Car Accidents—Driving in the State of Florida

Currently, the Sunshine State has approximately 17 million drivers on the road maneuvering on interstates,highways, toll roads, turn pikes and busy streets. Consequently, in 2018, approximately 400,000 crashes were reported, with 31,904  occurring right here in Orange County.  Car accidents can be a traumatic experience for everyone involved and leave lasting injuries. Most motor vehicle accidents occur as a result of someone’s negligence. Negligence is when someone has a duty to act with reasonable care,and by failing to act with that care, they cause harm to another person. Bylaw, the negligent party is monetarily responsible for the injured parties damages, but the proving of negligence will likely require attorney representation.

Florida implements a comparative negligence system that determines the amount of liability between the persons involved. Respectively, each person who is at fault for an accident or injury caused will be liable to the extent to his or her own fault. Like many states, Florida requires every person who owns a vehicle to have automobile insurance, with at least $10,000 personal injury protection ( PIP )and $10,000 property damage liability ( PDL ).Furthermore, once in a car accident, you have four years starting from the date of the crash to bring your claim.

Some common causes of motor vehicle accidents include the following:

Furthermore, car accidents can result in a wide variety of injuries, both physical and mental. The most common injuries include the following:

If you are involved in a car accident in Florida, and the accident resulted in bodily injury or vehicle damage, you must report the accident to the local police department within that municipality. These rules can be found at Florida Statute 316.065.

 
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident, you have rights. Our legal team here at Quattrochi, Torres, and Taormina, PA want to help you understand Florida law and determine if you have a claim. Please contact us today so that we can put our experience to work and maximize the value of your claim.