Many types of car accidents occur in Florida and other US states every year. It is important to understand the crashes to file specific lawsuits against the at-fault party easily.
Every car accident case requires a unique legal approach for the best outcome in court. Luckily, you don’t have to look far to learn more about the types of car accidents in Florida.
Below we have detailed everything about them.
Statistics On Types Of Car Accidents In Florida
In Florida, 383,599 motor accidents have been observed in 2023. Out of these 8,000 of the crashes were bicycle collisions.
This number includes different types of car accidents such as pedestrian collisions. These crashes also led to thousands of fatalities in the state in just one year.
So one must be careful when going out on roads in Florida, especially when driving on highways.
Because of the high number of yearly accidents, the state has strict laws for motor crashes. You can understand the different types of car accidents to file a personal injury or other case against the at-fault party.
Most Common Types Of Car Accidents in Florida
Let’s look at the most common types of car accidents:
1. Pedestrian Accidents
In 2023, a total of 9,942 pedestrian accidents were seen in Florida. During these accidents, about 740 people lost their lives.
A pedestrian accident is a crash in which the victim is a non-motorist. They are not using any vehicle such as a car or bicycle.
For example, you may walk towards a grocery store using the pedestrian pathway and a car may crash into you.
The primary feature of this accident involving vehicles is that the at-fault usually has a car or bike.
Some rare cases may also involve a truck crashing into a sidewalk and hurting pedestrians.
As a pedestrian, you can hire a personal injury lawyer to fight your case in court. The attorney can gather evidence to help you negotiate a fair settlement with the at-fault party.
The most common causes of pedestrian types of car accidents in Florida include:
- Reckless driving
- Speeding at intersections
- Poor vehicle control
- Failure to stop at relevant traffic signs
Every year the number of pedestrian accidents in Florida increases. So you must be aware of your rights when walking down different streets in this state.
2. Hit And Run Accidents
One of the most common types of car accidents you will observe in Florida is hit-and-run crashes. A vehicle may crash into you on a sidewalk and the driver may fail to act.
So they may engage in negligence and recklessness by leaving the injured person at the site. Similarly, you may also be in a car when another vehicle rams into you.
The primary classification of accidents under this category is that the at-fault driver abandons the scene. In the last five years, 515,957 hit-and-run cases have been seen in the state.
These collisions also led to thousands of fatalities. This is why the state and its authorities urge at-fault drivers to stay at the scene.
Many people who lose their lives in such accidents usually have a chance at life if they are taken to a hospital in time.
This accident involving vehicles on both sides is a dangerous event in anyone’s life. If you get into such a crash, you must hire a car accident attorney to help you.
You can seek compensation from the at-fault party by benefiting from the legal consequences of car accidents in Florida.
3. T-Bone Car Accidents
Another classification of accidents involving cars includes T-bone collisions. These are highly dangerous because of a high fatality rate.
The accident mainly involves a car’s front hitting the passenger side of another vehicle. If you’re the victim in a T-bone accident, your car will receive a side impact from the at-fault party.
Your car may also roll over if the other vehicle is excessively speeding. Sometimes the driver may also get crushing injuries because of the severe impact.
If you suffer an injury in T-bone types of car accidents, you can hire a car accident lawyer to help you seek compensation. They can use your medical bills, police reports, and witness accounts to file a claim.
Meanwhile, personal injury protection (PIP) coverage can also help you file a lawsuit against the relevant insurance company.
These types of car accidents mainly occur when one driver does not stop at a red light. So the car coming from the other side suffers without any fault.
One of the common ways to avoid this accident is by following traffic rules thoroughly. You should also slow down before reaching a traffic signal and look both ways before moving straight.
4. Left Turn Collisions
The classification of accidents depends on various factors. Some accidents such as hit-and-run crashes are classified based on a driver’s actions.
Meanwhile, types of car accidents like left-turn collisions depend on a person’s ability to drive. Some people make left turns too fast and ram into another vehicle leading to a deadly crash.
You may also make a left turn while running a red light which can cause a car to ram into you from the side. This type of accident involving vehicles occurs when one car is coming straight and the other is turning.
Some types of left turn crashes are also famous as T-bone accidents. The exact classification of accidents depends on how they occur.
If the impact is towards the passenger side, you may be left with medium injuries on the driver’s side. Meanwhile, a car ramming into a driver’s side can lead to permanent disabilities or death.
So you must hire a car accident attorney when you or your loved one suffers from left-turn crashes.
They can help you develop an effective legal approach to seek recovery compensation without much struggle.
5. Sideswipe Accidents
There are many types of car accidents you can suffer from in Florida. However, only a few of them can lead to secondary crashes and cause high damage.
