Author: rhinoadmin

Can I Recover Compensation if the At-Fault Driver Dies in the Crash?

Each year, car accidents injure up to 50 million people and cause approximately 1.3 million fatalities. While car accidents can be stressful and traumatic. There are certain legal procedures that follow. Evaluating the damages, determining fault, and investigating for illegal activity. Are all part of the process. If you’re involved in a car accident where the at-fault driver died, you might be wondering if you can still recover compensation. Getting the right legal advice will help you in this delicate situation.

Keep reading to learn about your rights to compensation and where to find the best legal help.

Can You Hold a Driver Responsible for an Accident if They Died?

After an accident, it is important that everyone involved either get compensation or take the responsibility for the damages.

This is true even in accidents where the driver who died, was also responsible for the accident. They might have been driving recklessly, driving while intoxicated, or using electronics while driving.

When this happens, the person’s assets belong to their family members. Therefore, it is still possible to file a claim against the family. Whether the individual had a will or beneficiaries, you are entitled to a portion of their assets as compensation for damages on your side. If you sustained injuries, emotional trauma, and lost wages from time off work, you have the right to compensation.

How You Can Prove You Were Not at Fault

Gathering evidence after an accident is crucial if you want to make a claim. It is also important to involve your accident lawyer right away. The sooner you get the right legal help, the more likely it is that you will get the necessary compensation.

A lawyer who focuses on auto accidents can also help you navigate the complicated legal and administrative processes after an accident.

Here are some of the important steps to take to gather evidence after an accident to prove that you were not at fault:

• Check for witnesses at the scene of the accident
• Get names and phone numbers of the witnesses
• Take photos and videos of the damages and the accident scene
• Check for surveillance cameras in the surrounding area
• Get checked by a doctor right away
• Get evidence from police reports

These are important steps that will help make your case stronger. You will need to provide your legal team with medical and police reports in order to put together your claim.

Your lawyer can then help put their pieces of the accident together and create a letter for you that states the following:

• The details of the damages you are claiming
• The dollar amount that you are demanding for your claim
• The evidence that states why you are entitled to these damages

With this information, the lawyer can present your letter to the deceased person’s family lawyer to begin the legal process. The more evidence you have, the stronger your claim will be. This is especially important in the case of the other driver being deceased.

What You Can Claim After a Fatal Accident That Was Not Your Fault

There are several important factors to consider when claiming compensation for car crashes. Assessing the damage the accident has caused you will be much like an accident where no one died, but the other driver was at fault.

Recovering accident damages means assessing the physical, mental, and emotional ways that the accident has affected your life. From trips to the mechanic to medical expenses, there are many things to consider.

Here are some of the claims that you can include to strengthen your demand for compensation:

• Physical pains from injuries caused by the car accident
• Emotional suffering or PTSD as a result of the accident
• Replacing or fixing your car
• Replacing items that were in your car during the accident
• Cost of ambulance and paramedics
• Medical expenses for treatment, rehabilitation, and medication
• Taking time off work for recovery and medical treatment
• Legal and administrative fees following the accident
• On-going medical care and treatment
• Previous medical conditions exacerbated by the accident

These are some of the damages that are important to claim if you want to fully recover compensation for your pain and suffering. A car accident can affect each person in a different way. Take the time to consider how the accident has changed the trajectory of your life and ensure that it is obvious when listing your damages.

How You Can Recover Compensation

With the right legal team, you can get compensation for the damages.

It is important that you see a doctor right after your accident to document all injuries and help with your legal case. Whether you’ve sustained major or minor injuries, you need to ensure that these are documented for your damages claim. Some minor injuries can also lead to major health problems in the future and you need to keep documentation of this.

A trusted car accident lawyer will help you with filing an insurance claim so you will need as much evidence as possible. Legal help will help you get the claim that you deserve.

Knowing Your Rights After a Fatal Accident

Being involved in a car accident can be overwhelming, especially if someone has died as a result. Knowing your rights means understanding that you can recover compensation even if the at-fault driver died. Getting helpful legal advice will be crucial in assessing your damages and filing a claim against the deceased.

If you’re involved in a car accident, visit our website and schedule a free video consultation with one of our skilled lawyers.

CONTACT A TAMPA AUTO ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

In short, after a car accident, you may not know your rights. Above all, don’t struggle through the process alone. Actually, our equipo de lesiones personales is here to help you with any legal needs you might have regarding your accident.

Lastly, let RHINO Lawyers answer your questions and review the facts of your case with a Free Consultation. So, get started by completing the “Free Instant Case Evaluation” or by calling us any time, day or night, at 844.RHINO.77.

Could Data Collected From an Insurance Tracking Device Be Used to Devalue Your Claim?

If you own a car like most Americans, shopping for car insurance that provides the best coverage at an affordable rate can be challenging. Many insurance companies offer a discount for using an insurance tracking device. As the consumer, this seems like a win because if you don’t have any accidents, you’re saving money.

Yet, insurance tracking devices can be used against you when it matters. After all, these devices collect information about your driving habits. If you happen to be in an accident, they can use this data when determining your claim amount.

