South Florida Injury Attorneys Blog
Earlier this month in Coral Springs, one man was killed and another injured in an accident between a motorcycle and a car. According to one local news source, the accident occurred just after two in the afternoon on the 6600 block of West Atlantic Boulevard.
Evidently, the force of the crash not only caused the motorcycle to lose control, but the car ended up flipping over and landing on top of the motorcycle. When emergency responders showed up, they needed to support the car as they rolled it over, freeing the driver.
The driver of the car was taken to Broward Health North in Deerfield Beach with minor injuries and is expected to recover from his injuries. Sadly, the driver of the motorcycle was not so lucky and was pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses told reporters that the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the fatal accident.
Police are still conducting their investigation into what caused the accident. According to the news report, however, there are conflicting witness reports as to what happened in the moments immediately prior to the accident. Charges have not yet been filed against anyone involved.
Determining Fault in South Florida Auto Accidents
The first job of responding police officers is to ensure that those who need medical care are taken to the appropriate hospitals. Once those involved in accident are cleared from the scene, police and detectives are then charged with determining whose fault the accident was and what that party did to cause the accident. The responsible party will likely be issued a citation, and, if the driver’s conduct was exceptionally negligent, reckless, or intentional, they may be criminally charged for their role in the accident.
As noted above, there were varying witness accounts of what happened immediately prior to the vehicles colliding. Detectives will likely take statements from all witnesses and then examine physical evidence, if any, prior to making their determination of who was at fault in the fatal car accident.
Personal Injury Lawsuits in Florida
The police department’s determination of who caused an accident can be used by the accident victim or their family to support a claim for financial damages against the allegedly responsible party. These civil lawsuits, while wholly separate from criminal lawsuits, can rely on the same evidence that is used to prove criminal charges. Therefore, civil lawsuits seeking monetary compensation are often filed after a criminal investigation has taken place. However, all personal injury cases must be filed before the applicable statute of limitations expires, or otherwise the claims might be barred, and the plaintiff may be forever prevented from recovering compensation for their injuries.
Have You Been Injured in a South Florida Car Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in any kind of serious or fatal Florida car accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation based on the other driver’s negligence. However, proving a case against a driver can often be a complex process, due to the various legal doctrines that may come into play. To learn more about Florida personal injury cases, and to speak with an attorney about your case, call 800-753-5529 to set up a free consultation. There is no obligation in calling, and you will not be billed unless we are able to recover for you in your case.
See More Blog Posts:
Miami Lakes Car Accident Claims Three Lives Earlier this Month, Cecere Santana Injury Lawyers Blog, published April 26, 2015.
Martin County Football Coach Killed in Early-Morning Accident, Cecere Santana Injury Lawyers Blog, published May 28, 2015.