Carrollwood Head-On Collision Attorney
Head-on wrecks make up about a third of the fatal vehicle collisions in Florida. These crashes are especially common on the two-lane roads which crisscross much of the Sunshine State. To accommodate today’s faster automobiles, these roads usually have high speed limits. Yet for the most part, they were built in the late twentieth century. So, the site lines and other features on these roads weren’t designed to handle such fast-moving vehicles.
The experienced Carrollwood head-on collision attorneys at Moore Law have not been around as long as these two-lane roads. But during our many years of practice, we have developed proven methods that ensure maximum compensation for your serious injuries. This compensation usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering. Additional punitive damages could be available as well, in some extreme cases.
What Causes Head-On Wrecks?
Some form of driver inattention usually causes head-on wrecks. Frequently, driver impairment causes this inattention. Examples include:
- Alcohol: Impaired judgement is one of alcohol’s most significant effects. This effect might be fun at parties, but it’s very dangerous when people are behind the wheel. This effect, and other impairing effects, usually begins with the first sip of alcohol.
- Drugs: Marijuana, prescription pain pills, and many other powerful drugs are at least semi-legal to ingest. But it’s always illegal, and dangerous, to drive while under the influence of these substances.
- Fatigue: Alcohol and fatigue have roughly the same effect on the brain and body. In fact, driving after eighteen consecutive awake hours is like driving with a .05 BAC level.
- Medical Condition: Various medical conditions, such as diabetes and epilepsy, could cause a sudden loss of consciousness. If that happens, these drivers could lose control of their vehicles and cross the center line.
- Distraction: Cell phones and other devices get most of the attention in this area. But device distraction is just the tip of the iceberg. Distracted driving is an umbrella term for any behavior that causes drivers to take their minds off driving (cognitive distraction), their eyes off the road (visual distraction), or their hands off the wheel (manual distraction).
Occasionally, road design contributes to head-on wrecks, as mentioned above. Engineers, planners, and other professionals sometimes have limited or partial immunity under Florida’s sovereign immunity law. However, a Carrollwood head-on collision lawyer can usually still obtain compensation in these cases.
What’s the Difference Between Fault and Liability in a Head-On Wreck?
Insurance adjusters and emergency responders almost always assign fault to the vehicle that crossed the centerline in these wrecks. But this initial determination is based solely on the facts immediately available at the scene.
Liability for damages, on the other hand, is a final determination based on all facts as well as any applicable legal theories. And, in terms of your claim for damages, liability is the only determination that counts.
Additional facts in a wreck often include electronic evidence, like the information in a vehicle’s Event Data Recorder. Most EDRs measure and record items like vehicle speed, steering angle, and brake application. These bits of evidence shed additional light on the events leading up to a head-on wreck.
Legally, the last clear chance doctrine sometimes applies in these cases. If Bob crossed the centerline and Rick did nothing to avoid the crash, Rick could be liable for damages, even though he did nothing wrong.
Contact a Hard-Hitting Hillsborough County Lawyer
Injury victims are usually entitled to significant compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced head-on collision lawyer in Carrollwood, contact Moore Law by going online or calling 813-510-5400. You have a limited amount of time to act.
