Car accidents are a common occurrence in Englewood and throughout the State of Florida. Traffic signals have been installed over the country to reduce the number of collisions on the road and to ensure that traffic always runs smoothly. However, in some instances, drivers fail to obey these traffic signals, which can result in a serious motor vehicle accident happening.
If you have been injured in an accident resulting from a driver running a stop signal, you may be entitled to damages. All road users have an automatic duty of care to obey the rules of the road and to take all reasonable measures to prevent accidents from happening. If it can be proven that another driver breached their duty of care to you by running a stop signal, then you can be compensated for any injuries or property damage you’ve sustained.
Here at The Law Place, we want to help you with your personal injury case in Englewood. Our law firm has over 75 years of experience in many different practice areas, meaning you will benefit from a wide range of skills and knowledge. Our accident attorneys are here to help you build a strong personal injury claim to ensure that you receive justice for your car accident. Our office offers a free consultation with one of our lawyers with no strings attached.
We recommend that you contact us as soon as you can, as the more time we have to build your case, the better chance we have at receiving a positive outcome.
Call us today to schedule a free consultation. Our phone lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to fit in with your busy schedule.
What Kind of Accidents Are Caused by Running a Stop Signal?
If a person runs a stop signal, they may cause a number of different types of accidents, including a rear-end collision or a head-on collision. However, the most frequently seen accident resulting from running a stop sign is a side-impact collision or a ‘T-Bone collision.’
Depending on the weight and size of the vehicle involved and the speed at which they were driving, accidents of this nature can often be extremely serious, resulting in severe personal injury or even death. When these car accidents happen, both the driver and the passenger of the vehicle are at serious risk for injury, including any passenger who is sitting at the impacted side of the motor vehicle. Further, it is common for these collisions to cause severe property damage to both vehicles involved.
Why Would a Driver Ignore a Stop Signal in Englewood, Florida?
Throughout Englewood and the entire State of Florida, stop signs have been put in place to make the roads a safer place. Their main purpose is to indicate to drivers who have the right of way, to prevent accidents from happening, and to ensure that traffic runs smoothly. They are also easy to see on the roads as they are both colorful and large in appearance.
However, drivers often ignore a stop sign or drive through it for a whole cohort of reasons, including:
- Not allowing themselves enough time to brake due to speeding.
- Misjudging the patterns of the traffic lights.
- Driving while distracted, which could include talking to passengers or using a mobile phone.
- Unfavorable road conditions.
- Being in a hurry to work or a medical appointment, for example.
- Being under the influence of a controlled substance, including drugs or alcohol.
- Reckless driving.
What Types of Injuries Are Sustained in Running a Stop Signal Accidents?
Car accidents resulting from a driver running a stop signal are often quite severe, leaving those involved with serious personal injuries or even death. The type of personal injury you sustain but will depend on the particular circumstances of your Englewood car accident.
Some of the most frequent injuries seen by accident attorneys in our law firm include:
- Fractured, sprained, and broken bones.
- Neck injuries, including whiplash.
- Internal damage to organs and bleeding inside.
- Lacerations, burns, bruises, and scarring.
- Paralysis.
- Injuries to the head and brain, including traumatic brain injury (TBI).
- Wrongful death.
It could be possible for you to receive compensation for any personal injury or damage you have suffered as a result of a car accident. In order to figure out whether you are entitled to compensation, we recommend speaking with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. They can assess the extent of your injuries and offer you legal advice on what damages may be available to you. Our office is experienced in dealing with cases like this, and our accident lawyers will do everything in their power to ensure that you are duly compensated. Call us to schedule a free consultation with a lawyer from our firm in Englewood.
What Kind of Compensation Is There for Car Accidents Caused by Running a Stop Sign?
If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident in Englewood, you must get in contact with your insurance company straight away. All drivers must have at least $10,000 coverage for property damage and personal injury protection (PIP). When this type of car accident happens, however, and those involved are seriously injured, the minimum amount of coverage may not be enough to cover the damage you’ve sustained.
When the other driver also has a minimum amount of insurance coverage and claiming against their policy still doesn’t cover your medical costs, you may have to file a personal injury claim to get an adequate amount of damages.