Understanding how an insurance tracking device can affect you is critical. Here is what you need to know about an insurance tracking device.

How Does an Insurance Tracking Device Work?

When you select to participate in insurance tracking, the company will track your driving in two ways. The first way is with a telematics device that plugs into your car to collect data. The second way is with an app used on your mobile device.

Data That Is Being Collected With an Insurance Tracking Device

While each company will have its own rules around what information is being tracked, they will analyze several driving habits. Insurance tracking devices collect information about your speed, acceleration, and braking, for starters.

If you are driving fast in areas of low speed, this data could be used against you. If you frequently stop or hard break, this can negatively impact you if you have a claim.

Another data the insurance tracking device collects is how often you drive. Mileage is a crucial measurement of how often you are at risk of an accident. The more miles you drive, the more chances you could be in an accident. Additional data collected through an insurance tracking device are sharp turns, phone usage, and the time of day you drive.

For example, if you drive between 12 am-5 am, insurance companies may view that as a high risk for an auto accident. During those hours, more people tend to drink and drive low visibility, and there is more chance for drivers being tired during these hours.

How Are Insurance Companies Using Data from the Insurance Tracking Device?

Insurance companies are using data from an insurance tracking device in many ways. They can use this data to determine your rates.

For instance, say you are paying one rate for a 6-month insurance term and decide to use the tracking device. Your rates could increase based on your driving habits on your new term.

Insurance companies may also use your driving data and share that information with affiliate marketers. Since these devices need your location-enabled, it is a possibility that you are sharing your data with a third party.

Insurance companies have used data from tracking devices for accidents and claims. Insurers can learn more about the time of an accident and use the device to determine what happened. As a driver, you should understand the raw data from the insurance tracking device, which can have a negative impact on you.

How Insurance Tracking Programs Affect a Car Accident Claim

When you sign up for an insurance tracking device program, you are granting your insurance company permission to use any data collected to resolve a claim. It is essential to be aware of this as the data gathered can devalue or even deny your claim.

One of the main ways insurance companies retain their profits is to minimize their claims. If you are involved in an auto accident and file a claim against a driver that hit you, the insurance company will gather any evidence. Since there aren’t clear regulations on who can access your driving data, an opposing insurance company can gain access to this data.

The opposing insurance company could use this data to say you were accelerating too quickly or using your phone during the accident if that insurance company can show that you had any fault in the accident that could reduce your claim amount.

You want to consider the risk of using an insurance tracking device because it can provide skewed data. The only information it is collecting is about you and your car. It doesn’t consider other drivers, pedestrians, or any other external factor that could affect your driving habits.

For example, if you were trying to avoid an accident and slammed on brakes, the insurance tracking device wouldn’t recognize that you were a defensive driver. The raw data they collect would only show aggressive braking.

How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help?

Insurance companies use the data collected from insurance tracking and a specified formula to determine your settlement amount after a car accident.

Yet, this data and formula do not calculate the long-term impact of a car accident on you.

A personal injury lawyer can help because they know a fair settlement amount based on medical expenses, lost wages, mental trauma, and more. That’s why it is always a good idea to contact a lawyer for advice about insurance tracking device usage and how it can affect your claim.

Legal Advice You Can Trust

If you have used an insurance tracking device and have been in an accident, your next steps will make all the difference. Your insurance company can devalue or deny your claim based on data collected by the tracking device.

By contacting our skilled attorneys, we can listen and understand how to build the best case to maximize your compensation for your losses. Contáctenos hoy so we can get started working for you.

CONTACT A TAMPA AUTO ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

In short, after a car accident, you may not know your rights. Above all, don’t struggle through the process alone. Actually, our equipo de lesiones personales is here to help you with any legal needs you might have regarding your accident.

Lastly, let RHINO Lawyers answer your questions and review the facts of your case with a Free Consultation. So, get started by completing the “Free Instant Case Evaluation” or by calling us any time, day or night, at 844.RHINO.77.

How Insurers Mislead Crash Victims About Hiring an Attorney

In 2019, there were 4.5 million car crash injuries that required medical attention. For each personal injury after a car crash, there were medical bills and treatments.

Who pays for those expenses? Of course, it’s the reason you have car insurance and the reason you hope the person who hit you also has car insurance.

It’s likely that every time a car crash injury occurs, there’s an insurance company that will need to pay out. Here’s the dirty little secret, insurance companies like you to think they are there to protect your interests, but in reality, they don’t like to pay money out in claims.

Often, in fact, they’ll work hard to avoid having to pay or work to pay the bare minimum to you. So, if you want advice about car crash injuries, it’s smart to get a lawyer.

Read on to learn how insurers mislead car crash victims and why you need to consult a personal injury lawyer to handle your case.

Thinking of Going It Alone? Why You Need to Get an Attorney

For many victims of car accidents and resulting injuries, they assume the insurance company will automatically do right by them. In fact, many victims may start out trying to deal with their insurance company on their own.

