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(561) 295-5825If you were injured in a car accident in Wellington, Florida, the top-rated lawyers at KMW can help!
Wellington, Florida, boasts of having a sparse suburban feel and lots of parks. Moreover, the city has a vibrant equestrian community and hosts lots of equestrian events throughout the year. The most popular event is the Winter Equestrian Festival, the world’s largest and oldest horse show event running from January to April. The city is just 15 miles away from the Atlantic Ocean’s beaches and is a short car ride away from the Palm Beach International Airport. All these factors make Wellington a highly coveted residential location for many people.
Whether you are already a Wellington resident or pondering your move or merely visiting, the question of your safety on the road has likely crossed your mind severally. You should know the city’s roads are pretty safe. Looking at Florida’s auto crash data from 1997 to 2019, it’s pretty clear that its car accident rates have been notably lower than the state’s average. This means you are less likely to be in a car accident driving in Wellington than in most other cities across the states.
If you are ever involved in a vehicle collision in Wellington, contact an experienced and results-driven Wellington car accident lawyer as soon as you can. Our legal firm has top-notch car accident attorneys ready to help you get the quality medical care and legal assistance you need.
Like in most other cities globally, the most frequent causes of car accidents in Wellington fall into either human or natural factors. The top three human factors are:
DISTRACTED DRIVING
There are all types of distractions that result in car accidents when the driver is engaged in other activities while driving. These activities include eating or drinking, texting or talking on the phone, scrolling social media, and changing the music.
When the driver isn’t paying attention on the road, they are more likely to be involved in an accident. Distracted driving not only results in more accidents but results in more severe accidents. Thirteen percent of distracted driving accidents resulted in fatalities.
Florida has recognized the inherent dangers of distracted driving and has made it illegal to text and drive. An experienced attorney car accident lawyer can subpoena phone records from the at-fault party of the accident to determine if the driver was distracted by texting or speaking on the phone. This can be the difference between winning and losing your case when liability for the accident is contested by the insurance company.
DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED
Consuming alcohol and controlled drugs often diminishes their ability to pay attention to the road and monitor their speed. Moreover, it makes the driver unable to react to changing road circumstances as quickly as they should. As a result, they can easily cause a car crash.
In Florida, between 2003 and 2011 there were 8,476 fatalities as a result of Driving Under the Influence accidents. This was third most of all states in the country behind only California and Texas.
Knowing the at-fault party was Driving Under the Influence is easy when the police make an arrest for DUI. It is a bit harder to determine whether the at-fault driver was under the influence when there is no arrest.
A skilled car accident lawyer will know to subpoena medical records from the at-fault party when they are transported to the hospital following an accident. These records may contain a toxicology screening that shows the drugs and alcohol that are present in a person’s system.
FAILURE TO OBEY TRAFFIC CONTROL LIGHTS
Some drivers are notorious for not fully stopping at stop signs and for running red lights that have just turned from yellow. Other motorists traveling the right way may not expect to encounter a car on their way, leading to severe crashes. In these situations, side-impact crashes at high rates of speeds cause significant injuries and even result in fatalities. A local car accident attorney will know where there are surveillance cameras and CCTV cameras that may have captured the accident. In some car accident cases there are no independent witnesses, only the drivers of the two cars involved in the accident. In cases such as this, a video recording can make the difference not only between winning and losing your case but how much recovery is able to be made for you.
Learn more: Car Accident Comparative Negligence in Florida
BAD WEATHER
The top natural factor contributing to car accidents in Wellington, FL, is bad weather. Hurricanes, heavy rains, and high-speed wind gusts are common weather occurrences in Florida. These harsh weather conditions often make it difficult for drivers to safely control their vehicles on the road, leading to accidents.
Most traffic accidents in Wellington are investigated by the District 8 of the Palm Beach County Sherriff’s Office. The District 8 substation is located at 14000 Greenbriar Blvd in Wellington and can be contacted at (561)688-5447. However, there are some accidents that would be investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol. For example, the Florida Highway Patrol will investigate car accidents that occur on the Florida Turnpike that passes through the Village of Wellington.
It is important to remember that after the collision, do not leave the scene – immediately call 911 to report the incident. Florida state law mandates that drivers of vehicles involved in collisions resulting in injury, death, or property damage valued at $500 or more must report the incidents to law enforcement immediately. A local car accident lawyer will know which police department is responsible for investigating the car accident, which will help your case move along faster.
While on the 911 call, request emergency medical services, even if it appears you and the other parties involved don’t have visible injuries. Injuries like whiplash and concussions can be fatal and are often not immediately noticeable. It’s vital that you have a medical professional examine you.
Looking at car collision data in Wellington between 1996 and 2019, some of the roads with the highest accident rates in the city include Wellington Trace Blvd and South Shore Blvd. There is also Forest Hill Blvd also known as SR-882, US-441, and Old Hammock Way also has had a substantial number of traffic crashes.
If you sustain an injury in a car crash in Wellington, the emergency medical technicians (EMTs) will likely take you to one of the following nearby hospitals:
Wellington Regional Medical Center: Roughly 4.8 miles from the city center on 10101 Forest Hill Blvd. The facility is open 24 hours and is drive will take about 10 minutes. Contact +1 561-798-8500.
HCA Florida Palms West Hospital: About 2.5 miles from the city center on 13001 Southern Blvd. It’s open 24 hours, and the drive will take roughly 7 minutes. Contact +1 561-798-3300.
Oftentimes, after a car accident, people initially decline treatment by EMTs and transportation to a local Emergency Room. However, after the adrenaline from being in an accident subsides, accident victims realize they are in pain and want to see a doctor. When it’s not an emergency but a car accident victim needs to see a doctor, visiting an urgent care center is a viable option.
Total M.D: It’s about 10 miles from the city center on 4623 Forest Hill Blvd. Contact (561)967-8888. They are open Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 7:00 pm and on Saturday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. They are closed on Sundays.
MD Now Urgent Care: It’s a couple of miles north of the city center on 11551 Southern Blvd, Ste 4, Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411. Contact (561)798-9411. They are open seven days a week from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Most people realize that they will have medical bills when they are injured in a car accident. Surgeries, procedures, doctor visits, and all kinds of other treatment options add up. But you may also have to consider lost wages, not being able to pay the bills at home, and pain and suffering. These are known as damages and they are an important part of getting compensation in a car accident case.
From 2016 to 2019, there were 16 fatal car accidents in Wellington. In 2016, there were two deadly crashes involving three vehicles, and in 2017, there were six fatal crashes involving ten cars. Three fatal crashes involving three cars occurred in 2018, and fatal crashes involving eight cars happened in 2019. Of all these deadly traffic accidents, only four involved drunk drivers.
Arguably, the deadliest road in Wellington is Forest Hill Blvd, followed closely by South Shore Blvd and US-441. It’s essential that you take caution and drive defensively while on these roads to minimize your chances of being involved in a car accident.
A Wellington car accident lawyer knows the most dangerous roads and intersections in the city. By knowing these roads and areas the attorney will be able to hold the at-fault party responsible. In intersections where there are more fatalities, the city or county may bear responsibility for faulty design and planning of the road.
We are a highly reputable law firm that has been helping victims of car accidents in Wellington and beyond find justice and their rightful compensation. Experienced car accident attorneys will aid you through Florida’s challenging claims process and represent you in your claim case. Contact us today to find out how our legal team can help you.
We are available to discuss your case for free by calling (561) 295-5825.