Driving in the Florida sun can be a relaxing and enjoyable experience, but sometimes disasters happen. Car accidents are awful events that require legal action to ensure the negligent party is held responsible.
It’s best to find the most reputable car accident lawyer in the area of your accident, for example, if your accident happened in the Bradenton area, a Bradenton car accident lawyer by your side can help you get the justice you deserve. They are aware of the required legal routes to pursue in seeking financial compensation.
Learn about common car accidents and the required legal actions you should take if you or someone you know has experienced losses from a car accident.
Types of Car Accidents
Florida saw nearly 350,000 car accidents and over 3,000 fatalities from those accidents in 2020. There were more than 90,000 hit-and-run accidents. The stats are shocking, but you should know many other types of car accidents can occur while driving in Bradenton, Florida.
Different types of car accidents may require different legal actions. Typically car accidents involve multiple vehicles. However, single-vehicle accidents also occur when a car veers off the road.
Blind Spot Accidents
A common type of car accident is a blind spot accident, where a driver doesn’t see oncoming traffic or pedestrians. All drivers must check blind spots and adjust mirrors to reduce blind spots. Otherwise, they can be held liable for the accident.
Head-On Collisions
A head-on collision is when two cars crash into each other from the front. For example, if a driver going north falls asleep at the wheel and veers into the southbound lane, incoming traffic will hit the northbound car, smashing the front ends of both cars.
Side-Impact Collisions
A side-impact or T-bone collision is when the front of one car collides with the side of another vehicle. For example, when a driver fails to stop at a red light and continues driving as another vehicle passes through the intersection, the result is a side-impact collision.
Rear-End Collisions
A rear-end collision is when one car’s front bumps into another’s back. Rear-end collisions are most likely to occur in bumper-to-bumper traffic if a driver gets distracted or during high-speed collisions if a driver in front suddenly hits the brakes.
Rollover Accidents
Rollover accidents are when vehicles roll upon impact. Rollover accidents typically happen because of reckless driving paired with excessive speeding. For example, during a high-speed collision, the force of the crash might cause the car to flip. This type of accident has a higher risk of bodily injury.
Hit and Runs
Hit-and-runs are one of the most common car accidents in Florida. A hit-and-run is when a car accident occurs, and the at-fault party drives away without stopping to leave contact details or wait for the police. Hit-and-runs can be multi-vehicle collisions or single-vehicle accidents involving pedestrians.
Required Legal Actions for Car Accidents
Two main legal actions are essential for car accidents. These are compensatory and punitive damages.
Compensatory damages are financial repercussions where the at-fault party pays for losses incurred from the result of the accident. For example, medical expenses, lost wages, or funeral expenses are compensatory damages.
Punitive damages are repercussions where the at-fault party receives punishment for their negligence. Punitive damages can be financial compensation above compensatory damages or could result in a prison sentence.
A hit-and-run, for example, is likely to see punitive and compensatory damages since the driver was negligent and chose to act ignorant. Meanwhile, a low-speed rear-end collision is much likelier to see compensatory damages than punitive damages.
Whether you want to pursue compensatory or punitive damages, a professional Bradenton car accident lawyer will help navigate the legal system and advocate on your behalf to get a verdict that brings justice.
Final Thoughts
If you or someone you know has experienced injuries or losses from a car accident, seek a professional and experienced legal representative to help guide you through the steps of taking legal action.
