What Are The Odds Of Dying In A Car Crash in Florida?

Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers | Car Accident

What Are The Odds Of Dying In A Car Crash?q

More than 6.7 million motor vehicle accidents occurred in the United States in 2019, which resulted in 36,096 traffic fatalities. There were 402,347 reported traffic crashes in Florida during 2019. As a result, 3,193 people lost their lives, and thousands of people were injured. 

According to the National Safety Council, your odds of dying in a car crash are 1 in 107 based on 2019 figures. The chance of dying in a pedestrian accident (1 in 543) or a motorcycle accident (1 in 899) is lower than the odds of dying in a car wreck. 

Several factors could impact your personal odds of dying in a car crash. For example, individuals who travel more miles per year in a motor vehicle could have a higher chance of being involved in a fatal car wreck than individuals who travel fewer miles. Drivers who exceed speed limits or drive while intoxicated may have a higher chance of dying in a speeding accident or DUI accident.

When you are involved in a car accident, you may sustain traumatic injuries and life-threatening conditions. So, who is responsible for the damages caused by a car crash in Florida?

Seeking Compensation for a Fatal Car Accident in Florida

If your family member died in a car crash in Florida, you may be entitled to compensation for your loss. 

Florida’s wrongful death laws state that family members may be entitled to compensation for damages, including: 

  • Reasonable funeral and burial expenses paid by family members
  • Pain and suffering
  • Household services that the deceased would have provided
  • Financial support that the deceased would have added to the household
  • Loss of guidance, instruction, affection, protection, and companionship

If your family member survived for a period after the car accident, the estate may file a separate claim for damages the deceased would have been entitled to if the person lived.

Damages the estate may recover include:

  • Medical expenses and bills incurred because of the car accident injuries
  • Income the person lost between the date of the car wreck and the date of death
  • Pain and suffering caused by mental anguish, physical injuries, and emotional distress
  • Reasonable funeral and burial expenses paid by the estate

Any money received by the estate is used to pay claims filed against the estate. The remaining funds are disbursed to the person’s heirs. 

Damages for Accident Victims Who Survive a Crash

Hundreds of thousands of people are injured in car crashes each year. The injuries sustained in car accidents range from whiplash and sprains to traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries—the more severe the injuries, the greater the losses and damages.

Florida is a no-fault insurance state for car accidents. Therefore, each driver must purchase no-fault insurance, or PIP coverage. 

PIP coverage only pays a portion of your medical bills and lost wages after a car accident. No-fault insurance does not compensate you for non-economic damages or permanent impairments. 

However, you can sue a driver who caused a car crash if you sustain serious injuries. Florida statutes define serious injuries that meet the threshold for filing a personal injury lawsuit. 

If you sustain serious injuries in a Florida car crash, you could receive compensation for your:

  • Medical bills, physical therapy, medications, and other costs of medical treatment or care
  • Personal care and long-term assisted care or nursing home care
  • Loss of salaries, wages, benefits, and other forms of income, including future lost wages and decreased earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering caused by physical injuries, mental trauma, and emotional distress
  • Disfigurement, permanent impairments, and disabilities
  • Loss of enjoyment of life or quality of life

How much your personal injury claim is worth depends on the facts of your case. Make sure that you understand the value of your damages before you settle your claim. If you have questions or doubts, talking with a personal injury attorney in St. Petersburg can help.

Deadlines for Filing Car Accident Lawsuits in Florida

There are deadlines for filing wrongful death lawsuits and personal injury lawsuits. If you wait too long to file a claim, you could be responsible for the financial damages caused by the car crash. You could also lose your right to seek compensation for the pain and suffering you experienced because of another driver’s negligence and recklessness. 

The Florida statute of limitations for most car accident lawsuits is four years from the car crash date. The deadline for filing wrongful death lawsuits for car accident cases is two years after the decedent’s death.

There could be exceptions in your case, especially if a child was injured or killed in the accident. It is best to talk with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after a car accident to avoid missing deadlines.

Contact the Pinellas County Car Accident Law Firm Of Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers for Help

For more information, please contact the Clearwater and St. Petersburg car accident law firm of Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.

We serve in Pinellas County, and its surrounding areas:

Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers – Clearwater
1875 N Belcher Rd. STE 201,
Clearwater, FL 33765,
United States
24 hours
727-796-8282

Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Petersburg
2560 1st Ave S,
St. Petersburg, FL 33712,
United States
24 hours
(727) 349-1728