Auto Accident Fault and Damages

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When you are seriously injured in a car accident, there are two things you need to prove in order to recover just compensation. First, you need to prove that someone else was at fault in the collision. Outside of personal injury protection (PIP), auto insurance only provides fault-based coverage. Second, you need to prove how much you have lost (and how much you will continue to lose) as a result of your accident-related injuries. These losses are referred to as “damages.” In order to prove fault and damages, you need an experienced Tallahassee auto accident lawyer on your side.

Common Examples of Fault in Florida Auto Accidents

In an auto accident, fault can take many different forms. While most accidents are the result of driver error, issues with the road and vehicle maintenance issues and defects can cause dangerous collisions as well. With regard to driver error, some of the most-common forms of fault include:

• Distracted driving
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Drowsy driving
• Failure to yield
• Falling asleep behind the wheel
• Merging and lane changing errors
• Road rage
• Running red lights and stop signs
• Speeding
• Tailgating

Outside of driver error (also referred to as driver “negligence”), other potential causes of auto accidents include:

• Negligent road design, construction or maintenance
• Negligent vehicle maintenance and repairs
• Vehicle defects
• Companies hiring inexperienced and unlicensed drivers
• Companies forcing their drivers to spend too many hours behind the wheel

In order to prove who (or what company) is at fault in a collision, it is important to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation. This is one of several reasons why car accident victims should contact a Tallahassee auto accident lawyer as soon as possible.

Typical Damages Suffered Due to Auto Accident-Related Injuries

Just as auto accidents can have many different causes, they can also have many different effects. Victims of serious accidents in Tallahassee and elsewhere will often suffer severe injuries that impact all aspects of their lives, and many victims will be forced to live with the consequences of someone else’s mistake for decades to come.

A key aspect of car accident claims is that accident victims are entitled to just compensation for their current and future losses. Accident victims are also entitled to just compensation for their financial and non-financial harm. These are facts that the insurance companies won’t tell you. Future losses and non-financial losses will often make up the majority of accident victims’ compensation, and the only way to accurately calculate these losses is to work with an experienced attorney. Damages that are recoverable in auto accident insurance claims and litigation include:

• Medical expenses
• Prescription costs
• Other out-of-pocket costs
• Lost income
• Lost future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma
• Loss of companionship, consortium, services and society
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Other forms of non-financial loss

Discuss Your Case with a Tallahassee Auto Accident Lawyer

If you have been seriously injured in an auto accident in Tallahassee, we encourage you to contact us for a free initial consultation. To speak with one of our experienced auto accident lawyers in confidence, call 800-780-8607 or inquire online today.