What Are Common Types of Winter Haven Car Accidents?
Thousands of car accidents happen across the country every day, although Florida consistently ranks in the top five states for car accidents every year. In Polk County alone, there were 13,631 crashes, causing 157 deaths and another 10,088 injuries in 2023,
according to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FHSMV), an increase from the year before. Some of the most common types of car accidents in Winter Haven and throughout the state of Florida include:
- Rear-end accidents: Rear-end collisions are often caused by tailgating, distracted driving, or sudden stops in traffic.
- T-bone collisions: A t-bone accident, or side-impact collision, is caused by one vehicle colliding with the side of another, common at intersections.
- Multi-car pileups: One collision can cause a chain reaction that involves multiple other vehicles. These accidents generally involve three or more cars and are typically caused by sudden rear-end collisions and low visibility.
- Rollover crashes: A rollover accident usually occurs when drivers lose control at high speed. These accidents can be highly dangerous for both the driver and other motorists sharing the road.
- Pedestrian accidents: Collisions involving pedestrians or cyclists can be highly dangerous. Pedestrians often suffer serious injuries when struck by a moving vehicle.
- Hit-and-run accidents: Another driver may flee the scene after a Winter Haven car accident in fear of facing legal or financial repercussions. This can leave victims struggling to find a liable party while dealing with injuries and property damage.
- Single-vehicle accidents: Not all accidents involve another vehicle or driver. Some vehicles may lose control either due to driver error, hazards in the road, or another driver running them off the road.
Every car accident is different, and victims often suffer varying degrees of injury depending on the severity of the impact and the circumstances surrounding the collision. The type of car accident that you are involved in and the severity of your injuries will often play a major role in determining your compensation.
Regardless of the type of accident that you were involved in, you do not deserve to pay costly medical bills and struggle financially because of another party’s negligence. At Kemp Injury Law, we are here to make sure that injured victims are protected and treated fairly after a Winter Haven car accident.
What Are the Main Causes of Car Accidents in Winter Haven?
There are an innumerable amount of factors that could contribute to a Winter Haven car accident. Every day statewide, there are hundreds of car accidents, each with their own unique set of circumstances. Even a seemingly minor car accident can result in rather serious injuries for all parties involved. Some of the most common causes that our team sees for car accidents throughout Winter Haven and the state of Florida include:
- Distracted Driving: Distracted driving kills someone every three hours nationwide. Anything that takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, or your focus off the task of driving is considered distracted driving. Texting and driving continue to be a persistent problem in Florida and throughout the country, with distracted driving being a leading cause of accidents nationwide.
- Speeding: According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), speed contributes to one in three motor vehicle accidents every year. Speeding not only decreases your reaction time, it also greatly increases the force and impact of an accident.
- Impaired driving: Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is strictly prohibited as it significantly impairs your ability, reaction time, and decision-making. In 2022, over 1,00 people in Florida lost their lives in a car accident involving impaired driving, accounting for nearly 30% of all traffic accident deaths. It is estimated that somebody dies every hour because of a DUI accident in the United States.
- Fatigued Driving: According to the Foundation for Traffic Safety (FTS), driving while fatigued is the equivalent of driving while intoxicating and contributes to 20 percent of all crashes. Drowsy driving greatly affects your concentration and reaction time, with the added risk of falling asleep behind the wheel.
- Reckless driving: Dangerous behavior like speeding, ignoring traffic signals, and blowing through red lights and intersections is incredibly dangerous and quickly causes devastating accidents.
These are just a few examples of the reckless and dangerous behaviors that negligent drivers may participate in during a Winter Haven car accident. There are hundreds of different factors that could contribute to a car accident, though these behaviors commonly lead to accidents.
Regardless of the cause of your accident, we believe that you should never have to suffer because of another driver or party’s negligence. If another driver was engaging in any of these reckless behaviors behind the wheel, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Our team works closely with our Winter Haven clients to identify a responsible party and seek the maximum compensation for our clients after an accident.
What Are Some Common Car Accident Injuries?
Victims may suffer a wide range of injuries after being involved in a Winter Haven car accident, from small scratches and sprains to serious, life-threatening injuries. Even a minor accident can result in pretty significant trauma. You may experience varying degrees of injury depending on the severity of your accident and the circumstances surrounding it. In Winter Haven, some of the most common injuries that car accident victims typically experience include:
- Head and brain injuries: Strong blows to the head can cause traumatic brain injuries that have life-changing consequences. Victims may suffer concussions, skull fractures, and other traumatic brain injuries that require extensive medical care and lifelong attention.
- Broken and fractured bones: The force of the collision can cause a victim’s bones to break or fracture, especially in high-speed accidents. Victims will typically experience broken arms, hands, legs, wrists, ribs, and facial fractures.
- Cuts and lacerations: Broken glass and metal debris can cause deep cuts, abrasions, and puncture wounds.
- Spinal cord injuries: Injuries to the spinal cord, including herniated discs, can cause lifelong discomfort and pain. Serious spinal cord injuries can even result in paralysis, causing permanent damage and limited mobility.
