Car accidents pose serious risk to drivers, passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians alike. When a crash causes injuries, victims should know about their legal opportunities to pursue compensation if another party was responsible for causing the accident.
Liability arises in car accidents when the cause of the accident was human negligence, such as texting, tailgating, speeding, or drunk driving, to name a few. If you are involved in an accident, get to safety before calling 911 and speaking with the other parties and eyewitnesses. Once you get the medical attention that your condition requires, you can start to pursue damages from the at-fault driver.
This path starts on your first call to the Boca Raton car accident lawyers at The Carrion Law Firm. When you call us today at (954) 951-4828, you can obtain a free first-time case assessment to help you determine your next steps.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Boca Raton
Driver negligence causes accidents in a variety of ways. Below are just a few of the most common instances of negligence that result in car accident injury lawsuits in Boca Raton.
Texting
These days, it seems everyone is glued to their smartphones. Whether or not this is a good thing, it is never responsible to use your phone while operating a vehicle. Looking down at your phone for even a second is enough for the distraction to cause a serious collision.
Tailgating
Many aggressive or frustrated drivers, particularly those who are stuck in high-traffic areas, may engage in tailgating, or driving up close behind the car in front of them. Florida driving regulations require that all drivers provide a reasonable amount of space between their vehicle and the one in front of them to allow for a safe stop in the event of any change to traffic patterns ahead. This is why, in cases of rear-end collisions, the driver of the rear vehicle is almost always the one at fault.
Failure to Use Signals
Situations where drivers fail to indicate imminent turns or stops are the exceptions to the rule on rear-end collisions provided above. If a driver does not use their turn signals or hazard lights, it can be very difficult for other drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians to figure out that the driver plans to change course.
Speeding
Speed limits are created to indicate how fast a driver can reasonably go while retaining the ability to come to a full stop as needed along their route. Driving at excessive speeds not only reduces reaction time but also compounds the chances of severe injuries in a subsequent collision.
Drunk Driving
Though drunk driving numbers are generally down across the State of Florida in recent years, intoxicated drivers remain a leading cause of car accident injury and death across the country. Drivers who are inebriated behind the wheel suffer substantial deficits in reasoning, reaction time, and motor skills, three areas that are key to operating safely on Boca Raton streets.
What to Do at the Scene of a Car Accident in Boca Raton
No one ever expects to be involved in a car accident. Therefore, when you find yourself in this situation, it can be difficult to think clearly. That is why our Boca Raton car accident lawyers have provided this helpful checklist of steps you can take that will help you deal with both your health and legal needs.
Get Off the Road
Multi-car accidents, or accidents involving more than two vehicles, often occur when one accident occurs on a busy roadway. If your car is functional, pull off to the nearest shoulder before getting out of the vehicle. If you cannot drive the car, turn on hazards or deploy safety flares and get a safe distance away from oncoming traffic.
Call 911
Once you and your passengers are out of the immediate zone of danger, your first step should be to place a call to emergency services. This addresses several key issues at once. You will want law enforcement on site quickly to prevent other parties from fleeing the scene and to investigate the accident so that they can file an official accident report, which will be important for your ultimate recovery. You can also request emergency medical support if you or anyone else at the scene suffered an injury that requires immediate on-site treatment.
Talk to the Other Driver
Florida law requires all parties to an auto accident to remain at the scene until contact and insurance information has been exchanged. If your injuries prevent you from obtaining this information, the police officers that respond to the accident will likely collect it for you. Still, it is always best to avoid leaving anything about your eventual recovery to chance.
Talk to Eyewitnesses
Sometimes, the best form of evidence you can use to recover compensation for car accident injuries is the testimony of bystanders who saw what happened. This is also the hardest form of evidence to secure once you leave the scene. Do your best to get contact information from anyone in the vicinity willing to provide their perspective on how the accident occurred.
Get Medical Attention
Ideally, the first place that you go after being involved in a crash is the emergency room. This creates a clear linear relationship between the accident and your injuries and also prevents any undiscovered conditions, such as internal bleeding or brain and spine injuries, from worsening.
Call Your Boca Raton Car Accident Lawyer
Once you have received all necessary treatment to deal with the immediate issues that your injuries cause, your next call should be to your legal representation. Do not talk to insurance representatives without having a thorough conversation about your experience with a Boca Raton car accident attorney.
Get Your First Initial Case Assessment from The Carrion Law Firm for Free
Call (954) 951-4828 today to get started on your path to justice with the Boca Raton car accident attorneys at The Carrion Law Firm.