This is what the insurance company hopes you’ll do. Then they can make you a settlement offer quickly and hope you’ll accept it.

While you might be facing medical bills and be anxious to get funds from insurance, you might not fully know all of your expenses right away. Most people, who are not lawyers, don’t fully realize all the things that can be a part of an accident claim.

This is what the insurance company is banking on. They can get you to agree to their first early and low offer.

The opposite is also possible without the help of an attorney. If you have multiple insurance companies involved in your claim, nobody wants to pay. Or they expect the other insurance company to pay. Meanwhile, you need to wait while the sides tussle it out.

Be Prepared to Handle the Insurance Company

After an injury accident, the last thing you need is to deal with a difficult insurance company or one that’s not straightforward.

So, you need to have your guard up for the potentially misleading statements. Let’s take a look at some things an insurance company might say to you to get you to avoid hiring an attorney.

The Lawyer Will Take A Big Chunk of Your Settlement

First, any honest attorney will tell you if they think you’d be better off without an attorney.

The insurance company knows they will get away with offering you less if you don’t have an attorney. On the flip side, an experienced personal injury lawyer will know all the things that should be a part of your claim. This might include things like compensation for missed work or money for your pain and suffering.

Will you need to pay an attorney? Yes, but you’ll be paying for their experience. Which, in the long run, will get you a larger settlement.

The Insurance Company Will Look Out for Your Best Interest

If you hear an insurance adjuster say this to you, it should alarm you. Remember, who the insurance adjuster works for, the insurance company.

It’s their job to look out for the insurance company, hoping to pay out as little as possible, not you. When the insurance company employs them, they can’t be looking out for your best interest.

Your Claim Value Is the Same With or Without an Attorney

Here’s the problem with that statement, you don’t know what you claim is really worth. The insurance adjuster and the personal injury lawyer can figure out what it’s worth because they have experience.

If the insurance adjuster tells you your claim is worth a certain amount, you are taking a leap of faith that they are including all they should in the claim.

The truth is that an experienced attorney will know all the things that should be included in your claim and hold the insurance accountable for including those in your claim. Some of those things include:

• Pain and suffering
• Cost of future medical care
• Punitive damages

They can include things like lost wages for caregivers and make sure you have all the rehabilitative care you might need too.

The Claims Process Will Slow Down With an Attorney

While your attorney will want to gather evidence and consider all the facts and that takes time, the truth is that often an attorney can speed up the process, especially if the insurance company is giving the brush off.

The attorney can put together a concrete settlement package with a timeline attached to it. This means the insurance has to respond and keep things moving along.

The Insurance Company Will Need an Attorney If You Hire One

Don’t let the threat of them hiring an attorney dissuade you from protecting yourself. First, your attorney is likely going to negotiate with the adjuster.

If the case goes to trial, the insurance company will bring in its attorney. Be assured, they already have an attorney at their disposal if the case proceeds, don’t let this empty threat throw you off.

Accept This Offer or We’ll Withdraw All Offers

The insurance company is obligated to pay its claims and do so in good faith. They can’t refuse to pay a claim if you’re insured. This is often an empty threat to get you to accept an early offer.

Hire a Personal Injury Attorney to Protect Your Interests

Personal injury cases from an auto accident can get complicated quickly when there are multiple insurance companies involved.

The average person doesn’t have the knowledge to understand all that can be included in a claim. They also don’t have the necessary experience to negotiate the best possible settlement.

Because this is what a personal injury attorney does all the time, they won’t be intimidated or fooled by the insurance company’s tactics.

Avoid Insurance Company Trickery After Car Crash Injuries

Car crash injuries are awful and can really throw your whole life into a tailspin. You deserve the right compensation for your accident claim.

Have you been in an accident with injuries? We can help you handle the insurance company and get you the settlement you deserve. Contáctenos hoy for a free case review and we’ll get started working on your behalf.

CONTACT A TAMPA AUTO ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

In short, after a car accident, you may not know your rights. Above all, don’t struggle through the process alone. Actually, our equipo de lesiones personales is here to help you with any legal needs you might have regarding your accident.

Lastly, let RHINO Lawyers answer your questions and review the facts of your case with a Free Consultation. So, get started by completing the “Free Instant Case Evaluation” or by calling us any time, day or night, at 844.RHINO.77.

Willful Car Collisions in Hillsborough County

An average of 254 hit-and-run fatalities happens each year in Florida, with that number only continuing to rise. Most people can’t imagine hitting another person or car with their vehicle and then fleeing the scene. Unfortunately, it happens more than you think. Protecting yourself from willful car collisions is important when you’re driving on the road. You need to think about so many things when you’re operating a car. Unfortunately, you have to worry about the other people on the road as well.

This guide will go over ways to prevent being in a car accident, especially if a negligent driver caused it. Be proactive and find ways to protect yourself and your car when you encounter negligent drivers.

Don’t Get Confrontational

If you were in a car accident and didn’t cause it, your first instinct might be to get out of your vehicle and confront the other party. In many situations, that’s not the greatest idea. The negligent driver might be under the influence, resulting in them being dangerous or aggressive.