- Internal injuries: Some injuries may not be immediately apparent after an accident. Forceful collisions can cause internal injuries like punctured lungs, internal bleeding, and more that can pose a serious threat to victims if left untreated.
While the physical injuries from a car accident can be devastating and life-altering, the emotional turmoil that these accidents cause cannot be overlooked. Many victims involved in serious car accidents experience significant feelings of loss, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), often leaving them fearful of returning to the road or driving again in the future.
At Kemp Injury Law, we are here to help victims in Winter Haven recover compensation for not only their physical injuries, but their emotional and psychological trauma as well. We understand the impact that an injury can have on victims and their families and we take great pride in helping our clients recover the compensation they need to move forward. We also help victims who have lost a family member in Winter Haven car accidents pursue
wrongful death claims to seek justice on their loved one’s behalf.
Does Florida’s No-Fault Insurance Law Prevent Me from Pursuing Damages for My Injuries?
The state of Florida is one of many states that has a “no-fault” insurance law. Florida’s law requires every driver to carry a minimum amount of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance coverage. When a collision occurs, an injured victim’s own PIP coverage will cover medical expenses of up to $10,000, thereby alleviating the need to prove negligence, or fault, on the part of anyone.
Unfortunately, the compensation available through PIP coverage is limited and is not available to cover any damages associated with pain and suffering. Because of those limitations, Florida also allows an injured victim to leave the “no-fault” system and pursue a traditional personal injury lawsuit if the victim meets the “serious injury” threshold, which requires the victim to have suffered one of the following:
- Significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function.
- Permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability.
- Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement.
- Death.
The team at Kemp Personal Injury Law is committed to ensuring that you are fully compensated to the extent allowable under the law. We will thoroughly evaluate your collision and your injuries to help you explore all of your legal options and effectively plan your next move.
How Can an Experienced Winter Haven Car Accident Lawyer Help?
Our team proudly serves injured victims throughout Winter Haven and the great state of Florida. If you have been injured or have lost a loved one because of another driver’s negligent actions, our team is here to hold the liable party accountable for their actions and help you move forward.
You can depend on attorney Adam Kemp to use his previous experience as both a prosecuting attorney and an associate at one of the largest personal injury firms in America to advocate and litigate on your behalf. At Kemp Personal Injury Law, we are committed to seeking justice for injured victims in Winter Haven and establishing a personal relationship with each and every client. When a car accident has left you injured or suffering the loss of a loved one, you need the experience, resources, and dedication of attorney Adam Kemp and the team at Kemp Personal Injury Law.
An experienced car accident attorney can assist in countless ways, including:
- Investigating the accident: Our team will conduct a thorough investigation in order to determine liability in your accident. We will use all resources available to us to identify a responsible party and strengthen your case. We help gather crucial information and evidence such as police reports, witness statements, surveillance footage, and more.
- Communicating with insurance companies: Winter Haven insurance companies are no different than any other insurance company. After an accident, they will likely try to minimize your payout or deny your claim altogether, claiming that you were actually at-fault and responsible for your injuries. At Kemp Injury Law, we stand up to pesky insurance companies and ensure that our clients receive the maximum payout available after an accident.
- Filing a lawsuit: In the event that we are unable to reach a fair settlement with the insurance company, we are prepared to help you file a personal injury lawsuit and represent you in court. We stand by our clients every step of the way.
What Compensation Might Be Available After a Winter Haven Car Accident Case?
If you have been injured in a Winter Haven car accident case, you may be entitled to both economic and non-economic damages. Our team fights to help you recover all losses after an accident, including:
- Medical and hospital expenses
- Rehabilitation and other care costs
- Property damage
- Lost wages and future earnings
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Diminished quality of life
- Mental distress
- Scarring and disfigurement
While financial losses like medical bills and lost wages may be simpler to calculate, an experienced attorney like Adam Kemp will be able to help you recover fair compensation for the emotional and psychological trauma caused by your accident as well. We understand the impact of an accident extends beyond just the physical challenges and can greatly affect a victim’s emotional wellbeing and long-term happiness.
If you lost a spouse, parent, or child in a car accident, you may also be entitled to compensation in a Florida wrongful death lawsuit for things such as the loss of companionship, care, and support and the loss of future earnings. We also assist clients in Winter Have with other common personal injury cases, including:
At Kemp Injury Law, we offer our clients the personalized care and attention that larger firms are often unable to provide. We work closely with our Winter Haven clients to provide the best experience possible while seeking the maximum compensation possible. When it comes to Winter Haven car accidents, Kemp Injury Law is the personal injury law firm that you can trust.
Contact Kemp Injury Law Today if You Have Been Injured in a Winter Haven Car Accident
If you have been hurt or lost a loved one in a Winter Haven car accident, you need the assistance of an experienced, qualified, and compassionate legal team like Kemp Injury Law. We take great pride in helping our clients recover compensation when another party’s negligence has caused them serious injury in a car accident.
For more information about how the team at Kemp Injury Law can help you seek justice and secure the maximum compensation,
contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation. Connect with us online by filling out our convenient online form, or give us a call at (863) 225-0254. Come see why injured victims and their families trust Kemp Injury Law to handle their Winter Haven personal injury cases with care.
