Automobile Accidents

Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorneys

The personal injury attorneys at Levine & Glassman, P.A., are experienced in representing individuals who are seriously injured in automobile or car accidents in South Florida, including Weston and Ft. Lauderdale in Broward County, and the surrouding areas of Miami-Dade County, and Palm Beach County, Florida.

If you've been injured in a car accident, contact an experienced personal injury attorney today to take a pro-active approach to obtaining fair compensation for your insurance claim and personal injury lawsuit. The attorneys at Levine & Glassman, P.A. provide the competent and compassionate legal representation you need after a serious car crash. Call us at (954) 332-6100 today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your personal injury case in Southeast Florida.

How does a car accident happen?

There are a number of factors that can contribute to a major car wreck. In any situation that prevents or inhibits the driver's ability to be aware of their surroundings and react quickly to an event, the risk of an automobile accident is increased significantly. Some such factors are:

• Failure to Control Speed
• Distracted Driver
• Vehicular Defects / Improper Vehicle Maintenance
• Fatigued / Exhausted / Sleep Deprived Driver
• Negligent Driver
• Risk compensation / Over-Confident Driver
• Angry or Emotional Driver
• Impaired Driver
• Influence of alcohol or drugs
• Road Rage
• Reckless Driving
• Failure to Obey Traffic Signals / Running Red Lights and Stop Signs
• Poor Road Conditions
• Driving and Texting
• Inclement Weather

If a driver is distracted or has impaired cognitive ability in some way, there is a major increase in the risk of an auto accident. One particular culprit that causes a lot of crashes is the use of cell phones on the road. Specifically, texting while driving is a topic that's getting a lot of attention from legislators lately.

Texting While Driving

As cell phone use has reached critical mass and our world becomes even more connected and fast-paced, many drivers are tempted to try and multitask during their commute. Talking or texting on a cell phone while driving has become increasingly prevalent; a AAA survey reported that half of all drivers admitted to using a cell phone while driving, and 7 out of 10 of those drivers admitted to texting.

Attempting to multitask in this way is a serious cause of distraction for many drivers, and legislators are beginning to realize it. 30 states have banned text messaging for all drivers, and an additional 8 of them restrict novice drivers from sending or receiving text messages in the car. Florida is also considering legislation regarding the use of cell phones in vehicles.

Various studies have been performed regarding the dangers of texting while driving. A 2009 University of Utah study revealed that a driver's cognitive function and reaction times while texting are similar to those of an individual with a blood alcohol level at the legal limit of .08 percent. Different studies performed by a number of organizations have reported that a driver using a cell phone is anywhere from 3 to 6 times more likely to be involved in an auto accident than a driver who isn't.

These are eye-opening statistics for Floridians. If you've been involved in a car crash stemming from another driver's use of their cell phone on the road, contact the attorneys at Levine & Glassman to discuss your case.

Where do auto accidents happen?

A considerable majority of auto accidents happen on either highways or intersections. The high speeds of freeways and highways don't mesh well with human reaction times, and intersections lend themselves to incidents almost by design.

In Southeast Florida, there are a number of crowded highways and roadways, and this traffic congestion makes for a lot of traffic incidents. Some of the major locations for accidents in Southeast Florida are:

• I-95
• Alligator Alley / I-75 / State Road 93
• Florida's Turnpike / Ronald Reagan Turnpike
• Sawgrass Expressway
• Highway 710 / Bee Line Highway
• I-195 / Airport Expressway / Julia Tuttle Causeway
• I-395 / Dolphin Expressway / MacArthur Causeway

Though highways and intersections are the primary locations for accidents, some accidents occur when people speed through residential areas. These types of speeders often hit pedestrians, as well, which is why certain forms of traffic calming, like speed bumps, speed humps, and plateaus are used. These physical obstacles force the driver to slow down in order to prevent damage to their own car and are very effective in curbing fatality rates in residential areas.

If you've experienced a motor vehicle accident, the Florida personal injury attorneys at Levine & Glassman, P.A. can examine the facts of your case and help determine the liability of the negligent party. Following this, our attorneys can help you file a proper auto accident claim against the driver or their insurance company.

What kind of injuries can I claim for insurance?

The high-speed nature of automobile accidents gives them a high potential to cause serious injuries. Head, neck, and spinal or back injuries are the most common result of a car crash, but there are a number of different types of injuries that are associated with automotive accidents:

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) / Concussion
• Skull Fractures
• Hematoma
• Nerve Damage
• Whiplash
• Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorder
• Intervertebral Disc Injury
• Fractured Ribs / Bone Fractures
• Torn Spleen
• Rotator Cuff Injuries

An injury as a result of an auto accident may take weeks to be noticeable to the victim, so be sure to seek medical attention at the scene of the incident even if you don't feel any pain right away. Diagnosing and treating any potential conditions or injuries as soon as possible after the incident will not only promote your own health and well-being but also ease the claim process to some extent. You can't get compensated for an injury you didn't know existed.

Is my claim or lawsuit different depending on my type of car?

It could very well be. Different vehicle designs have different characteristics that could be partly at fault for an automotive accident. Aside from defective manufacturing or design in an automobile, there are a number of trait in each type of vehicle that contribute differently to different types of crashes. Some of the most common consumer vehicles covered are:

• Sedans - A very sturdy and stable type of vehicle, a sedan is usually considered a family type car, though there are sports sedans that combine performance and utility. A four door car, this vehicle is often mid-weight with a fairly low center of gravity.
• Coupés / Sports Cars - These cars are designed for speed and handling, providing a happy medium between the utility of a sedan and the performance of a performance car. These are usually somewhat lighter than a sedan with a shorter wheelbase and snappier turning.
• Convertibles - These vehicles are open-topped and usually very low to the ground. The car is generally considered a sports type car, so performance is a major consideration in the design. The lack of an enclosed interior, however, means flying debris or vehicle flips often often serious or fatal injuries.
• Performance / Racing Cars - This type of vehicle is made to race, so certain compromises are made on safety. Insurance premiums are usually higher for this reason and because drivers of these cars generally like to utilize their potential for speed. Many fatal accidents occur in performance cars, so be careful.
• Consumer Trucks - Ranging from small single cab pickup trucks to one-ton diesel trucks, these vehicles are very sturdy, but have a higher center of gravity than cars. This higher center of gravity can lead to rollovers in some situations. Cargo load can also be an issue if the items aren't secured properly. Having objects flying out of the back of a truck isn't very safe.
• Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) - An SUV, with its large passenger capacity, is a very popular choice in our country. Its high center of gravity, though, makes it a major rollover case. Taking a sharp turn too quickly in an SUV is a very dangerous endeavor.

If an unreasonable vehicle accident results from some quirk in the vehicle's design or manufacturing, you may be entitled to additional compensation from your automobile's manufacturer on top of your insurance claim.

Levine & Glassman, P.A. - Car Accident Attorneys

Automobile accidents are an everyday occurrence and a fact of life on crowded Florida roads. If you are injured by the negligent driving of another, the attorneys of Levine & Glassman can protect your rights and achieve a fair and just recovery. Contact us today to discuss your case in Fort Lauderdale or the surrounding areas of Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade counties. Call us at (954) 332-6100 or fill out our contact form to set up a free initial consultation with one of our attorneys.