If you have recently been involved in a car accident you may be entitled to compensation. Contact a Miami car accident lawyer at Lavent Law, P.A. at (305) 257-9464 to learn about how we can help you maximize the settlement or award you receive. We offer a free consultation.
Car accidents are a leading cause of injury and death in the United States. In Miami, there are an average of 60,000 car accidents each year. No matter how careful you are behind the wheel, chances are high that you’ll be involved in a car accident at some point in your life.
Car Accidents in Miami, FL
Miami is one of the busiest places in the country. Approximately 5.5 million people live in the greater Miami metropolitan area – with more than 470,000 living inside the city limits. Another 16 million visit every year. While this is great for Miami’s economy, it is not particularly great for the safety of its roads.
Over the past few years, the number of motor vehicle accidents on Miami roads has been on the rise. In 2014, there were a total of 60,165 car accidents in Miami-Dade County – or roughly 164 collisions a day.
By 2019, the number of accidents totaled 64,735 – an increase of more than 7.5 percent in just a few short years. That’s about 177 car accidents that take place somewhere in Miami-Dade County every single day.
About half of these collisions result in injury or death.
Car Accidents in Miami-Dade County for 2021 (January 2022 Update)
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, these are Miami’s car accident stats for 2021:
- All Crashes: 61,549
- Fatal Car Crashes: 357
- Injuries from Crashes: 28,278
Not even the Covid-19 pandemic seems to be slowing down the rate of car accidents in the area.
Fatal Car Accidents
Car accidents are not only happening more frequently on Miami roads, but are also becoming more deadly. The number of car accident fatalities in Miami has spiked in recent years:
- 2014: 280
- 2015: 339
- 2016: 294
- 2017: 285
- 2018: 293
- 2019: 333
- 2020: 316
- 2021: 357
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As you can see, since 2014, car accident deaths have increased by 27.5% percent in 2021 (through 12/2/21).
And, despite the fact that the country and state of Florida have largely been shut down due to the Coronavirus pandemic, car accidents have still been a huge problem.
According to preliminary data for January 2022, there have been 16,373 car accidents in Miami-Dade County so far – 4 of which were fatal (as of 1/18/22).
Should I Hire an Attorney After a Car Accident?
You should strongly consider hiring an attorney after an auto accident. Here are a few reasons why. If you have been injured in a car crash you need to focus all of your time and energy on getting better. Serious injuries require extensive medical care and proper rehabilitation.
The last thing you should be doing is trying to fight an insurance company to recover the compensation you deserve. Stress from these negotiations can make your recovery much more difficult.
At the same time, you are less likely to recover the money you need if you try to handle the case on your own. The chances of maximizing your compensation increase significantly when you hire a lawyer to handle your case.
How Our Law Firm Can Help You
Hiring an attorney is the best thing you can do if you have been injured in a car accident. Here’s how our attorney will help you get the money you deserve.
1. Level the Playing Field
When you are injured in a car accident you’ll probably be dealing with the at-fault party’s insurance company. Your health and well-being are not an insurance company’s first priority. These companies just want to limit the amount of money you can get. In fact, they will do anything they can to protect their profits.
Hiring an attorney to represent you will level the playing field and protect you from unfair tactics. Insurers want you to accept a lowball offer. Our attorneys will make sure that any offer you accept is sufficient to cover all of your accident-related costs. We’ll hold insurance companies accountable for the damage caused by their insured drivers.
2. Ensure Your Case is Valued Properly
Who gets to decide what your injury case is worth? How do you value something like reduced earning capacity or emotional distress? If you try to handle the case yourself an insurance company will probably assess the value of your case. Since they want to minimize their payout, you can be sure that they will undervalue your injuries.
At Lavent Law, P.A., we work with experts to make sure that all of your damages are identified and valued properly. We don’t just look at what your costs are today, but also determine how your injury may affect you financially in the future. We support our valuation with hard evidence and reliable testimony. This makes it tough for insurance companies to offer anything less than you deserve.
3. Identify Responsible Parties
It’s important to determine the precise cause(s) of your car accident. Why? More than one person may be to blame. In Florida, you have the right to demand compensation from anyone who caused you harm. Identifying all parties who played a role in your accident will help to maximize your financial recovery.
4. Limit Liability If You Share Fault
Just because you share fault for your accident doesn’t mean you can’t recover compensation. However, the amount of money you can recover will be limited. The more fault you share for an accident, the less money you are entitled to receive. Insurance companies and others at fault will try to shift as much of the blame to you as possible.
At Lavent Law, P.A., attorney Boris Lavent will thoroughly investigate your accident and help to limit your own liability. We will find evidence that proves others are mostly to blame.
Where Do Most Auto Accidents Happen in Miami?
Statistics show that while car accidents can happen anywhere in Miami, certain locations tend to see more crashes than others. The most dangerous roads in Miami, touting the highest fatality rate per mile, include:
- I-95 Express Toll from Little River to the Golden Glades Interchange
- I-95 (North Miami)
- NW 54th Street
- NW 7th Street
- NW 17th Ave, and
- E West Expressway (Flagami).
