South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg
Heavy winds, rain, and flooding that take place during a tropical storm or hurricane in Florida are nothing to take lightly. These weather conditions often lead to serious car accidents that result in long-term injuries and even death. If you or someone close to you has been injured in a weather-related accident in Florida, you need to reach out to a skilled Miami auto accident attorney who can evaluate the facts of your case. You can rest assured that we will advise you on a sensible course of action so that you can get the compensation you deserve for your harm.
Each year, there are 5,870,000 auto accidents across the United States. According to the United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, approximately 23 percent of those accidents are caused by hazardous weather and poor visibility. This means that over a million crashes a year are weather-related. Weather-related crashes are defined as crashes that take place in adverse weather, such as rain, sleet, snow, fog, severe crosswinds, blowing sand, or slick pavement. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that almost 6,000 people are killed each year and over 445,000 are injured in weather-related crashes on an annual basis.
Tropical storms and hurricanes can create dangerous conditions due to the following factors: poor visibility, decreased traction on road surfaces, lane obstructions, and lane submersions. These factors significantly increase the potential of an accident. When adverse conditions exist, it is the responsibility of each motorist to use additional care behind the wheel. For example, drivers should keep their headlights on and maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel at all times. Drivers should also move slowly and give other drivers plenty of space. Of course, if a motorist is caught in the center of a tropical storm or hurricane, there may be some things that are out of a motorist’s control, no matter how much care and caution that motorist uses.
The vast majority of car accident claims are based on the theory of negligence. Negligence takes place when a party acts in a careless manner, causing injuries or death to another person. To win in a negligence lawsuit, your auto accident lawyer must be able to establish the following elements: i) the defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff; ii) the defendant breached the duty of care owed to the plaintiff; and iii) the defendant’s breach was a direct and proximate cause of the accident and the plaintiff’s resulting injuries. Each of these elements must be established before any damages can be recovered.
If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident in which adverse weather conditions were a factor, you should speak to a skilled Miami auto accident attorney without delay. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we will make every effort to get you the compensation you deserve, including medical bills, lost wages, and other accident-related expenses. We proudly represent clients from throughout South Florida. To talk to us in more detail, feel free to call us at 1-877-499-HURT (4878) or contact us through our website.
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