Fault In A Florida Auto Accident
Brian O Sutter
Traffic Accidents
Florida roads are among the busiest in the nation. Between the more than 20 million who call the state home and the millions more who visit each year, traffic accidents here are unavoidable. And when they do occur, recovering is something that can take an extended period of time to accomplish.
This is especially true when an accident occurs that leaves you struggling financially as well as physically. But if the accident wasn't your fault, you shouldn't have to shoulder that financial burden on your own. And if you can show that the other party was to blame, you likely won't' have to.
Under Florida law, if you can prove that another party caused your accident, you will be entitled to financial compensation that should cover the medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and other financial damages that an accident can trigger. But the first step is simply understanding what fault means in a Florida auto accident, and why a personal injury lawyer is a must when you begin trying to show that you deserve compensation.
Fault 101
When it comes to Florida auto accidents, fault breaks down simply. If a party is shown to have acted in a negligent or reckless manner and those actions led directly to the accident, they will likely be held at fault for the accident. Reckless and negligent actions could include a number of different things. Some examples include:- Driving while drunk or on drugs
- Speeding
- Running stop signs or red traffic lights
- Driving too fast for current driving conditions
- Failure to yield
- Failure to use turning signals
- Texting while driving or otherwise driving while distracted
- And more
Proving Fault
However, while some things such as drunk driving are often very easy to prove in the courts, other factors may not be as easy to prove. That's why contacting a Florida auto accident lawyer is so important. A good attorney will not only have years of experience at standing up for their clients' rights, but will have tools and resources at their disposal that will make it easier for them to prove that the other party was at fault. Just look at some of the ways an attorney might work to prove fault in your case.- Pulling mobile phone records of all parties
- Using witness testimony
- Reviewing accident reports filled out by the police
- Reconstructing the accident scene
- Various software programs that can help show what occurred
- Accessing 'black box' data from automobiles that show what happened in the car just prior to the accident