For most Americans, the holiday period from Thanksgiving through New Years is a popular time to travel to spend time with friends, share the holiday with family, or simply take a vacation. AAA travel club estimated that for 2023, 115.2 million people will go 50 miles or more from home during the 10 days between Dec. 23 and New Year’s Day. Unfortunately, car accidents also increase during the holidays. If you find yourself suffering from injuries sustained in a Boca Raton car accident, or you lost a loved one in a car accident over the holidays, compensation may be available to you if another party caused or contributed to the collision.
While there is never a good time to be involved in a car accident, the holidays are a particularly unfortunate time to be injured or lose a loved one because of a car accident. Nevertheless, if you are struggling to find treatment for injuries and to understand your legal options following a crash, a Boca Raton car accident lawyer at Demand the Limits can help. We are familiar with the challenges you are facing, and we are dedicated to helping you successfully heal physically, financially, and emotionally after a car accident. Let us put out extensive experience, considerable resources, and unwavering commitment to work for you to ensure that the responsible party (or parties) is held accountable and that you are justly compensated for all your injuries.
What Causes Boca Raton Car Accident during the Holidays?
There are almost 70 motor vehicle collisions on an average day in Palm Beach County. During the holiday season, beginning the day before Thanksgiving and stretching through New Year’s Day, there are typically more crashes and a higher fatality rate. In fact, AAA reports that Thanksgiving is the most dangerous day during the holiday season and often competes with Independence Day as the deadliest day of the year in terms of car accident fatalities. Many of the contributing factors in a Boca Raton holiday car accident are the same factors that apply throughout the year; however, the underlying causes may be exacerbated during the holidays. For example:
- Fatigued driving. Most people underestimate the risk posed by a drowsy driver. Experts, however, tell us that a fatigued driver is every bit as dangerous as a drunk driver on the roadway. During the holidays, drivers frequently push past their driving time limits because they are excited to get to their destination or are beyond ready to be home.
- Driving under the influence. Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, illicit drugs, prescription medication, or even over-the-counter medication increases the likelihood of a crash. Whether it’s drinking a few beers while watching the football game at Thanksgiving or celebrating the New Year with champagne, people tend to imbibe more during the holidays, adding to the risk of an injury accident.
- Aggressive driving. Aggressive driving behaviors play a role in half of all collisions. During the holidays, aggressive driving is even more prevalent as drivers feel the pressure of the holidays while driving.
- Speed. Speed is a factor in one-third of all motor vehicle accidents. Not surprisingly, speed is an even more common factor in crashes during the holidays as impatient motorists rush to their destinations.
- Distracted driving. Throughout the nation, about 10 people lose their lives every day in a distracted driving collision. Cell phones are an increasingly common cause of distracted driving crashes; however, during the holidays, drivers are often distracted by family members in the vehicle and/or by wandering thoughts focused on potential family conflicts yet to come.
What Kind of Injuries Might I Sustain in a Boca Raton Car Accident during the Holidays?
A car accident can cause anything from minor bumps and bruises to life-altering, even fatal, physical injuries. The psychological impact a car crash has on a victim can also range from mild to severe trauma. Factors such as the use of restraints and other safety features, the road conditions, the types of vehicles involved, and the speed at which the collision occurred will directly affect the type and severity of the injuries a victim sustains in a Boca Raton car accident. Frequently experienced injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Paralysis
- Spinal cord injury
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Fractured and broken bones
- Strains and sprains
- Whiplash
- Soft tissue injuries
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Depression
- Anxiety
Does Florida’s No-Fault Insurance Law Apply to My Situation?
The State of Florida is a “no-fault” insurance state, meaning that all motorists are required to carry a minimum of $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance coverage. When a collision occurs resulting in property damage or personal injury, the driver’s own PIP coverage steps in and covers damages up to the coverage limit without considering the issue of fault (negligence in legal terms). PIP only covers 80 percent of medical bills, 60 percent of lost wages, and does not provide any compensation for non-economic damages (pain and suffering). If you meet the “serious injury threshold,” however, you may pursue additional compensation in a traditional personal injury lawsuit. To get past the serious injury threshold, you must show that you 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.
What Compensation Is Available in a Boca Raton Car Accident Lawsuit?
If your injuries qualify you to pursue a traditional personal injury lawsuit, compensation may be available to you in the form of economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are intended to compensate you for things such as hospital, doctor, and rehabilitation bills, lost wages, and the cost of repairing your vehicle. Non-economic damages are intended to compensate you for the psychological impact of things such as mental anguish, emotional distress, disfigurement, and scarring.
If you lost a parent or child who was fatally injured in a Boca Raton car accident, you may be eligible for compensation for the loss of companionship, lost financial support, emotional suffering, and other damages in a Florida wrongful death lawsuit.
How Can an Experienced Boca Raton Car Accident Lawyer Help Me?
The aftermath of a car accident can be overwhelming for an injured victim or surviving loved one. Along with physical and emotional injuries, you are probably dealing with the financial impact of the collision. Bringing an experienced Boca Raton car accident lawyer on board to help you is the best way to protect your rights. An experienced Boca Raton car accident lawyer will become your advocate and your voice from day one, allowing you to focus on healing your mind and body. The team at Demand the Limits is committed to ensuring that negligent parties are held accountable and injured victims are justly compensated for all injuries. A Boca Raton car accident lawyer can:
- Assist in locating proper medical care and treatment.
- Investigate the accident to determine the cause.
- Identify the at-fault party or parties.
- Locate supporting evidence.
- Estimate the value of your claim.
- Be aware of important deadlines.
- Negotiate an advantageous settlement.
- Aggressively litigate on your behalf in court.
At Demand the Limits, we know how to handle car accident cases. Our experienced Boca Raton car accident lawyers have extensive experience with all types of motor vehicle accident cases. We fight hard to defend the legal rights of all Boca Raton injury victims. Call (561) 600-3555 or contact us online to schedule your free case evaluation. Don’t delay – the sooner you have an attorney fighting for you, the better protected your legal rights will be.