Common Car Accident Injuries
Approximately half of all car accidents in Miami result in an injury. At Lavent Law, P.A., our experienced attorneys understand that any unexpected injury can make life difficult.
For years, we have been dedicated to helping car accident victims recover compensation for a variety of injuries, including:
- Broken bones
- Lacerations
- Bruising
- Whiplash
- Concussion
- Eye injury
- Chest injury
- Degloving injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Traumatic brain injury
- Amputation
- Catastrophic injury, including paralysis, and
- Wrongful death.
Have you been injured in an accident? Call us to schedule a free consultation with an experienced attorney. We are available to assist you throughout South Florida.
Common Causes of Car Crashes
Why are Miami roads so dangerous? Statistics show that the leading causes of car accidents include:
Speeding: Studies show that nearly two-thirds of all drivers feel comfortable speeding. Unfortunately, 31 percent of all fatal car accidents are caused by speeding. Local and state governments set speed limits for a reason. Exceeding posted limits prevents drivers from operating vehicles with due care, often resulting in serious and fatal accidents.
Distracted Driving: According to the CDC, 10 percent of all accidents in 2015 were caused by distracted driving practices. Texting, using an onboard navigation system, conversing with passengers, and fiddling with the radio are all forms of distraction that can lead to serious accidents. In recent years, distracted pedestrians and distracted bicyclists have become more prevalent, contributing to the increase in traffic accidents in Miami.
Driving Under the Influence: Drinking and driving is a leading cause of fatal car accidents in Miami. Over the past few years, an average of 410 Miami crashes were caused by drivers who were under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Driving at Night: Drivers who get behind the wheel after dark are more likely to be fatigued and/or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Visibility is limited at night, making the chances of an accident more likely.
Hazardous Road Conditions: Miami has an obligation to make sure that all roads are free from dangerous conditions and safe to travel. Unfortunately, hazards on the road that are not immediately fixed often result in serious auto accidents.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
At Lavent Law, P.A., we understand that the time following an accident can be incredibly stressful. You’re likely struggling with a painful injury and trying to figure out how to move forward with your life.
While filing an injury lawsuit may not be your first thought after an accident, it is important to understand that the steps you take in the aftermath of your crash will affect any legal claims you decide to file.
- See a Doctor: Your health and wellbeing should be your first priority after an accident. Make sure that you go see a doctor yourself if you are not transported to a hospital from the scene of the crash. The doctor will be able to ensure that all of your injuries are identified, diagnosed, and treated. This will reduce the likelihood of suffering from complications in the future. Your medical evaluation will be a crucial piece of evidence if you decide to file a personal injury claim for damages.
- Report the Crash: The best way to make sure that you get the money you deserve is by immediately reporting your car accident. An officer will arrive on the scene and document the incident. The officer’s report will contain important details relevant to your crash that may be lost or forgotten over time (e.g., weather conditions, traffic conditions, witness information).
- Gather Evidence: It is never too early to begin gathering evidence to support your future personal injury case. Start by taking photographs of the scene of the crash, damage to vehicles involved, and your injuries. We highly recommend that you write down your recollection of the event – it will be helpful to refresh your memory down the line.
- Refuse Early Settlement Offers: Recovering compensation after a car accident in Miami can be tricky, thanks to the state’s insurance laws. Insurance companies want to limit the amount of money you recover after an accident and will do everything in their power to make that happen. You can make sure that you are properly compensated for your injuries by refusing to speak with insurance companies until you’ve consulted with an attorney.
- Contact an Attorney: Hiring an attorney is the best thing you can do if you want to maximize the amount of money you receive for your injuries. Call Lavent Law, P.A. today to schedule a free consultation with our dedicated legal team.
Damages Available to Car Crash Victims
What kind of compensation can you recover if you’ve suffered an injury in a car accident? In most cases, injury victims will be entitled to an award of economic and non-economic damages. The specific damages that will be available to you will depend on the seriousness of your accident and the specific injuries you sustain.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are paid to compensate you for the financial costs of an accident. These can include your present out-of-pocket expenses as well as any reasonably projected costs. Examples of economic damages include medical expenses, nursing care, property damage, and lost wages during recovery.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are paid to compensate you for injuries and harms that do not have a direct financial cost. These injuries tend to be difficult to value, which is why an award of damages can range significantly from case to case. Examples of non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Call Miami Car Accident Lawyer Boris Lavent Today
Have you recently been involved in a car accident? Contact a Miami car accident lawyer at Lavent Law, P.A. to find out if you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. We know that the time after an accident can be overwhelming and will fight to make sure that you receive the money you deserve. You have a limited amount of time to take legal action after your accident, so call us today to schedule your free consultation and learn more.
Blogs For Car Accidents
- Victims of Miami Crash Consider Claims Against Drunk Driver
- What Not to Say When Talking to an Insurance Company About a Car Crash
Car Accident Resources
- Florida Laws Pertaining to Car Accidents
- Miami, FL Daily Car Accident Info
- Florida Integrated Report Exchange System