Florida has an extensive state highway system that consists of several interstates, U.S. highways, and routes designated as state roads. These roads each share a few functional characteristics, such as having multiple or single lanes running in any direction.
Highways, however, stand out from the others, as they may or may not feature intersections or traffic signals. Unfortunately, the main characteristic that is shared among highways is the high number of car crashes that occur on them.
Highway collisions across the state, including those that occur in Stuart, injure or kill tens of thousands of motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists each year. Thankfully, after such a crash, a Stuart highway crash lawyer from Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers can help you understand your legal options.
Contact us today in Stuart, FL at (772) 444 7000 for a free consultation.
How Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Can Help After a Highway Crash in Stuart, FL
Kibbey Wagner has represented people injured in Stuart, Florida, for over ten years. In that time, our team of attorneys, with over 80 years of combined experience and including a board-certified civil trial lawyer, has recovered over $200 million for our clients.
Our firm provides the following services to people who have suffered injuries due to someone else’s negligent or wrongful conduct:
- Analysis of the situation and a discussion of the legal options for injury compensation
- Evidence collection to prove who caused the accident and what injuries were sustained
- Preparation of an insurance claim and negotiations with adjusters to resolve it
- Filing a lawsuit against the at-fault party if insurers refuse a fair settlement
A high-speed highway collision in Stuart can cause serious orthopedic and neurological injuries. Contact our experienced Stuart car accident lawyers for a free consultation to learn what we can do to help you recover compensation for your injury-related losses.
How Many People Are Injured or Killed on Florida Highways?
Florida provides detailed car accident statistics in its annual Crash Facts report. The report includes a breakdown of accident victims according to the road type at the crash location.
With that, as well as the state’s definitions of the parts of its highway system in mind, you can add up the numbers for interstates, U.S. highways, turnpikes and toll roads, and state roads to estimate the human toll of Florida’s highway crashes in 2022.
These numbers include:
- 1,955 highway deaths
- 8,010 serious injuries in highway collisions
- 33,623 minor injuries from highway crashes
- 72,848 possible injuries after a highway accident
In total, Florida highway crashes injured 116,436 people in 2022.
The Role of a Stuart Highway Crash Lawyer
Florida’s no-fault insurance system limits when you can sue after a traffic crash. If you suffered a significant permanent injury, incurred losses greater than your no-fault policy limits, or if another exception applies, you can pursue a personal injury case.
You can handle your case without legal representation. However, you should consider hiring a lawyer to assist you in the following ways:
Proving Liability
To prove liability, your lawyer must show the other driver acted negligently or wrongfully when causing your accident. Negligence means they failed to exercise reasonable care while driving. Examples of negligence in highway crashes include the following driving actions:
- Tailgating
- Speeding
- Running stop signs or red lights
- Changing lanes unsafely
- Turning unsafely, such as making a left turn in front of an oncoming vehicle
Highway crashes often involve a rear-end collision. The rear driver is often at fault for these crashes, as it is their duty to follow other cars on the road at a safe distance.
Negotiating With Insurers
After filing an insurance claim, the insurer will investigate it by talking to its policyholder, reviewing accident reports, and reading your medical records. If the insurer accepts liability, it will offer a settlement. However, initial offers are often insultingly low.
Your car crash attorney will negotiate for a better offer by thoroughly documenting your losses and presenting legal arguments for why they should be covered. Your lawyer will also hold leverage over the insurer because you could easily authorize a lawsuit that results in a substantial damage award.
Suing a Driver
When insurers refuse to settle, your highway crash lawyer can pursue a lawsuit for financial compensation. The compensation you pursue can include your economic and non-economic losses.
Recoverable economic losses include medical expenses and missed wages, while non-economic losses generally cover pain, suffering, and the impact of disabilities.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Stuart Highway Crash Lawyers
A highway accident can leave you facing massive medical bills and unable to work to pay them. Contact Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your crash and the compensation we can recover from those responsible for causing it.