One such classification of accidents includes sideswipe crashes. These collisions occur when a car tries to change its lane.
Vehicles may merge and try to change their lanes to avoid a stressful traffic situation. However, one car may slide into the side of another vehicle.
A driver may hit the body of your car from the back leading to high side scratches. They may also break your mirrors or brake lights during the crash.
Other scenarios of sideswipe accidents include:
- A missed head-on collision between two cars
- Drivers trying to sideswipe while making a turn
- When a moving car hits a stationary vehicle
- Accidents due to miscalculations during parking
- When a car cuts off another vehicle
The worst part is that sometimes the victim’s car may also turn into another lane due to the high impact. This can lead to secondary collisions in the other lane.
You can avoid such accidents by checking all blindspots before switching lanes. Remember it is common for both parties to be partially responsible during sideswipe accidents.
6. Single Vehicle Accidents
With many types of car accidents in being, you may not believe that single vehicle crashes can occur. However, such accidents can happen.
Such a collision mainly involves a vehicle hitting an object. The object may be a huge tree, traffic sign, street light, or a building gate.
Many people believe these types of car accidents don’t involve other vehicles. That is a misconception due to a lack of understanding.
Another car may affect your single vehicle accident indirectly if you have to swerve harshly because of the vehicle.
For example, a car may be coming towards your vehicle on a one-way road. You may swerve and hit into a tree to save the other person from injuries.
Filing an injury claim in such accidents can be complex due to evidence issues. You will have to prove that swerving was inevitable and the right decision to save one’s life.
Consulting with car accident lawyers can help you understand the legal approach in such cases easily.
Legal Consequences Of Car Accidents In Florida
Below are some legal consequences of car accidents in most states of the US:
1. No-Fault Insurance For Both Drivers
Florida is a no-fault insurance state for car accidents. This means that drivers with minor injuries have to seek compensation from their own insurance companies.
This is regardless of whose fault it was. So regardless of the types of car accidents, one of the legal consequences is using your own insurance coverage.
Such drivers can file a claim using PIP coverage. The insurance company will pay for 80% of the medical expenses you experience due to the crash.
You may also receive 60% of lost wages if the accident prevents you from working for some time.
Remember the claim you will file for compensation will be against your own insurance company. The company may try to avoid paying you using different tactics.
That is why a legal approach is best for getting your funds faster.
2. Personal Injury Claim Against The At-Fault Party
One of the legal consequences of car accidents in Florida is the at-fault party liability. You can hold the other driver accountable in court by filing a case against them.
For most types of car accidents, you can file a personal injury claim to seek compensation. You may also hire a car accident attorney to understand the multiple legal approaches you can take.
By filing a claim you can seek compensation for injury damages such as:
- Medical expenses
- Cost of repairing your vehicle
- Long-term healthcare bills such as therapy costs
- Lost wages
- Permanent disability
You may also file a case if your loved one lost their life during the accident.
3. License Suspension And Jail Time
Another legal consequence of an accident involving vehicles is license suspension. This is mainly true if the at-fault party was driving recklessly.
People causing hit-and-run accidents not only lose their driving licenses but also suffer from jail time. This is to ensure they reflect on their actions and avoid breaching their legal duty.
Drunk drivers also suffer from the legal consequences of car accidents in Florida. Such people may receive a jail time of one year or more, depending on the classification of accidents.
Whether a driver is a first-time offender or not will also determine the legal consequences they suffer from.
FAQs
What Is The Most Common Type Of Car Accident In The US?
The most common types of car accidents in the US are front impact collisions. In 2019, about 2.8 million crashes in the country were of this type. Second to these car accidents are rear impact crashes.
Are Car Accidents Common In Florida?
Many types of car accidents are common in Florida due to a high population, reckless driving, and other causes. Every year thousands of car accidents occur in different cities of this state.
The only exception to this was during the COVID-19 pandemic when people left their houses less frequently, leading to fewer accidents.
How Are Car Accidents Handled In Florida?
Car accident attorneys mainly handle crash cases in Florida. You may file a police report to start legal proceedings against the at-fault party. Insurance coverage plays an important role in seeking compensation.
Is Florida A No-Fault Accident State?
Florida is a no-fault accident state, which means every person’s own insurance company will pay them compensation. This is regardless of which party was at fault.
However, you can file additional claims against the at-fault party if your insurance coverage does not cover specific damages caused by the accident.
Final Thoughts
These are the six most common types of car accidents that happen in Florida every year. You can hire a car accident attorney to recover from the crash financially by seeking compensation.
So be sure to get in touch with us today to learn more about legal approaches to car accidents in Florida. We will be happy to help you navigate the stressful period in your life after a crash.