If you can see that the other driver is behaving erratically, it’s best not to make eye contact with them or confront them. If they approach your car, stay inside and keep the doors locked. Notify the police immediately.

Watch Out for Distracted Drivers

It seems that more and more distractions get added to vehicles every year. From in-car WiFi to smart systems, plenty of things are going on inside a car to capture someone’s attention.

To protect yourself from distracted drivers, you first need to notice them. Seeing a phone in their hand or another type of distraction in their vehicle is a sure sign they’re not paying full attention to the road. You’ll notice that they’re distracted most of the time based on how the car is moving.

Look out for drivers who are:

• Erratically or needlessly changing their speed
• Going much slower or faster than the speed limit
• Unpredictably weaving throughout traffic
• Stopping longer than necessary at a stop sign or traffic light
• Not staying in their lane

The driver could be under the influence or fatigued, but they could also be distracted. If you start to notice a distracted driver, there are a few things you should do. They are:

• Keep your car as far away from them as you can
• Assume that they’re unaware of everything around them
• Try to get past them, or slow down so they can get ahead

Your goal should be to keep you and your vehicle as far away from the distracted driver as you can. You want to minimize how much risk you’re exposed to.

Be Wary of Tailgaters

We’ve all had cars that follow us so closely that we can’t see their headlights in our rearview mirror. There are a variety of reasons a person will tailgate you. They’re not necessarily important when thinking about how to protect yourself.

While you can’t control the other driver, you can reduce how much of a threat they pose to you. No matter how tempting, don’t slam on your brakes. That’s a dangerous tactic for every vehicle involved.

Take a deep breath and stay focused on driving. Check your speed to ensure you’re not driving considerably slower than the speed limit. Give them room to pass you, if needed.

If you can, pull over to the side of the road. Sometimes there’s no way to win with a tailgater. Getting out of their way is essential to protecting yourself and your car.

Watch Out for Inebriated Drivers

Drunk driving is incredibly dangerous. In addition to carrying with it all the risks that reckless drivers have, you also have to deal with a driver whose judgment is impaired. Drunk drivers show the same signs as distracted drivers.

You should respond to a drunk driver the same way as you would a distracted one. Create as much distance as you can between your vehicle and theirs.

Don’t try to stop them or get their attention by yelling or honking. Doing so will increase the likelihood of an accident occurring. Police officers and emergency service workers are trained to deal with drunk drivers.

If you can, make note of the car’s license plate, make, color, and model. Pull over and contact emergency services to report the drunk driver. Tell the dispatcher the following items:

• You want to report a drunk driver
• Describe the car
• Give the nearest cross-streets
• Describe the driver’s behavior

Once you’ve made the call, you’ve done everything you needed to. You’ve reported the driver to the proper authorities. You’ve also removed yourself out of harm’s way.

Don’t Lend Negligent Drivers Your Car

Prevention is also another way to protect yourself and others from willful car collisions. If you know someone is a reckless driver, or that they’re under the influence, don’t let them get behind the wheel. Lending someone your car puts yourself and your property at risk.

Have Car Insurance

Auto accidents do happen even if you do your best to avoid negligence on the road. Having car insurance is essential to protecting yourself financially. Your insurance company will cover medical costs, car repairs, and other items if you’re in a car accident.

Additionally, you should also have health insurance. While car insurance does cover some medical costs, health insurance will provide you with added benefits. While you can’t always avoid reckless drivers, you can protect yourself as much as possible.

NEED Help With Willful Car Collisions

Being mindful of the other drivers on the road is essential to avoiding willful car collisions. Unfortunately, car collisions do happen. It’s vital to have an experienced auto accident attorney on your side.

Contáctenos hoy for a complimentary consultation.

CONTACT A TAMPA AUTO ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

In short, after a car accident, you may not know your rights. Above all, don’t struggle through the process alone. Actually, our equipo de lesiones personales is here to help you with any legal needs you might have regarding your accident.

Lastly, let RHINO Lawyers answer your questions and review the facts of your case with a Free Consultation. So, get started by completing the “Free Instant Case Evaluation” or by calling us any time, day or night, at 844.RHINO.77.

What Happens When a Driver Accepts a Plea Deal for a DUI?

One of the worst things you might think of happening to you is getting a DUI.

Florida has plenty of people that pay the price for this, with over 32,000 people in the state getting arrested for DUI charges last year.

When you think of a DUI, you may think of automatically losing your license or even going to jail.

But, what if there was a way out of that? What if there was a way for you to have lighter charges against you than you might have expected?

A plea deal would be the best way for you to be able to take that option. This is what you need to know if you want to accept a plea deal.

Reducing Charges

In a plea deal, one of the key pieces of the negotiation between the prosecutor and the defendant’s lawyer is the reduction of charges. For a DUI, that can potentially mean avoiding jail time, reducing fines, and reducing the time of your license suspension.

When you accept a plea deal, one thing that might happen is that the penalties for your charges get reduced. An example would be that in Florida, you can be fined up to $1,000 for your first DUI.

