Did a distracted driver cause a serious accident in Boca Raton that hurt you or a close family member?
If so, attorney Gregg Hollander and the dedicated legal team at Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers can help you.
A Boca Raton distracted driving accident lawyer from our firm can sit with you and discuss your car accident case at no cost to determine if you qualify to pursue compensation.
You can rely on us for personalized attention and aggressive advocacy throughout the entire claims process to help you secure fair compensation for your injuries and losses.
Contact our Boca Raton law firm today for your free consultation on your distracted driving accident case.
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How Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Car Accident in Boca Raton, Florida
Many who suffer serious injuries from car crashes become overwhelmed. The physical and financial setbacks can be hard to overcome. But, it does not have to be that way.
As a Boca Raton car accident lawyer, Gregg Hollander at the Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers has secured millions of dollars in compensation for injury victims since 1996.
Insurance companies can make it hard to get the compensation you deserve to pay for medical bills. This can be true even if a distracted driver used a cell phone, fiddled with their music, or otherwise drove distracted when they caused your accident.
We can help you get the money you need to pay medical expenses, lost wages, and more.
When you choose the esteemed Boca Raton car accident lawyers at the Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers to represent you in your distracted driving accident case, here’s what you can expect:
- Personalized representation. Every case and every client is different. We strive to provide personalized representation to each client and case we handle.
- Full-service management of your case. We will handle all essential parts of your claim, from dealing with insurance companies to scheduling with the court. All you have to do is focus on your recovery and contact us with any questions.
- Thorough investigation. It’s not surprising that distracted drivers may attempt to hide the true facts of the cause of the accident. We interview witnesses, talk to law enforcement, and demand documents needed to determine the cause of your accident.
- Expert support. When needed, we work with South Florida’s leading experts to support our clients’ cases.
Distracted driving is becoming increasingly common. We will help you hold the person who caused your injuries accountable. If you suffered injuries in a distracted driving accident in Boca Raton, FL, contact us today to speak with a Boca Raton auto accident lawyer for a free consultation.
How Common Are Distracted Driving Accidents in Boca Raton, FL?
Crash data from the Florida Traffic Safety Dashboard shows:
- 608 distracted driving accidents occurred in the city in one recent year.
- Of those, 10 resulted in serious injuries, and there was one fatality.
- The Boca Raton area reports around 8% more accidents than other municipalities in Florida, due in part to its large population.
Research from the National Safety Council demonstrates that distracted driving incidents are severely undercounted.
A recent nationwide survey reflected that drivers were willingly engaged in the following distracting behaviors while driving:
- 70% of drivers were willing to make or answer phone calls with handheld devices, hands-free headsets, speaker phones, and in-vehicle systems
- 55% of drivers review or send text messages or emails
- 44% surf the internet and glance at, read, or post on social media
- More alarmingly, 14% of drivers admitted to watching TV or movies or participating in video chats while driving.
In reality, any accident can be the result of distracted driving. While young drivers report the highest level of phone involvement in crashes or near-crash incidents, drivers of all ages can be tempted to pick up the phone while driving.
What Causes Distracted Driving Accidents?
Distracted driving accidents result from various factors diverting a driver’s attention from the road.
Here are some of the main causes:
- Cell phone use: Talking, texting, or using apps while driving is a major cause of distracted driving accidents.
- Eating and drinking: Consuming food or beverages while driving can take a driver’s hands off the wheel and eyes off the road.
- Conversations with passengers: Engaging in intense or emotional conversations with passengers can distract drivers.
- Grooming: Applying makeup, shaving, or styling hair while driving can lead to accidents.
- Adjusting vehicle controls: Adjusting the radio, GPS, or other vehicle controls can cause drivers to lose focus on the road.
- External distractions: Billboards, accidents, or other events outside the vehicle can capture a driver’s attention and lead to accidents.
- Daydreaming or mental distractions: Drivers can become lost in thought, causing their minds to wander away from the task of driving.
- Fatigue: Drowsy driving can impair a driver’s reaction time, decision-making skills, and overall awareness.
- Reaching for objects: Trying to retrieve fallen objects or items within the vehicle can cause drivers to take their eyes off the road.
- Multitasking: Attempting to do multiple tasks while driving, such as reading, writing, or using electronic devices, can significantly increase the risk of accidents.
