West Palm Beach Highway Accidents
Interstate 95 and the Florida Turnpike are common routes used by West Palm Beach residents in their daily travels. Unfortunately, these highways are also the scenes of many serious collisions, especially during peak hours, when drivers are in a hurry to get to work or other destinations. Because of the increased speed limit, the lack of traffic signals, and the number of vehicles occupying the road, highway accidents are more likely to result in permanent or serious injuries, as opposed to collisions on less busy roads. The West Palm Beach highway accident lawyers at Donaldson & Weston help victims of these accidents receive the compensation that they are entitled to obtain from liable parties. If you have suffered an injury or lost a loved one as a result of a devastating crash, our attorneys are available to discuss your legal options and assist you with your next steps.
Highway Accidents at High Speeds Cause Serious Harm
Aside from cars, trucks and other large vehicles share the highways, which causes elevated risks. I-95 is one of the most dangerous highways in the country. In 2014, seven fatalities occurred as a result of motor vehicle accidents on I-95 in West Palm Beach alone. A variety of factors can contribute to causing a highway accident, including road construction, excessive speeding, fatigued drivers, and distractions like cell phone use. These accidents can also lead to injuries ranging from life-altering impairments, such as paralysis and brain trauma, to less permanent but temporarily debilitating injuries like broken bones, whiplash, and damage to soft tissue. When another driver’s negligence causes an injury, they should be held legally accountable. A highway accident attorney in the West Palm Beach area can assist you with this process.
To receive the financial assistance necessary to treat a serious injury arising from a car accident, victims may need to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible driver. These claims are mostly based on negligence. Drivers owe other motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists a duty to act as a reasonable and prudent person would act under similar circumstances. When a driver breaches that duty, they can be held responsible for the harm that they cause. Other parties may also be held responsible for a driver’s negligence. A driver’s employer can be held vicariously liable for an employee’s negligent act if the accident took place within the scope and course of employment, such as a driver rushing to make a delivery on time for an employer.
Even if victims are partially responsible for causing their own injuries, compensation may still be available. Florida follows a pure comparative fault theory of liability, awarding damages in proportion to each party’s percentage of fault. This means that even if a victim is found 40 percent responsible, they can still receive 60 percent of their damages from another liable party.
If negligence is shown, a victim may be compensated for past and future medical expenses, property loss, lost income, diminished earning capacity, and in some instances, pain and suffering. Timing is often vital in ensuring that a victim’s legal rights are preserved. Under Florida’s statute of limitations, personal injury cases must be filed within four years from the date of the injury.
To receive the financial assistance necessary to treat a serious injury arising from a car accident, victims may need to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible driver. These claims are mostly based on negligence. Drivers owe other motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists a duty to act as a reasonable and prudent person would act under similar circumstances. When a driver breaches that duty, they can be held responsible for the harm that they cause. Other parties may also be held responsible for a driver’s negligence. A driver’s employer can be held vicariously liable for an employee’s negligent act if the accident took place within the scope and course of employment, such as a driver rushing to make a delivery on time for an employer.
Even if victims are partially responsible for causing their own injuries, compensation may still be available. Florida follows a pure comparative fault theory of liability, awarding damages in proportion to each party’s percentage of fault. This means that even if a victim is found 40 percent responsible, they can still receive 60 percent of their damages from another liable party.
If negligence is shown, a victim may be compensated for past and future medical expenses, property loss, lost income, diminished earning capacity, and in some instances, pain and suffering. Timing is often vital in ensuring that a victim’s legal rights are preserved. Under Florida’s statute of limitations, personal injury cases must be filed within four years from the date of the injury.
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