West Palm Beach Auto Accident Attorney
The West Palm Beach auto accident attorneys at Pike & Lustig, LLP-Pike & Lustig, LLP have years of experience representing victims of car, truck & motorcycle accidents in West Palm Beach and surrounding areas in Palm Beach, Broward and Dade counties. Our personal injury attorneys understand your needs following a serious accident, and we know what it takes to get results.
Experienced Negotiation for Your Maximum Compensation
Not all traffic accidents are cut and dry cases. In fact, Florida is a pure comparative negligence state, which means that multiple parties may be found negligent in a multiple-vehicle accident. What this means is that if one vehicle was speeding and the other party drifted into their lane of traffic by texting or becoming otherwise distracted, both parties may be found at fault even though the distracted driver was the initial cause. If the distracted driver was found to be 70 percent negligent, and the speeding driver 30 percent negligent, the speeding driver would only be able to collect 70 percent of the total damages available to them. Shared negligence can greatly impact your claim, and we will fight any unjust blame on your part of the collision.
Florida Well Above National Average for Traffic Fatalities and Injuries
Unfortunately, our state is not one of the safer states in which to travel by automobile. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Florida ranks well above average for traffic injuries and fatalities. While the national average is 1.08 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles travelled, Florida’s is 1.24. Lax cell phone and texting laws can take on some of that blame. Florida has no ban on handheld cell phone use for drivers, according to one government source. Furthermore, it only has a secondary enforcement law for texting and driving. A secondary law means that a police officer cannot lawfully give a driver a ticket just for texting and driving; the driver would have had to be breaking another primary law in addition, such as speeding, for the officer it issue a texting citation. Florida driving is also dangerous due to the influx of tourists as well as an aging population. Florida has one of the oldest average populations in the U.S., and older drivers cannot respond to emergency situations as well as a younger person due to slower reflexes. Deteriorating eyesight and other senses also play a large role. While drivers over the age of 65 make up 13 percent of the population, they account for 17 percent of traffic fatalities, according to data gathered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. However, part of the reason that older drivers tend to have higher fatality rates is also due to the more fragile nature of an older person’s body.
West Palm Beach Accident Attorneys Experienced in all Aspects of Auto Accident Investigation and Litigation
We investigate your case to obtain the information needed to assist in proving negligence on behalf of the driver and, thus, insurance coverage for your bodily injury, medical bills, property damage and pain and suffering. Accidents often involve the death of a loved one or lifelong permanent injuries and pain and suffering. Therefore, when hiring a West Palm Beach auto accident attorney to represent your interests, be sure the attorney is experienced in the law and with the administrative agencies governing the operation of vehicles on Florida’s roadways. Often times, accidents may involve and be caused by construction on a highway and/or roadway due to the failure to use proper traffic-control devices.
We are experienced in these areas, and have litigated issues involving failure to comply with the “MUTCD,” the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. In addition, Pike & Lustig, LLP-Pike & Lustig, LLP has access to several accident re-constructionists throughout the United States. These highly-qualified individuals assist with recreating the accident scene and the causes of the accident, which includes an investigation as to whether the roadway itself was safe for the operation of automobiles and semi-trucks. For example, was construction of the roadway underway; were construction crews present; did the construction company follow all the warning regulations and DOT regulations? These questions, among others, must be answered for the benefit of your case. Let our West Palm Beach auto accident attorneys and accompanying experts help.
Steps to Take Following a West Palm Beach Auto Collision
The first thing to do after a collision is to assess the injuries to yourself, your passengers, and then the occupants of any other vehicles that were involved in the crash. Contact medical help immediately if needed, and the police if not. Next, move your vehicle out of the way of other traffic if you are able to safely do so. Gather contact information and insurance information from all other parties, as well as contact information from any witnesses that saw the crash occur. Take pictures of the crash scene and damage to your vehicle. Of course, none or little of this will be possible if you are severely injured, in which case holding on until an ambulance arrives is all you can do. Back when you are safely at home, contact your insurance company about the collision, and contact an experienced personal injury attorney.
Call our 24 Hour Hotline for Immediate Assistance with Your West Palm Beach Automobile Accident Case
Given the fact that several accidents occur in the early morning and late evening hours, Pike and Lustig, LLP-Pike & Lustig, LLP, has an established 24-hour hotline (855-TRN-PIKE). Our West Palm Beach accident attorneys are ready to take your call and assist you in your time of need. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a car crash in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, South Beach or neighboring communities, call us at our West Palm Beach office at 561-291-8298 for immediate assistance.