To prevent distracted driving accidents, drivers must remain focused on the road, avoid engaging in distracting activities, and prioritize safe driving practices.
What Should I Do After a Distracted Driving Accident in Boca Raton?
If someone caused a distracted driving accident in Boca Raton:
- Ensure safety: If possible, move your vehicle to a safe location, such as the shoulder of the road or a nearby parking lot. Turn on your hazard lights and check if anyone is injured.
- Call 911: Contact emergency services, especially if injuries or significant property damage occur. Request medical assistance if needed.
- Document the accident: Take photos of the damage to all vehicles involved, the accident scene, and any visible injuries. Collect contact and insurance information from the other driver(s) and any witnesses.
- Avoid admitting fault: Refrain from apologizing or accepting blame for the accident, as this could be used against you later.
- Notify your insurance company: Contact your insurance provider to report the accident and provide them with the necessary information.
- Seek medical attention: Even if you don’t feel injured, get a medical evaluation. Some injuries may not immediately appear, and a proper diagnosis can protect your health and potential legal claims.
- Contact a distracted driving accident attorney: Consult an experienced distracted driving accident lawyer in Boca Raton. They can help protect your rights, gather evidence, and pursue compensation for your damages.
- Keep a record: Maintain a file with all accident-related documents, including police reports, medical records, insurance correspondence, and repair estimates.
- Avoid discussing the accident: Do not discuss the accident details with anyone other than your attorney, as your statements could undermine your claim.
- Follow your attorney’s advice: Your distracted driving accident attorney will guide you through the legal process and help you make informed decisions about your case.
Taking the right steps can protect your rights and facilitate your recovery after a distracted driving accident.
For specific advice and guidance about your next steps following a distracted driving crash in Boca Raton, contact a personal injury attorney to determine if you have a claim.
How Can I Prove a Distracted Driver Caused My Car Accident Injuries?
To prove that a distracted driver caused your car accident injuries, you’ll need an attorney to gather various types of evidence.
Here are some ways a lawyer can establish the other driver’s negligence:
- Police report: The police report may include the officer’s observations, statements from parties involved, and any citations issued to the distracted driver.
- Witness statements: It’s important to get contact information from witnesses who saw the accident occur. Their testimony can help corroborate your account of events and provide valuable insight into the other driver’s distracted behavior.
- Cell phone records: Have your lawyer subpoena the distracted driver’s cell phone records to determine if they were using their phone at the time of the accident. Records showing phone calls, text messages, or app usage can strongly indicate distraction.
- Traffic camera footage: Video evidence can be compelling in demonstrating the distracted driver’s actions. If any traffic or surveillance cameras in the area may have captured the accident, your attorney can get this footage to support your claim.
- Accident reconstruction: Your lawyer can hire an accident reconstruction expert to analyze the crash scene, vehicle damage, and other evidence to determine the cause of the accident and the role of distraction.
- Admission of fault: If the distracted driver admitted to being distracted at the accident scene or in the presence of witnesses, your lawyer can use this to prove fault against them.
- Social media posts: Your attorney can check the distracted driver’s social media accounts to see if they posted about the accident or their activities leading up to the crash. They could post something that indicates they were distracted while driving.
- Vehicle data: Some newer vehicles have event data recorders (EDRs) that can provide information about the vehicle’s speed, braking, and other factors during the accident. Your lawyer can access this information, which may help prove distraction.
- Medical records: Your attorney can get your medical records to help establish the severity and causation of your injuries.
- Expert testimony: Your lawyer can employ medical experts, accident reconstruction specialists, and other professionals to provide testimony supporting your claim and the role of distracted driving in causing your injuries.
An experienced distracted driving accident attorney can help you gather and present this evidence effectively to build a strong case and prove that the other driver’s distraction caused your injuries.
What is My Distracted Driving Accident Case Worth?
The value of a potential settlement or judgment awarding compensation depends on the facts of the case at hand.
Some important factors include:
- Severity of the injuries you sustained
- Certainty of liability
- Percentage of fault each party bears
Most accident cases will not recover more than the insurance policy limits.
How Does the Severity of Injuries Influence the Value of My Case?
