If you’ve been hurt in a single-vehicle accident in St. Petersburg, Florida, you may be looking for answers. Specifically, how can you recover money for your injuries if you were the only person involved in the crash?
A St. Petersburg single-vehicle accident lawyer at Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers can help you answer that question. We have represented many drivers and passengers who were hurt in single-vehicle collisions and other car accidents.
Don’t be fooled into thinking you don’t have options. Contact our experienced car accident lawyers in St. Petersburg, FL for a free consultation by calling (727) 349-1728.
Table of Contents
How Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After A Single-Vehicle Accident in St. Petersburg, FL
It’s normal to have a lot of questions after a car accident. Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers can answer them for you.
We have over 300 years of collective experience representing people hurt in car crashes. We’ve recovered over $675 million for our clients. Our St. Petersburg car accident lawyers are experienced at negotiating with insurance companies, going to trial, and appealing cases to the Florida Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court.
When you hire us to handle your single-vehicle accident case, you’ll get:
- Award-winning legal advice from the top lawyers in St. Petersburg
- A thorough investigation into the cause of the crash
- A preliminary determination of who is at fault for the crash
- A personal connection to top doctors and expert witnesses
- Expert negotiations with insurance companies and opposing counsel
- Fierce trial and appellate attorneys
You don’t need to suffer alone. Focus on your recovery and let Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers fight on your behalf. Contact us for a free consultation with a St. Petersburg single-vehicle accident attorney.
Overview of Single-Vehicle Accidents In St. Petersburg, Florida
A single-vehicle accident is a car crash that only damages one car.
If you’ve been in a single-vehicle accident, you may worry you can’t recover damages like in other accident cases. After all, who do you hold accountable when yours was the only car involved? Luckily, you aren’t automatically at fault and can still get money for your injuries.
What Causes Single-Vehicle Accidents In St. Petersburg, FL?
Many different things can cause single-vehicle car accidents. Sometimes the driver is at fault for the crash, but more often than not, other circumstances contributed to the accident.
Common causes of single-vehicle accidents in Pinellas County include:
- Potholes and obstructions in the roadway
- Defective equipment like brakes, headlights, or tires
- Improper signage
- Inclement weather, like ice on the road
- Speeding
- Confusing or improperly marked construction zones
- Being cut off by a distracted driver or drunk driver
- Swerving to avoid pedestrians or bikers
The cause of some single-vehicle accidents is obvious, but others need investigation to understand how it happened. A St. Petersburg car accident attorney can help identify the cause so that you can get compensated.
Common Injuries Sustained in Single-Vehicle Accidents In St. Petersburg, Florida
Single-vehicle accidents are just as dangerous as other types of crashes. In fact, in Florida, more people died in single-vehicle crashes than in multi-car crashes in 2020.
We commonly see the following injuries from single-car crashes:
- Head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Internal trauma
These injuries can require ongoing and expensive medical treatment. It is important to get evaluated by a doctor immediately after a single-car accident. Then you can understand the extent of your injuries to prevent them from getting worse.
Who Is Responsible for a Single-Vehicle Accident in St. Petersburg, FL?
Who is responsible for the accident depends on what caused it. If your accident was caused by potholes or improper signage, you might be able to hold the city responsible for failing to maintain the roads.
If another driver forced you to swerve off of the road or overcorrect, you might be able to hold them responsible even though their car didn’t crash. Similarly, a pedestrian or bicyclist may be liable if they illegally entered the road. Or if the accident was caused by defective equipment, you might get money from the manufacturer.
It is helpful to ask an experienced car accident lawyer to advise on who is at fault so that you make sure to seek damages from the right party.
Comparative Negligence in Florida
Florida applies a modified comparative negligence law with a “51% rule” when allocating fault for a car accident. That means if you were partially responsible for the accident, your damages are reduced by the percentage that you contributed to the crash. In addition, you’ll be barred from recovering damages against the at-fault party or their insurer if you were mostly to blame. Keep in mind that these considerations do not apply to claims against your PIP policy.
For example, if you were speeding, but your brakes failed and you hit a pedestrian in the roadway, you might be able to recover money from the car manufacturer for your faulty brakes or the pedestrian if they weren’t in a crosswalk. However, the amount you get is reduced by how much your speed contributed to the accident.
Comparative negligence can get complicated when many things contribute to an accident. An experienced lawyer will have connections with experts in accident reconstruction that can help determine the amount of responsibility apportioned to each person.
Other Common Auto Accidents in St. Petersburg
Our legal team can help you recover financial compensation if you’ve been recently injured in any type of car accident in St. Petersburg, including:
Contact a Car Crash Lawyers in St. Petersburg, FL for a Free Case Evaluation
In Florida, you’ll only have two-to-four years to file your claim against the responsible party, depending on when your accident took place and the facts of your case. This might seem like a while, but it is harder to collect evidence and prove your case over time. Don’t waste time. If you submit your claim too late, you won’t be able to obtain compensation.
You should immediately reach out to a St. Petersburg single-vehicle accident lawyer at Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers to get advice during a free consultation.
Other Types of Accidents We Handle
St. Petersburg Car Accident Resources
- Car Accident Statistics in St. Petersburg
- Highway Crashes in St. Petersburg
- Intersection crashes in St. Petersburg
- St. Petersburg Dangerous roads list
Visit our resource page to access more information regarding the help you need.