Your DUI attorney may get a plea deal for you that reduces that fine to the state minimum of $500.

If you are lucky, other plea deals can allow you to have the DUI charge dropped entirely. One example could be that if there is not sufficient evidence to prove that you had a DUI. Such as a breathalyzer test. Then they may negotiate for you to accept a lesser charge that was piled on such as unsafe driving.

These can be minor changes that end up on your record. But allow you to avoid a bigger criminal offense and more severe penalties from something like a DUI.

Number of Offenses

El number of offenses you have in the past will be a big factor in how much leniency you get with a plea deal. For example, it is highly unlikely that you will go to jail for your first offense for a DUI. You would most likely have more room to negotiate a plea deal in that situation.

Whereas if you are on your fourth offense, there are going to be higher minimum penalties for a DUI. Plus, the judge and prosecutor are going to be tougher on you. Because you keep coming back into their courtroom for the same charge.

Another example of this is the license suspension length. For a first offense, you may be able to get your months of suspension down to the minimum. But, on your fourth offense, it jumps up to a permanent license suspension with you not being eligible for hardship reinstatement for five years.

So, do not expect to get as easy of a plea deal if you have more priors. The stronger the evidence and the case are for the prosecutor, the less negotiation room you have for your case.

Judge Can Reject It

When it comes to plea deals, they are generally made between a DUI lawyer and a prosecutor. What that means is even if an agreement is made between those two people, a judge has to sign off on it.

If the judge does not like what they are seeing on paper or feels that your punishment is too lenient. Then they have the power to reject the plea deal. They must declare this before you enter your plea. But nevertheless, that type of decision could impact whether you would want to plea guilty.

Say you get your fourth DUI and there is a negotiation going on between an attorney and the prosecutor over how much jail time you will serve. Those two may agree to give you 90 days in jail, which is just 60 days over the minimum amount required.

However, the maximum amount that you can give in this situation is five years, so a judge in this situation may feel like you are getting off easy by only having to serve 90 days. In that situation, they would reject your plea deal and demand that there be a longer jail sentence on your plea.

Avoiding Trial

One of the best reasons to take a plea deal is to avoid trial. For a DUI, you would have to be strongly confident that you are completely innocent of the charges that are against you.

Not going to trial allows you to avoid the possibility of facing even more severe penalties. And more severe charges on your record. On top of that, it can also save you a lot of money in attorney fees.

If you were to go to trial, you would have to pay your attorney more money for more hours of their time in a courtroom defending you. This is not always necessary. So in the case of a DUI, the majority of the time it is beneficial for you to take the deal to avoid this financial burden.

Hire a Lawyer to Get a Plea Deal

The best thing to have in your back pocket to get a plea deal is an experienced lawyer with DUI cases. Our representation can not only save you time but potentially save you money. As well as, your privilege to drive, and even your freedom.

Are you a loved one looking for representation to try to get a deal for your DUI charge? Contact us today to learn more about what steps to take.

CONTACT TAMPA TRAFFIC TICKET ATTORNEY

RHINO Lawyers can help and guide you through a system molded by law enforcement, judges, and lawyers for decades. Having won cases for our clients in similar circumstances, our criminal defense team knows what it takes to fight on your behalf.

Let RHINO Lawyers answer your questions and review the facts of your case with a Free Consultation. So, get started by completing the “Free Instant Case Evaluation” or by calling us any time, day or night, at (844) RHINO-77.

Can I File a Claim for Compensation for a Single-Vehicle Crash?

The single-vehicle crash accounts for many of the 341,000-plus auto accidents that the state of Florida experiences each year. These accidents are often non-fatal, but they can result in serious injuries.

You might think the motorist is automatically at-fault in all such cases and ineligible for compensation. If so, you’d be wrong. You can receive compensation for a single-vehicle crash, but there are some parameters that must first be established.

Cause Must Be Established

The first step to getting compensation for a single-vehicle auto accident is to establish the cause. This is vital if the accident was unavoidable and caused through no fault of your own. Below, we’ll examine three scenarios where this might occur.

Pedestrian Versus Vehicle

Laws tend to favor pedestrians when it comes to pedestrian-versus-vehicle accidents, as Florida is the most dangerous state in the US for pedestrians. That said, it’s not automatically the motorist’s fault when such an accident occurs. As you’ll learn later in this article, there are circumstances where the fault is not your own.

Vehicle Versus Property

Striking property with a vehicle is another case that brings with it a higher burden-of-proof on the motorist. Property isn’t going anywhere. It’s static and, thus, avoidable if you are paying attention to traffic laws. However, there are some scenarios where that may not be the case.

Rollover Accident

A rollover accident is another frequent cause of a car accident. These generally occur when one is traveling at a higher rate of speed, but again, there are contributing factors in which the motorist may not be at fault. In these cases, they are eligible for compensation.

Contributing Factors Must Be Established

Receiving compensation for a single-vehicle crash is as much about the contributing factors as it is the cause itself. Contributing factors are where you can argue your case and establish the accident as being the fault of a second party. Here are the most common contributing factors that will work in your favor.