The severity of injuries can influence the value of a case in a couple of ways. The severity of injuries can increase the cost of medical expenses. In addition, more severe injuries may lead to higher values after calculating pain and suffering damages.
How Does Certainty of Liability Impact the Value of My Distracted Driving Case?
Certainty of liability refers to whether responsibility for the accident and injuries is clear-cut or in doubt.
When a driver obviously causes a crash, their insurance company knows that its liability for payment of compensation to injured parties is certain. In these cases, the insurance company may offer settlements for fair value.
On the other hand, when it is unclear whether a driver’s behavior caused the crash, insurance companies are less likely to make attractive settlement offers.
This is why the Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers provides thorough and comprehensive investigations of potential texting and driving accidents.
Can I Recover Compensation if I am Being Blamed for a Distracted Driving Accident in Florida?
Yes. The state of Florida follows the law of modified comparative negligence. Under comparative negligence rules, an injured party can recover compensation if they share some (but not most) fault in the distracted driving accident.
That does not mean you should admit any fault! If you make statements against your own interest, they may be used against you if your case goes to trial. You need a lawyer to determine fault by car damage or the position of the cars after a collision. More importantly, admitting fault can limit your compensation.
The Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers works with our clients to minimize any accusations of blame. Here’s why: if you are partly at fault for an accident, your compensation can be reduced by your share of the blame. To get maximum compensation, we defend our clients against unfair accusations of blame.
How Are Damages Determined After a Distracted Driving Accident?
Legal damages are calculated once an injury victim meets their burden of proof to establish negligence. Usually, economic or non-economic compensatory damages apply.
What Are Economic Damages?
Economic damages make up for the injured party’s financial losses. They can include expenses paid out of pocket or income that you would otherwise have earned.
Some examples of economic damages include:
- Ambulance transportation costs
- Emergency room expenses
- Surgery and rehabilitation bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
Your attorney can determine the amount of compensation you need by reviewing your medical bills, paystubs, and tax returns.
When loss of earning capacity in the future is an issue, the Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers engages financial experts to project the amount of income that a victim would have earned. We have over 26 years of experience maximizing our clients’ compensation for economic losses.
What Are Non-Economic Damages?
Non-economic damages include real losses that lack objective financial amounts. The law tries to remedy these priceless losses by providing financial compensation.
Non-economic damages include:
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Permanent or partial disability
- Scarring or disfigurement
These losses relate to personal anguish, decreased quality of life, and lasting physical effects.
While non-economic damages can be more difficult to value than economic damages, they are no less important. The Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers take these losses seriously, and we work with respected experts to establish an accurate value for our clients’ non-economic losses.
What Are Punitive Damages?
Occasionally, punitive damages can punish the at-fault party for egregious behavior, such as drunk driving.
Some Florida courts have allowed punitive damages in texting and driving cases. A knowledgeable Boca Raton personal injury lawyer at the Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers can let you know whether punitive damages might be available in your case.
We Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Distracted Driving Accident Injuries
The experienced car accident attorneys at the Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers have seen many injuries and all types of car crashes, including:
- Wrongful deaths
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Whiplash
- Herniated discs
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries
No matter what car accident injuries you suffer, we can help you get the compensation you need to cover your initial medical expenses, ongoing treatment costs, and rehabilitation bills.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Distracted Driving Accident in Florida?
Under Florida’s statute of limitations, you have up to two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit after your distracted driving accident. The same deadline applies to wrongful death lawsuits.
It may seem like two years is a long time. However, before your attorney files a lawsuit, they must thoroughly investigate your case. Additionally, they will likely pursue compensation first through an insurance claim and negotiations to reach a fair settlement.
The competent and professional Boca Raton car accident attorneys at the Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers will handle your case promptly.
Contact Our Boca Raton Auto Accident Lawyers Now
Following a motor vehicle collision someone else caused in Boca Raton due to their negligence, we recommend establishing an attorney-client relationship quickly. This way, your attorney will have the time needed to investigate and prepare your case to maximize your compensation.
Reach out to our Boca Raton distracted driving accident lawyers at the Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers today at (561) 677-2795 for your free consultation.
Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office In Boca Raton, FL
Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers
7000 W Palmetto Park Rd # 500
Boca Raton, FL 33433
Phone: (561) 347-7770
Hours: Open 24 hours daily
