Automobile, Car & Motor Vehicle Accident Cases In Orlando/Central Florida

Car accidents take moments to happen; however, the resulting injuries can pose problems to people twenty, thirty, even fifty years after the auto accidents occur. Automobile accident cases are by far the most common type of personal injury lawsuit filed in Florida court systems. More than six million accidents occur in America each year, injuring about 3 million people and killing about 40,000. Approximately 115 people die each day in the United States in vehicle crashes – one death every 12 minutes. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of thirty-four. On average, someone in the United States is involved in a car accident, every 10 seconds, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Injuries suffered in a motor vehicle accident can be catastrophic. Serious and disabling injuries can affect not only the injured person, but family members as well. Even relatively minor injuries that require medical care and result in lost time from work can have a great impact on a family. The personal injury attorney’s at the Kane Law Firm, P.A. are experienced in discovering and seeking compensation for the direct and indirect costs of automobile accidents.

Causes of Accidents

Many car crashes or traffic accidents can be the result of the following driver conduct:

• Drunk Driving (DUI, OWI, OUI)
• Distractions, such as cell phone misuse and adjusting the radio, CD, MP3 player or iPod
• Rubbernecking
• Driver Fatigue or Drowsiness
• Surroundings and poor road conditions
• Passenger or Child Distraction
• Negligence, such as aggressive driving and speeding.
• Mechanical failure or defect

Vehicle accidents may also be the result of factors unrelated to the conduct of any particular driver. An automobile accident may occur due to a defect in someone’s automobile, either in design, manufacturing, or labeling. In such a case, an automobile manufacturer or supplier may be responsible for injuries caused by a defect in the automobile under the law of product liability. Under the Crashworthiness Doctrine, a manufacturer may even be liable for injuries that an occupant sustains in a poorly designed vehicle even though no defect in the vehicle caused the initial crash. An automobile mechanic may fail to properly repair a vehicle, in such a case, the person who improperly repaired the automobile, and/or his employer, may be liable for the injuries sustained. External factors, such as poorly maintained roads, malfunctioning traffic control signals, improper design, maintenance, construction, signage, lighting or other highway defects, including poorly placed trees and utility poles, can also contribute to and cause serious accidents as well. In cases such as these, government entities may be potential defendants. Special rules apply to claims and lawsuits brought against governmental bodies, and good legal advice is critical to preserving and winning such claims.

What To Do

Being involved in an automobile, car, or motor vehicle accident or any other traumatic event can leave a victim caught up in a complex maze of legal, medical and financial issues at a time when they are least prepared to deal appropriately with those issues. Until you can speak to an attorney, we hope that the general information found on our page on what to do If you have been involved in an Accident will be helpful.

Who can bring a Claim

Individuals who have been injured in a car accident may have property and bodily injury claims against the at-fault negligent driver and their insurance carrier; the owner of the car and their insurance carrier; “dram shop” actions against the establishment that served the driver too much alcohol; PIP insurance companies; uninsured motorist carriers; automobile manufacturers; construction companies; or governmental agencies if a defect in the roadway caused the accident; or if the accident involved a commercial vehicle, the driver’s violation of rules and regulations may be the basis for a lawsuit against the driver or his or her employer.

Because of Florida’s sizeable tourist industry, often times out-of-state travelers are involved in car accidents within our state. The legal complications of injuries resulting from automobile accidents involve complex disputes concerning everything from serious medical injuries to complicated insurance laws. Suit may be filed in Florida against an out of state driver for an accident that happened in Florida.

Sometimes, the at-fault party will have no insurance or not enough insurance. In those situations, it is necessary to determine if there is a source of uninsured motorist coverage available.

Recoverable Damages

Damages that are available to be claimed in an automobile, motor vehicle, or car accident lawsuit are varied and complex. These damages are intended not as a reward, but as a way to restore the victim to his or her pre-accident status. Since circumstances will vary widely, you should get specific advice from an attorney. For general information, please visit our page on potential Recoverable Damages.

Insurance Companies

An insurance company’s goal is to reduce financial exposure for their company, and to force the injured person into a quick agreement, preferably without legal representation or a clear knowledge of their legal rights. The insurance adjuster is a professional, trained to evaluate your auto insurance claim, minimize your damages, and deflect liability from the Insurance Company and its insured. Recognizing you are hurt and in dire need of help, the adjuster may attempt to secure damaging statements from you or get you to sign a premature settlement. Talk to an experienced attorney before talking to an adjuster.

Contact the Kane Law Firm, P.A.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of an automobile, truck, motor vehicle or car accident in Florida and have specific questions or concerns about compensation for your losses, your insurance policies or your legal rights, please call the Florida Automobile Accident Attorneys at the Kane Law Firm, P.A. in Maitland – Orlando, Florida at (407) 644-KANE (5263), submit a contact form on our website, or email us at Info@KaneInjury.com. Our personal injury lawyers will to assist you by diligently pursuing the individuals or companies that caused your injuries, determining what insurance is available, and maximizing your recovery.

We offer a free initial consultation, and if we agree to take your case, we will work on a contingency basis. This means we will get paid for our services only if there is a monetary award or recovery of funds.