

Researchers have estimated that approximately 8,000 children are killed each you in a car accident, pedestrian accident or bicycle accident.  The study showed that car accidents are to blame for the majority of deaths in the 5 to 19 age group.

Car accidents can have many causes, including negligence, distractions, poor road conditions or other driver behavior.  Child passenger seats have been created to help protect a child in a car accident, but unfortunately serious injuries still often occur.  When a child is injured in an auto accident, it can lead to traumatic brain injury, head trauma, spinal cord injury and other conditions.

According to the study, southern states and those in the upper plains had the highest amount of children’s deaths from traffic accidents.  States in the northwest region had the lowest rate of transportation-related deaths.

When an auto accident is caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation.  Contact the Law Offices of William K. Saron at (866) 836-4947 or (727) 345-4566 for legal advice regarding your Florida car accident case.

Older Drivers Cause Less Car Accidents Than Before

Older drivers are involved in less car accidents than in previous years.  Despite predictions by experts, the amount of older drivers in fatal accidents has gone down, even as the population of older drivers has increased.

According to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, fatalities per capita among older people have dropped 35 percent since 1975.  Researchers also found that very few drivers 70 and older who died in car accidents had blood alcohol-levels above the legal limit.  However, there is a higher risk of older drivers being involved in fatal car crashes, but this trend can be explained by the fact that older people are frailer and more vulnerable to sustaining a severe injury, especially to the chest.  The study also found that the death rate in car accidents increased for drivers over the age of 80.

Experts had believed that more accidents would be caused by older drivers because people over the age of 70 have started keeping their driver’s licenses longer and were driving more than previous generations.  Research is being conducted to find out why the number of fatal car accidents with aging drivers has gone down.  There is already one theory that aging drivers are in better physical and mental condition than previous generations and are less likely to make a driving mistake.

If you have been injured in a car accident in Florida, you need to contact an experienced car accident attorney.  Contact the Law Offices of William K. Saron today at (866) 836-4947 or (727) 345-4566 for legal advice.

Compensation Available for Car Accidents in Florida

After a car accident, it is not uncommon to face mounting bills, with little to no income to pay them.  During your recovery, you may incur high medical expenses and be forced to take time away from work.  When an auto accident is caused by the other driver, you may be able to collect compensation for your injuries that will help your financial situation.

Florida is considered a no-fault insurance state, which means that when you are injured in a car accident, your injuries will be covered by your own insurance company, regardless of who was at fault.  The compensation available depends on your policy limits.  The insurance company is supposed to reimburse you for the majority of your medical expenses, some of your lost wages and other expenses relating to your injury.  If the other driver was injured in the accident, his or her insurance policy should cover any injuries that the driver sustained.

Even though Florida has a no-fault insurance law, in some instances you can still file a lawsuit against the negligent party.  For example, if you sustained a permanent injury from the car accident or if someone in the vehicle died, you have the legal right to sue the other driver to recover compensation beyond what is provided by the insurance company.

There are two categories of monetary damages available in car accident cases – economic and non-economic.  Economic damages include medical expenses, past and future lost wages, lost support and services, replacement value and other expenses associated with economic loss.  Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, mental anguish and inconvenience.  The jury will decide what damages you are entitled to based on the evidence presented before them in court.

If you have been injured in a car accident in Florida, contact the Law Offices of William K. Saron to determine how much your case is worth.  Call (866) 836-4947 or (727) 345-4566 today. 

The article, What Damages are Available in a Car Accident Case, has more information on this topic. 

The Impact of Driver Distractions

Driver distractions can come in many forms, such as talking on a cell phone, sending text messages, putting a CD into the stereo or turning to look at children in the backseat.  To determine the link between driver distractions and car accidents, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute performed a study following 241 drivers in 100 vehicles for more than one year.  A total of 200 million miles were traveled during the time of the study.  Some of the findings were alarming.

According to the study, most car accidents occur when the driver has been distracted for 3 seconds.  Three seconds seems like a short amount of time, but it is just enough to cause a serious auto accident.  Approximately 1 out of every 3 drivers in the study was involved in an auto accident during the time of the study.  Even more distressing is the fact that each driver had an average of 3 near-accidents.

The study reflected the need for drivers to focus on driving-related tasks while they are behind the wheel.  While cell phones and other electronic devices have brought convenience, they can lead to driver distraction and ultimately tragic car crashes.  Researchers also found that when the driver reached for a moving object inside the car, the chance of a car accident increased by 9 times.

If you have been injured in a car accident and you believe it was caused by the other driver being distracted, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.  An insurance adjuster may not take into account the cost of your future medical treatment and pain and suffering.  After a car accident, you should consult with an experienced Florida auto accident attorney who can help you determine how much your case is worth.

The article, Distracted Drivers Cause Serious Car Accidents, has more information on this subject.

 

Compensation for Whiplash Resulting from an Auto Accident

Car accidents can result in major damage to the vehicles involved and can potentially cause serious injuries.  If you have been in an auto accident in Florida, you understand the pain and frustration of dealing with the aftermath.  When you are injured in a car crash, you may be forced to take time away from work, which can lead to financial troubles.  Injuries also cost money to be treated.  One of the most common types of injuries associated with auto accidents is whiplash.  If you have sustained a whiplash injury, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

Whiplash involves an overextension of the neck, which can lead to torn or stretched muscles or ligaments.  It is usually caused by being struck from behind, such as in a rear-end collision.  According to MedicineNet.com, “More recent studies investigating high-speed cameras and sophisticated crash dummies have determined that after the rear impact the lower cervical vertebrae (lower bones in the neck) are forced into a position of hyperextension while the upper cervical vertebrae (upper bones in the neck) are in a hyper flexed position.”  Some whiplash injuries will heal quickly, while others can take months to recover. 

Symptoms of whiplash can take days to surface and may include pain and aching in the neck, back or shoulders, sensory disturbance to the arms and legs, headache, fatigue, jaw pain and ringing in the ears.  Usually a whiplash injury causes only minor pain, but in some instances, it can result in a severe disability caused by restrictive head movement or of the cervical spine and may cause persistent pain.

If a doctor diagnoses you with whiplash, after conducting an x-ray or other imaging test to rule out bone fractures, he or she may recommend a soft cervical collar.  Your doctor might also recommend bed rest, neck rest and medication to manage the pain.

The expenses associated with whiplash can add up quickly.  If you have been in a rear-end collision caused by another driver that resulted in whiplash, contact the Law Offices of William K. Saron at (866) 836-4947.  You may be able to recover damages for your injury.

The article, Whiplash Injury Caused by an Auto Accident – Symptoms and Treatment, has more information on this topic.