Poor Infrastructure

Infrastructure issues can establish the fault of the accident on another party. For example, conditions on a property that violate code and instigate an accident can become the responsibility of the property owner instead of the motorist.

When speaking to your attorney, make sure you tell them about any circumstances that impaired visibility and made it difficult to proceed. Also, take pictures as soon as you can so you can capture the conditions of the infrastructure at the time of the accident.

Unaddressed Vehicle Hazards

Another case for car accident compensation in a single-vehicle accident can be made when there are defects with the automobile you were driving at the time. Particularly, undisclosed defects or malfunctions that have yet to be recalled and reported.

When this occurs, you would have a strong case against the auto manufacturer and, potentially, the individual or dealership from which you purchased. That’s provided the seller knew about the issues and did not disclose them.

Roadway Objects

Another contributing factor that can turn these cases in your favor is the presence of roadway objects. For example, let’s say that a logistics company is transporting a load that is not properly secured. If an object comes loose from the load and results in you plowing into a barrier or experiencing a rollover, then you would be eligible for auto accident compensation.

Improper Crossing

It’s also possible that a pedestrian could be considered at-fault in a single-vehicle accident. For starters, there is the question of whether they were using established crosswalks when attempting to pass in front of you.

You still have an obligation to avoid the pedestrian as a motorist. But if the pedestrian lunges out in front of your car and you were not exceeding the speed limit or violating any other rules of the road at the time, then you could be entitled to compensation.

Now that we’ve examined the pro-motorist situational aspects of a single-vehicle accident, it’s time to take action. Here are the steps you should take in the immediate aftermath of the accident.

1. Do Not Admit Fault

The immediate aftermath of an accident, one vehicle or otherwise, can be a disorienting time. That’s particularly true if you’ve experienced an injury of some kind.

Never admit fault in the aftermath of a single-vehicle accident. Police might seize on this because it can make the reporting easier, but you owe it to your case to work back through your memories of the accident. Admitting fault puts you behind the 8-ball.

2. Obtain Police Report

The police report will have a specific rundown of the events, including any parties and properties involved. It also will have a record of any citations issued.

The issuance of a citation does not necessarily mean you are at fault. You can still fight the terms of the citation in court. A win there can influence the case in your favor and make you eligible for some type of compensation from whoever was responsible for the major contributing factor(s) of the accident.

3. Address Any Issues

Single-vehicle accidents are only going to be successful in your favor if you address the issues that are potentially holding back your case. That means challenging citations, collecting photographs of the contributing factors, and speaking to an attorney about any further research that your case will need.

4. File Your Claim

That brings us to the claim itself. Go ahead and file, but think about obtaining an attorney immediately as well. It’s always possible that an insurance adjuster will try taking the easy way out by going no-fault or taking the word of a faulty police report.

Attorneys experienced in fighting one-vehicle accident determinations will be able to help you steer through this situation. They can push back and get their clients the kind of representation they deserve.

A Single-Vehicle Crash Can Be Compensated

If a single-vehicle crash occurs, don’t make the mistake of thinking that you have to simply accept what the insurance company is willing to give you. Instead, seek out someone who has your interests at heart and is good at pushing back against the common traps that these types of accidents can experience.

In Tampa and the surrounding area, those attorneys are RHINO Lawyers. Contact us today to see what quality representation looks like.

CONTACT A TAMPA AUTO ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

In short, after a car accident, you may not know your rights. Above all, don’t struggle through the process alone. Actually, our equipo de lesiones personales is here to help you with any legal needs you might have regarding your accident.

Lastly, let RHINO Lawyers answer your questions and review the facts of your case with a Free Consultation. So, get started by completing the “Free Instant Case Evaluation” or by calling us any time, day or night, at 844.RHINO.77.

What to do if You are a Victim of a Staged Auto Accident

What is a staged auto accident? This is when a driver purposely causes an auto accident so that they can make a fraudulent insurance claim. If you are the victim of a staged car accident, it may cause your insurance premiums to jump.

This is why it is important to take the right steps after car accident fraud. Do you want to learn more about the steps you should take if you believe you’re the victim of a fraudulent accident?

Keep reading this guide for everything you should do in this situation.

Understand the Types of Staged Accidents

One of the first things you need to do if you believe you were the victim of a staged car accident is to understand the types of staged car accidents. This way, it will be easier to identify what happened in your situation and will make it easier to know what steps to take.

First, there is a swoop and squat staged accident. This is when the driver in front of you is cut off and you rear-end them.

Next, there is something called a drive down. This happens when a driver waves you to merge into their lane and then hits you. Often, they will claim that they never waved you into their lane and that it was your fault.

Another common type of staged accident is a sideswipe. If you drift over slightly in your lane, the driver next to you will intentionally sideswipe you and claim that you drifted into their lane.

The last common type of staged accident is the t-bone. A driver will broadside your car and then claims that you ran a light or a stop sign and hit them.

Insist That the Police Come to the Scene

One of the first steps you need to take if you think that you’re the victim of a staged accident is to insist that the police come to the scene.

