A serious car wreck immediately turns the most well-ordered lives almost completely upside down. Daily tasks, such as going to work and taking the kids to school, become difficult or impossible. Additionally, the physical and emotional injuries that these wrecks cause remove all the enjoyment from life and replace it with stress. Making matters worse, an insurance adjuster seemingly calls constantly. But there’s no way to tell if the company’s proposal is fair.
The compassionate sideswipe accident attorneys at Payer Law routinely handle these matters in Orange County and nearby jurisdictions. So, we understand all these needs. We connect victims with doctors, so they can start healing. We also arrange for vehicle repair or replacement, so you can get back on the road. Throughout the whole process, we proactively communicate with you, so you are never in the dark.
What Causes Sideswipe Accidents?
Inattention is the leading cause of sideswipe accidents. Over-reliance on imperfect technologies, like blind spot sensors, causes many of these wrecks as well.
Usually, driver distraction causes inattention. Since most people multitask their way through their days, they assume they can do the same thing behind the wheel. This assumption is wrong. There’s a big difference between a controlled environment, like a desk at work, and an uncontrolled environment, like a car on a road.
Hand-held cell phones, which are mostly legal for drivers to use in Florida, combine all three forms of distracted driving, which are:
- Manual (hand off the wheel),
- Visual (eyes off the road), and
- Cognitive (mind off driving).
Hands-free speakerphones might be even worse. These gadgets are visually and manually distracted. Furthermore, these devices give many people a false sense of security. So, they take more risks behind the wheel, such as making sudden lane changes.
Cell phones are not the only distracted driving cause. In fact, they’re not even the leading cause. That distinction, or lack of distinction, goes to eating and drinking while driving.
Full self-driving vehicles, or even mostly self-driving vehicles, are several decades away. Yet many vehicle salespeople act like they are already available. When they oversell driver-assistance sensors, car crash victims pay the price.
Your Claim for Damages
The damages in a car crash case usually include compensation for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering. An Orlando sideswipe car accident lawyer can obtain additional punitive damages as well, in some extreme situations.
Most of these claims settle out of court. If there are no serious liability questions, the insurance company has a duty to settle the matter within a few weeks. However, these accidents usually involve some complex legal issues. Comparative fault, a legal doctrine which shifts blame from the tortfeasor (negligent driver) to the victim, is one of the most common insurance company defenses.
As a result, attorneys normally file legal paperwork in court. This move protects the victim/plaintiff’s legal rights and also puts settlement pressure on the insurance company.
If a case remains unresolved as the trial date approaches, most Orange County judges order the parties to attend mediation. A third-party mediator listens to brief opening arguments. Then, the mediator conveys settlement offers and counter-offers between the parties. If both sides negotiate in good faith, which is their legal obligation, mediation is about 90 percent successful.
These resolutions usually benefit car crash victims. Since the case ends earlier, they get their settlement money sooner. Additionally, out-of-court settlements give the participants more control over the outcome.
Connect with an Understanding Orange County Lawyer
Injury victims are usually entitled to significant compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced sideswipe accident attorney in Orlando, contact Payer Law. We do not charge upfront legal fees in these matters.