Insurance companies can be difficult to deal with, and their main priority is usually to make a profit. It is common for them to use what you have told them about the accident to devalue your claim. This is why our law office recommends speaking with an accident attorney prior to contacting your insurance company. This way, you can be well-advised on what information you should divulge.
What Damages Can an Attorney Help Me Claim in Englewood, Florida?
If you are unable to get enough compensation through your own insurance company or that of the other driver, you will have to file a personal injury claim. In doing this, you will need the help of an accident attorney who can build a strong case on your behalf to ensure that you are duly compensated. Depending on the particular injuries you have suffered and the seriousness of the accident, there may be a number of different damages available to you.
Some of the main damages an attorney can help you get include:
- Medical bills – A lawyer can help you claim any medical costs resulting from any injury you have sustained in an accident. This can include bills for hospital appointments, future medical expenses for long-lasting damage, and transport to and from these appointments. In order to be compensated for these expenses, it is important that you keep all documentation and medical bills safe.
- Lost wages – You can get back any wages you’ve lost as a result of the accident. This can include any future earning potential.
- Property damage – A car accident lawyer can help you receive costs for damage sustained to your auto vehicle and any valuable items contained inside as a result of the crash.
- Pain and suffering – It is possible to get compensation for any physical or emotional distress you suffered because of the accident. These damages can be difficult to get without the assistance of an accident attorney as they are not easy to quantify.
- Wrongful death – If you have lost a loved one in an accident in Englewood, an attorney can help you receive money to cover funeral expenses and any income to the family household that has been lost.
Car accidents can often be traumatic, particularly when you or a loved one has suffered a serious personal injury or has died. At The Law Place, we know that getting compensation will not remedy the situation and make you heal quicker. However, it can help relieve any additional financial burdens you now have because of the accident. It is also important that the party who ran the red light and caused the accident is held liable for the injuries they’ve caused you. Our firm is here to help you get justice for your Englewood car accident, and we will fight tirelessly to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.
Comparative Negligence Laws in Florida
Florida Statute 768.81 states that when a car accident happens in Florida, it is possible for all of those involved to share some portion of the blame, depending on their level of fault. What this means is if you are found by a court to share some level of the blame, then the amount of compensation you receive will be reduced depending on your percentage of fault. The law allows an individual to receive compensation provided they are less than 50% responsible for the car accident.
For example, if you were texting while driving at the time of the accident, which resulted in you not seeing the other driver running a red light, then the court will reduce the amount of money you receive. If a judge decides that you were 30% responsible for the crash, your damages will be reduced by 30%.
In many situations, the other driver’s insurance company will use this comparative negligence system to reduce the amount they pay you out by trying to establish fault on your behalf. An injury attorney can help ensure that the amount of compensation you deserve is not reduced by the comparative negligence laws in Florida.
Why Should I Contact an Englewood Injury Lawyer?
If you have been injured in a crash resulting from the negligence of another driver, you only have a limited amount of time to make a personal injury claim. The statute of limitations in Florida is 4 years following an auto crash, as provided under Florida Statute 95.11. However, our attorneys know from experience that the longer you leave it to make an injury claim, the lower your chances are of getting a payout.
This is because as time passes, police reports can go missing, witnesses may not remember the car crash as well, and any evidence at the scene may be gone. In addition to this, the insurance company and legal team of the other party may have been working hard to ensure that they do not have to pay you out.
Further, navigating the legal system in Englewood can be difficult without the assistance of an experienced attorney, and the chances of you receiving a payout increase substantially with legal assistance. This is why we recommend speaking with a car crash lawyer as soon as possible to ensure you receive justice for the accident.
Contact The Law Place Today
At The Law Place, we know that auto vehicle crashes are traumatic and stressful, particularly when you or a loved one has been injured as a result. Regardless of whether the other party was careless, distracted, or reckless when they broke the red light in Englewood, you deserve to be paid out for the damages you’ve sustained.
Our office has over 75 years of experience in many practice areas, including car crash claims. We have built up a great attorney-client relationship due to our proven track record in getting the best results for our clients. We offer a free consultation where you can receive legal advice from an attorney with no strings attached. Our priority is ensuring that victims of these accidents get the justice they deserve.
If you have been a victim of a collision resulting from another driver running a red light in Englewood, contact us today. Our phone lines are always open.