St. Petersburg Accident Blog

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Wearing a Seatbelt Can Save Your Life in a Car Accident

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.

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.