Melbourne Car Accident Lawyer
If you spend any time on Florida’s roads, you know there is always the risk of an accident. Many car accidents are not serious or life threatening. But even a seemingly minor “fender bender” can leave you with thousands of dollars in medical bills and lost income due to time missed from work. And if the accident is serious, you may be dealing with a permanent disability and the ongoing psychological and emotional trauma from your injuries.
Car accidents are often the result of someone else’s negligence. An experienced Melbourne car accident lawyer can assist you in holding such negligent persons accountable. The Pendas Law Firm represents car accident victims in Melbourne and throughout Brevard County in seeking compensation under the law.
The Role of Negligence in Florida Car Crashes
Most car accidents are not the result of intentional misconduct. Rather, they are the consequences of negligence. In legal terms, negligence means that someone breached a duty of care owed to you under the law. With respect to car accidents, that duty is generally one to operate a vehicle in a reasonably safe manner that follows the rules of the road.
Some of the more common examples of driver negligence leading to car accidents include:
- distracted driving;
- driving while fatigued;
- failing to maintain a safe stopping distance;
- drunk or drugged driving;
- making an improper turn or lane change;
- road rage;
- running a stop sign or red or yellow light; and
- speeding.
Even when a driver does nothing wrong, there are other parties whose negligence may have caused or contributed to an accident, such as:
- a defect in the manufacturing or design of the vehicle itself;
- improper maintenance performed on the vehicle, e.g., using a defective replacement part; and
- a local government failing to properly maintain its roadways, thus creating safety hazards for drivers.
The team at the Pendas Law Firm can investigate all of the potential causes of your accident and help you determine who is legally responsible for your injuries. Compensation in a car accident lawsuit can include:
- economic damages to cover your out-of-pocket losses such as medical bills and lost income;
- non-economic damages to cover your pain and suffering and ongoing trauma; and
- punitive damages to punish wrongdoers whose conduct rises to the level of intentional misconduct or gross negligence, such as a drunk driver.
Contact The Pendas Law Firm Today
Florida requires all drivers to carry a minimum amount of personal injury protection (PIP) as part of their auto insurance coverage. This means that a car accident victim must first seek compensation for their own insurer and can only bring a personal injury claim against a negligent driver under certain circumstances. A qualified Melbourne car accident lawyer can review your case and advise you of your rights and obligations in this area.
So if you, or someone in your family, has been injured in a car accident and you are looking for skilled legal advice on what steps to take next, contact the Pendas Law Firm today to schedule an initial consultation.
