In a blink of an eye, you could have devastating damage to yourself and your vehicle. If a head-on collision injured you in West Palm Beach, you could be struggling financially, physically, mentally, and emotionally in dealing with the aftermath of the accident.
If another driver was responsible for your accident, it may be worth exploring your options. A West Palm Beach car accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can walk you through your options and help determine whether you are eligible to file your case.
How We Can Help After a West Palm Beach Head-On Car Accident
Attempting to handle your own case can be stressful and complicated. Hiring our West Palm Beach personal injury lawyer can give you comfort in taking care of your legal needs while you worry about getting better.
We Go the Extra Mile
Supporting you goes further than filing a claim; we support you throughout the process. During your initial meeting, we will explain the options available and discuss a timeline of important events. This includes investigating your case, utilizing our resources to strengthen your case, and proving the at-fault party is liable for your injuries so that you receive the compensation you deserve.
Communication with you is the most important. When you hire a lawyer from our firm’s West Palm Beach office, you get your attorney’s phone number. We want to answer all your questions and respond to your calls and emails. Keeping you updated about your case is important to us.
While we help our clients during some of their toughest moments, we also show commitment and care to our community. We give back to organizations with our time, talent, and dollars to help those around us.
We Fight for the Compensation You Deserve
Some insurance companies may send you a lower offer because they assume you won’t know how much you could recover. Our West Palm Beach head-on collision car accident lawyer will help to provide evidence proving the compensation you need for covered losses.
Your accident can result in significant life changes. We will fight for the damages you’re eligible to collect to help you move forward from your accident, such as:
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Income loss or future income loss
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
Knowing the details of your case will help a personal injury lawyer calculate the compensation you deserve.
Determining Liability for a Head-On Collision in West Palm Beach, FL
A single negligent driver can sometimes be the cause of a head-on car accident. Any of the following situations can cause a head-on collision:
- Driving on the wrong side of the road
- Driving the wrong way on a one-way street
- Distracted driving, such as calling or texting while driving
- Fatigue or falling asleep at the wheel
- Impaired driving, whether from alcohol or other drugs
- Bad weather conditions
- Collateral accidents when a driver swerves out of their lane to avoid something in front of their vehicle
A driver who crosses a double-yellow lane and collides with another car will often be at fault for the accident. They (or their insurance company) could be responsible for paying the costs of any medical bills, lost wages, or other damages caused by the accident.
It is not always easy to determine who was at fault for a head-on collision. Evidence such as witness statements and photographs of the crash scene may be needed to figure out how the accident really occurred. Our attorneys can help you identify the evidence you will need to seek compensation for your injuries.
Factors That Affect a Settlement or Jury Award for a Front-End Accident in West Palm Beach
You are probably wondering how much compensation you could receive in a settlement or jury award. That depends on many factors. Some factors can be calculated fairly easily, while others are hard to predict.
First, you could receive reimbursement for the following out-of-pocket expenses:
- Costs of a hospital stay
- Emergency transportation
- Doctor visits
- Medical testing
- Physical therapy
- Medical equipment
- Property damage
You could also receive compensation to make up for lost wages or earning capacity. You may not know if or when you will be able to return to work, but we can estimate these amounts based on a doctor’s opinion.
Be sure to keep all of your receipts or invoices for medical expenses or any other costs that are connected to your accident in any way. Our attorneys can help you identify potential damages that you may have missed.
Your Personal Losses Are Compensable, Too
Other amounts are more variable. You could receive compensation for non-economic damages, such as the following:
- Emotional pain and suffering
- Loss of convenience
- Loss of enjoyment
- Loss of consortium if a loved one passed away
What Happens if You Contributed to the Accident?
Your claim could also be reduced if you were partially at fault for the accident. Florida follows a pure comparative fault rule. This means that you could receive compensation even if you were more than 50 percent responsible for the accident, as long as the other party was partially at fault as well. However, the other party will only have to pay based on their percentage of fault.
Finally, negotiations can affect how much you receive. If the insurance company offers a good settlement, you may decide to accept it rather than risk taking the case to trial.
Time Limits for Car Crash Lawsuits in Florida
Like other negligence claims, a head-on collision lawsuit must be filed within four years of the date of the accident under Florida law. The statute of limitations is shortened to two years for a wrongful death claim.
Other factors also make it a good idea to talk to an attorney shortly after your accident. We can find witnesses and gather evidence more easily if we learn about your case soon after it happens.
Why Are Head-On Collisions So Dangerous?
Auto collisions of any type can be dangerous, but head-on collisions can be life-changing, sometimes even life-threatening. Head-on collisions typically happen at high speed, which can be the leading cause of significant injuries.
Causes of Head-On Collisions
There can be many causes of car accidents, but the cause of head-on collisions is typically driver error, such as:
- Driving while distracted. Simple movements or choices such as turning to talk to passengers, changing the music, looking at road signs and billboards, or looking at the scenery while driving can lead to catastrophic consequences.
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Consuming substances can change the way a person functions resulting in decreased reaction time, vision change, and poor decision-making causing drivers to veer into the wrong lane.
- Driving drowsy. Being tired at the wheel can result in slower reaction times when needing to make a calculated response to road changes or hazards or even falling asleep at the wheel leading the car into oncoming traffic.
An attorney from our team will review the evidence and information from the investigation to help prove the responsible party is liable for your accident and injuries.
How a Head-On Collision Affects Your Body
With a head-on collision, you can experience severe injuries from the force and trauma of the accident. Dangerous collisions make your body move in unnatural ways, causing your body to jolt and hit objects in the car. Some common injuries include:
- Neck injuries cause damage to your spine which can have severe and lasting impacts.
- Whiplash-related injuries create soft tissue damage in your neck and upper back.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can range in severity, resulting in altering moods and emotions or permanently changing your abilities to think and move.
- Concussions cause memory loss, confusion or mood swings, and headaches.
- Psychological trauma is a result of the intensity of what happened during or directly following the accident.
- Soft tissue injuries (muscles, tendons, or ligaments) can range from minor discomfort to chronic pain that requires surgeries to correct the damage.
- Loss of limbs could result from the severity of your accident and the trauma inflicted on your body.
- Broken bones can require a range of medical treatments or even permanent disfigurement.
- Cuts and scrapes can be minor in comparison to other injuries. Some can be treated easily, while some may require stitches if it’s a deeper cut.
- Bruising is most likely to happen because of the accident on some part of your body, whether it’s from a knee slamming the dash or your seat belt pressing against your body during a jolt.
These injuries can significantly change how you live your life after the accident. You may need compensation to make changes to your home or if you need in-home care. Our head-on collision car accident lawyer will fight for you to recover compensation so that you can focus on the road to recovery.
Seeking Compensation for Head-On Collision Injuries in West Palm Beach
We offer a free initial consultation to discuss your legal options after a head-on collision. If you have serious injuries and significant damages, you should know what your legal rights are. Call now to schedule your consultation.
The car accident lawyer in West Palm Beach at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine represents victims of serious injuries throughout Florida. We provide legal services on a contingency-fee basis. If you do not receive just compensation for your injuries, you will not have to pay us any legal fees.