Often, these stagers will protest this and will claim that you can settle it between yourselves. However, they will try to convince you that the accident was your fault.

Instead, you need to call the police to the scene. When you call 911, make sure you tell them that you believe that it was a staged accident. This way, the police officers can look for helpful evidence.

Next, you also need to get a copy of the onsite incident report as well as the full police report.

Write Down Important Information

Next, it is vital that you write down as much information as you can about the accident, how it happened, and more.

First, you should write down the information about the other car. This includes their license plate number, how many passengers were in the car, and more.

You also need to gather their contact information, their driver’s license numbers, and more.

You may also want to write down how the other people involved in the accident behave while they wait for the police. Often, they will seem fine until the police come to the scene.

Then they will act injured when the police arrive to make their personal injury claim seem accurate.

Get Contact Information From Witnesses

When you are meeting with the police, you can also ask for contact information from the witnesses of your car accident. You can give this information to the department that is investigating the fraud.

Witnesses may be able to prove that the accident was staged and can provide other helpful insights into what happened.

Document Damage to Both Cars

The most important thing you can do if you believe you were involved in a staged car accident is document the damage to both cars. Make sure you write notes and take photos of both cars, even if it doesn’t seem like there is much damage.

This is because many stagers will file an insurance claim for much more money than the damage was worth.

Having photos of both cars will prove that there was not much damage to either of your cars.

Notify Your Insurance Company

After you gather any important information after your accident, you need to notify your insurance company of the accident. This way, you can get your claim filed as quickly as possible.

You also need to notify your insurance agent that you believe that you were the victim of a staged accident. Most insurance companies have a team that deals with auto accident fraud and can investigate the incident for you.

Hire a Car Accident Attorney

Finally, it is important that you hire a car accident attorney if you believe you were in a staged accident. They are experienced in these types of cases and can help prove your innocence in this case.

A car accident attorney will also help you receive compensation for your injuries or damages to your vehicle.

By having a legal professional on your team, you can feel confident that you will not be taken advantage of.

Are You the Victim of a Staged Auto Accident? We Can Help!

Insurance fraud is something that needs to be taken seriously. If you were the victim of staged auto accidents, it can cost you a lot of money and may even increase your insurance premiums.

By following each of these tips, you won’t be at fault after a staged auto accident.

Are you looking for a car accident attorney to help you through this process? RHINO Lawyers can help! Contact our team today to learn about our services and to get a free case analysis from our auto accident team.

CONTACT A TAMPA AUTO ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

In short, after a car accident, you may not know your rights. Above all, don’t struggle through the process alone. Actually, our equipo de lesiones personales is here to help you with any legal needs you might have regarding your accident.

Lastly, let RHINO Lawyers answer your questions and review the facts of your case with a Free Consultation. So, get started by completing the “Free Instant Case Evaluation” or by calling us any time, day or night, at 844.RHINO.77.

Symptoms To Watch Out for After an Auto Accident

In the United States, 4.4 million people are injured enough to require medical attention after a road crash. While some of these injuries may not seem serious, they may lead to worse complications or even death if they go untreated. By understanding what types of symptoms might indicate an injury after an auto accident, you can get the medical attention that you need.

Do you want to learn more about car accident injuries? Keep reading this article for the top symptoms of auto accident injuries to look out for after an accident.

Headaches

One of the most common symptoms that people experience after a car accident is headaches. You might experience a headache right after a car accident but headaches can also appear days after your auto accident.

Often, headaches are caused by whiplash, the tension in your neck or shoulders, and even due to anxiety or PTSD after your accident.

While headaches are typically a minor injury, they may be due to a more serious underlying issue. If your headaches last longer than normal or are worse than normal, you should visit your doctor to rule out any other causes.

Back or Neck Pain

Another common injury after an auto accident is neck or back pain. Most often, this pain is caused by stress and muscle tension after your accident. If this is the case, you can improve your pain by getting a massage or even by stretching.

However, other causes of back and neck pain include damage to your nerves or tissue, injuries to your muscles, and more.

Bruising

Next, it is common to experience bruising after being in a car accident This is because the force of the accident can damage the capillaries beneath your skin, which causes bruising and discoloration.

Often, bruises will get worse over the course of a few days after your accident and will heal on their own.

However, some car accidents can cause damage to your internal organs. If your bruising doesn’t improve after a few days, it can be a sign of something worse.

Abdominal Pain and Nausea

Something else that can be a sign of damage to your internal organs after a car accident is abdominal pain and nausea. When you wear a seatbelt during a car accident, it pulls tight across your body to protect you.

While seatbelts are effective forms of protection, they can also cause bruising and internal damage to your body. If you are experiencing serious abdominal pain or nausea, it can be a sign of internal bleeding or another serious issue.

Swelling and Stiffness

Something else that commonly occurs after a trauma, like a car accident, is swelling of your body. This can happen if you have damage to your muscles or tissue, whiplash and other sprains, and more.

