Common Types of Car Accident Injuries in Florida (2024)

Car accidents can happen in various ways, and these incidents are a leading cause of serious injuries throughout the state each year. If you or a loved one recently sustained injuries in an accident, a Florida car accident attorney can help determine your most viable recovery options. Your auto insurance is likely to be your first channel of recovery, but you could have grounds for further legal recourse if you suffered serious injuries.

Most Common Car Accident Injuries

The majority of the car accidents reported throughout the state each year are the result of negligence. Distracted driving, speeding, and moving violations are common examples of this. Accidents may also happen from intentional and illegal misconduct like driving under the influence (DUI). No matter how an accident happens, a victim faces the risk of suffering serious injuries.

Even accidents that happen at lower speeds have the chance of causing severe injuries to those involved, but the risk of great bodily harm or death is greatest in accidents that happen at higher speeds. Some of the most commonly reported injuries from motor vehicle accidents in the state include:

• Broken bones. It’s common for car accident victims to suffer bone fractures, some of which can be severe and require surgical correction. Many fractures heal completely with time and appropriate treatment, but others have the chance of resulting in severe long-term adverse medical issues.
• Internal organ damage. Crash impact forces have the potential to cause severe internal organ damage. It is also possible for such injuries to happen from seatbelt syndrome, a condition that results from wearing a lap belt across the stomach instead of the top of the legs. This can cause the belt to tighten over the abdomen during a crash and injure the victim’s internal organs.
• Soft tissue injuries. Any crash has the potential to cause serious harm to the soft tissues of the victim’s body. Whiplash is the most common example of this, which is a soft tissue injury to the neck, shoulders, and upper back that results from the victim snapping forward and backward from a crash.
• Traumatic brain injuries. These are the most common catastrophic injuries reported from car accidents. Any brain injury has the potential to cause severe long-term or permanent harm to the victim.
• Facial and dental injuries. It’s possible for these injuries to occur from airbag deployment and are more likely to happen from head-on collisions. An airbag can potentially save a person’s life in a crash, but the force with which it inflates can easily cause severe harm to the victim’s face and teeth.

These are just a few examples of the injuries that might happen from a car accident. After any accident, an injured driver will need to use their own auto insurance policy to cover their damages. However, the no-fault rule does not entirely prevent you from seeking legal recourse against an at-fault driver.

If another party is directly responsible for causing your recent accident and your damages exceed what insurance will cover, an experienced Florida car accident attorney can help build a case against the other driver. You have a limited time in which to attempt this, so it is vital to reach out to legal counsel you can trust as soon as possible after your accident.

FAQs

Q: What Is the Most Common Injury From Vehicle Accidents?

A: Whiplash is the most frequently cited injury from car accidents throughout the state each year. This is a soft tissue injury in the neck and upper back that results from the victim’s head violently snapping back and forth due to the impact force of a collision. Whiplash causes a host of adverse symptoms, but many of these symptoms dissipate over time with rest and appropriate care.

Q: What Happens if an Accident Causes a Fatal Injury?

A: Unfortunately, car accidents are a leading cause of accidental deaths in the state each year. If you recently lost a family member in an accident someone else caused, you have the right to seek compensation through a wrongful death claim. This type of civil suit effectively replaces a personal injury claim when the victim does not survive, but the state upholds special rules regarding eligibility to file these claims and the damages available.

Q: Is Florida a No-Fault State for Car Accidents?

A: Yes, it upholds the no-fault rule. This means all drivers are required to use their own insurance to pay for their damages after accidents happen, regardless of fault. However, if your damages exceed your insurance coverage and/or you suffered great bodily harm, you may have grounds to pursue a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver. Your car accident attorney can advise you of your most viable recovery options after your accident.

Q: How Much Is My Car Accident Claim Worth?

A: If you are able to prove that another driver is liable for causing your recent car accident, you can hold them accountable for all the damages they inflicted through a personal injury claim. After exhausting your auto insurance policy, your car accident attorney can help build a personal injury suit that seeks compensation for any remaining medical expenses, your lost income, and the pain and suffering you experienced from the accident.

Q: Why Should I Hire a Florida Car Accident Lawyer?

A: You may not be legally required to hire an attorney after your recent accident, but doing so can dramatically improve your chances of maximizing your total compensation. Your attorney can guide you through the insurance claim process efficiently and, if you have outstanding damages insurance can’t cover, help build a personal injury case against the driver who caused the accident. You’re more likely to win your case with an attorney’s help.

The team at Spohrer Dodd has years of professional experience helping drivers with all types of complex car accident cases, and we’re ready to leverage this experience for you in your impending car accident case. You have a limited time in which to pursue your recovery, so contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a car accident attorney and learn more about the legal services we offer.