Any kind of vehicle accident can result in terrible injuries. But some kinds of car wrecks tend to be worse than others. The following is a look at a few of the more common car accidents in Florida and why they occur.
Please contact Keller, Melchiorre & Walsh as soon as possible if you’ve suffered a severe injury in a car accident caused by a negligent driver. We’ll investigate to determine what happened and who was to blame. Once we do that, we’ll work to help you obtain the compensation you deserve, keeping you fully informed through every step of your case.
You can give us a call at (561) 295-5825 or use our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.
Rear-End Collisions
We have a lot of people in Florida – a whole lot of people. With a population of more than 22 million, our state ranks third in the U.S. With so many motorists crowding roads throughout Florida, rear-end collisions are bound to happen. In many instances, three, four, or more vehicles can be involved.
The typical scenario for a rear-end collision involves someone stopping at a red light or a stop sign. They could be stuck in a traffic jam. The at-fault driver isn’t paying attention and slams into the back of the stopped vehicle. This often results in a chain reaction, as other vehicles hit the cars in front of them.
Injuries resulting from rear-end crashes can be severe. The people in the car being struck will usually suffer severe whiplash. This injury occurs when the victim’s neck suddenly moves back and forth like a whip. But rear-end crashes can also lead to horrible back injuries.
T-Bone Collisions
As the name implies, the two vehicles involved in this kind of collision form the shape of a “T.” Most of the time, T-bone accidents occur in an intersection. One vehicle moves through that intersection when another car slams into its side. The at-fault driver either runs a red light or a stop sign.
How can this happen? There are a lot of reasons T-bone accidents occur. At-fault motorists may be distracted by using their phones or trying to change a radio station. They don’t realize they’re approaching an intersection until it’s too late. Or, someone could be in such a hurry that they choose to ignore the fact that they must stop.
Anyone involved in this kind of wreck can suffer debilitating injuries. A side impact could easily result in broken ribs that can puncture internal organs. When this happens, there’s a risk of potentially life-threatening internal bleeding.
Head-On Collisions
Car accidents in Florida can be terrifying. With multi-lane highways and roads everywhere you look, the idea of an accident is a lot to handle. Head-on collisions are one of the worst. When two vehicles running at high speeds slam into each other from the front, the injuries are usually devastating. Tragically, deaths are common. According to the Federal Highway Administration, head-on collisions are responsible for nearly 15% of all traffic deaths in the U.S. every year.
There are a lot of ways a head-on wreck can happen. A drowsy truck driver can lose control and drift into oncoming traffic. Someone who chooses to get behind the wheel when impaired can do the same thing. There are also instances where both drivers could share the blame.
For example, one driver might be tired or impaired, but the other is distracted by sending a text. They don’t realize the other driver is headed straight for them, and they don’t have the time to avoid a wreck.
Sideswipe Accidents
Sideswipe collisions occur when two vehicles moving in the same direction hit each other. This kind of wreck usually happens because drivers are distracted, fatigued, or driving too close to the other vehicle. Sideswipes can result in cuts, bruises, whiplash, and other injuries. If the force of impact forces one or both vehicles off the road, the results can be fatal.
Drunk Driving Crashes
This is one of the most tragic accident types because it’s preventable. No one goes out drinking with the intention of getting so inebriated they turn their car into a potentially deadly weapon. Unfortunately, that’s what happens far too often. More than 7,500 people died because of car accidents in Florida caused by impaired driving accidents between 2009-2018, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
When someone tries to operate a motor vehicle while drunk or high, there are several reasons why they’re dangerous. These reasons include the following:
- Impaired drivers have slower reaction times.
- They tend to lose their inhibitions, so they’ll speed and take other chances they normally wouldn’t.
- They can’t focus on the road as clearly as when they’re sober.
Not only can the fallout from a drunk driving accident be tragic, but survivors can also suffer terribly. They’ll often have severe injuries that debilitate them for the rest of their lives. Medical bills can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not more.
Distracted Driving Crashes
More than 500 Floridians lost their lives in distracted driving accidents between 2020 and 2021. Our distracted driving fatality rate of 1.3 per one billion miles driven ranks No. 10 in the United States.
You can easily argue that driving while distracted is just as dangerous as driving while impaired. When someone takes their eyes off the road to text or make a phone call, they can easily drift into oncoming traffic or slam into the back of another vehicle.
Contact Keller, Melchiorre & Walsh to Speak with an Attorney About Your Florida Car Accident Case
The above accidents can lead to death, destruction, and severe injuries. Victims and their families deserve justice. The best way to get it is to hire an attorney as quickly as possible.
At Keller, Melchiorre & Walsh, we have years of experience helping car accident injury victims and the families of those who were tragically lost. Our attorneys know how to obtain police reports, surveillance camera footage, phone records, and other critical evidence. If you choose our firm, we’ll provide the aggressive representation needed to help you obtain maximum compensation.
Schedule a free case review by contacting us online or calling (561) 295-5825. We’ll be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.