Orlando Auto Accident Attorney
Human error causes over 90 percent of the car crashes in Florida. While a few of these incidents are just a matter of the wrong place at the wrong time, nearly all of them involve some form of negligence. Additionally, third party liability often applies. Sometimes, an employer or retail entity sets the stage for the car crash, and that party is responsible for its misconduct.
Orlando car crash cases are obviously very complex. At HD Law Partners, our experienced Orlando auto accident attorneys fully understand all the nuances of these cases. They know how to uncover facts which support the victim/plaintiff’s position, and they know how to use these facts to craft a compelling narrative. In so doing, we obtain maximum compensation for our clients, so they may get on with their lives.
Types of Car Crashes in Orlando
Intersection collisions are very common in busy urban areas like Orlando. One driver may anticipate a signal change, or ignore the signal altogether. Many intersection collisions are chain-reaction collisions. For example, one vehicle stops short, another one rear-ends the first vehicle, and a third one rear-ends the second vehicle. Liability is sometimes difficult to establish in all these cases.
Left-turn crashes frequently happen as well. These collisions often cause the most serious injuries. Usually, the tortfeasor (negligent driver) suddenly accelerates to shoot through a gap in traffic. If the tortfeasor does not see an oncoming car, the tortfeasor often T-bones it. Most cars have less protection along the sides, where there is no hood or trunk to absorb some of the impact.
Driver inattention also causes many crashes. Device distraction is a major problem, as outlined below. Simple daydreaming or failure to focus on driving are issues as well.
What Causes Orlando Car Crashes?
Recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration identified four main types of driving impairment. These conditions are responsible for most of the car crashes in Orlando.
- Alcohol: This substance impairs motor skills and affects judgement. So, most drivers are dangerously impaired after just one drink. Furthermore, victim/plaintiffs need only establish impairment by a preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not). These medical and legal standards are both much lower in civil court than they are in criminal court.
- Drugs: Some prescription painkillers, like OxyContin, are more powerful than morphine or even heroin. It is legal to take these pills if the person has a valid prescription. However, it is never legal to drive under the influence of these substances.
- Fatigue: Lack of sleep and alcohol affect the human mind in roughly the same way. Driving after eighteen hours without sleep is like driving with a .08 BAC. Also, just like there is no quick cure for intoxication, there is no quick fix for fatigue. Actions like drinking coffee may make people feel more alert for a time, but they do not reverse fatigue’s effects on the brain.
- Distraction: Hand-held devices, like cell phones, involve visual, manual, and cognitive distraction. Drivers take a hand off the wheel, take their eyes off the road, and take their minds off driving. Hands-free cell phones are not much better, as they are still visually and cognitively distracting.
If the victim sustained a serious injury, damages in a car crash case include compensation for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering. Additional punitive damages may be available as well, in some cases.
Contact Tenacious Orlando Auto Accident Attorneys Today
People are responsible for the car crashes they negligently cause. For a free consultation with an experienced auto accident attorney in Orlando, contact HD Law Partners. Attorneys can connect victims with doctors, even if they have no money or insurance.
