Head-On Collisions On Florida Roads
Florida traffic is forever busy, and not everyone drives defensively. One of the most common types of crashes is the head-on collision, and the potential injuries can be severe or even lethal. However, it can be difficult in some cases to determine who caused the accident, and thus who should be responsible for the other’s medical bills – or if they are liable in the first place. An attorney can be of great help in this type of matter.
Great Force & Severe Injuries
The Insurance Information Institute (III) estimates that approximately 10 percent of all fatal crashes are head-on, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that as many as 2,800 lives were saved by restraint use in the most recent available data year, so one can only imagine how many more could have been lost. Head-on collisions involve an astonishing degree of force, all concentrated on one point of contact, leading to injuries from broken bones to traumatic brain injuries.
Head-on collisions can occur in several different ways, depending on that road you may be traveling on. For example, on a road with no median, a vehicle can cross the center line and strike the car coming in the opposite direction, but a crash on a road with a median, such as an interstate, is almost certain to happen differently because the car may not cross all the lanes of traffic. Either way, any action that was the direct cause of the accident is relevant to the plaintiff’s case.
Can I Sue?
Florida is a no-fault state, meaning that in most cases, people do not sue each other in personal injury accidents; rather, each driver is required to carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance and property damage liability (PDL) insurance, which will then cover any medical bills from accidents. However, many drivers in Florida are either underinsured (some estimates are as high as 26 percent), or have no insurance at all, despite Florida law requiring at least $20,000 worth of coverage. This can put an injured plaintiff in an awkward position.
There is an exception to the no-fault requirement. Most accidents will be handled by your own insurance, but if an accident causes a permanent injury – the loss of a limb, or of a bodily function, the law does allow the injured person to bring suit against the driver who allegedly caused that injury. Given the potential severity of injuries in head-on collisions, it is a good idea to determine whether or not you are able to sue in court, or whether you must go through your insurance to seek compensation.
Contact A Tampa Car Crash Attorney
Head-on collisions can be deadly, and can occur when one least expects it. If you have been through a frontal collision, you need dedicated and compassionate legal representation, and the Tampa car accident lawyers at the Rinaldo Law Group are happy to try and assist. Contact our offices today for a free consultation.
Resource:
iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-highway-safety
https://www.tampainjuryaccidentlaw.com/low-impact-auto-accidents-in-florida/