Often, this swelling is accompanied by stiffness and difficulty moving. If you have minor swelling, you can improve this by icing the affected area. If it doesn’t heal on its own, you may need medical attention to improve your movement.

Swelling and stiffness also may not set in until a few hours or days after your injuries. Often, the swelling will get worse as your injuries are healing. If your swelling gets worse, you should also rest and elevate the injured area or wrap it to keep it immobilized.

Trouble Concentrating

Another serious symptom that often occurs after a car accident is trouble concentrating or problems with your memory. This most often occurs after a car accident where you hit your head or if you were in shock.

Even stress can make it difficult to concentrate and remember things. While it may not seem like a serious issue, difficulty concentrating may be an early sign of a brain trauma that needs to be addressed by a medical professional.

If your trouble concentrating stems from the stress of your accident, you may also need help from a mental health professional to resolve the issue. If you are experiencing memory loss or difficulty concentrating, this can also be due to a concussion. These are common injuries in a car accident and may require medical attention.

Dizziness and Blurry Vision

After a car accident, many people experience dizziness and changes to their vision. These can cause issues for weeks after your accident. Most often, these symptoms stem from concussions, post-traumatic stress, whiplash, and more.

If you have double vision or blurred vision after your car accident, these may resolve themselves. However, if it lasts more than a few hours or days, you may need to get treatment and testing to determine the cause of your vision changes.

Tingling Sensation

Finally, one of the auto accident symptoms includes a tingling sensation. If you were in a serious accident, this may be due to damage to your nerves or tissues in your back, neck, and shoulders.

This is also often accompanied by pain in the areas that have a tingling sensation.

Need Help After an Auto Accident? We Can Help

After an auto accident, it is important that you keep an eye out for these car accident symptoms to make sure you stay in good health. If you have been injured in an auto accident, it may be helpful to work with a lawyer.

If you are looking for a lawyer, RHINO Lawyers can help! Our attorneys can help you increase your settlement, reduce your medicals, and get money for your losses.

Contact us to get a free case analysis and learn how we can help you after a car accident.

CONTACT A TAMPA AUTO ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

In short, after a car accident, you may not know your rights. Above all, don’t struggle through the process alone. Actually, our equipo de lesiones personales is here to help you with any legal needs you might have regarding your accident.

Lastly, let RHINO Lawyers answer your questions and review the facts of your case with a Free Consultation. So, get started by completing the “Free Instant Case Evaluation” or by calling us any time, day or night, at 844.RHINO.77.

Car Accidents: What Does It Mean to Yield the Right Of Way?

Are you looking for clarification on what may or may not have led to your car accident? Do you want to learn the rules of the road and how they applied to your injuries? If so, then you need to first understand what it means to yield the right of way.

Every car driver has heard the term “the right of way” at one point or another; but what does it mean to yield the right of way for another driver.

See below for an in-depth guide on what it means to yield the right of way and why it’s such an important rule of the road.

What Does “Yielding the Right of Way” Mean?

When most people think of deadly car crashes, they tend to think of car accidents that occur on a highway, due to the higher speeds. However, you might be surprised to find out that intersections are just as dangerous, if not more so.

In fact, statistics from the Federal Highway Administration show that more than 50 percent of all fatal and injury car crashes occur at an intersection.

With traffic coming in so many different directions, it’s important that each driver understands the rules of the road and is willing to let their fellow drivers enter the intersection before themselves.

Yielding the right of way simply means that you’re allowing another vehicle to pass the intersection before you do. If everyone on the road applies this concept, then it can help everyone avoid an accident.

Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. Drivers fail to yield the right of way and, as a result, get involved in serious car accidents.

All it takes is two drivers to head into the intersection at the same time—from different directions—to start a fatal car crash.

If you’ve been the victim of someone else not yielding the right of way to you, then you need to hire a lawyer right away. They can help you identify the guilty party, file an auto accident lawsuit, and build evidence to support your claims.

When Should You Yield the Right of Way When Driving?

Almost every driver understands the basic concept of yielding the right of way: if someone comes to a complete stop at an intersection before you, you should allow them to enter the intersection first.

That said, there are different scenarios in which you need to yield the right of way. Let’s list a few of the major ones to ensure you don’t become the root cause of a future accident:

• Yield for any pedestrians waiting to cross the street at a crosswalk
• Let the signage lead the way; if you have a stop sign, you should yield to all incoming traffic from a lane that does not have a stop sign
• Whenever you make a left turn, be sure to yield to oncoming cars and pedestrians crossing the road you’re turning on to—don’t assume they’ll stop for you (even if you have the right of way)
• When you see a yield sign, be sure to observe for any oncoming traffic or pedestrians; you’re not required to stop at a yield sign

Why You Should Hire a Lawyer for Your Case

Many of you reading this article have sustained injuries due to someone else not yielding the right of way for you. See below for why you should hire a lawyer to represent you.

Get the Compensation You Deserve

You didn’t ask for this to happen. You were driving safely when suddenly, someone violated the rules of the road and caused a car accident.

So, you shouldn’t have to sacrifice your own financial well-being for an accident that you didn’t cause. If someone else is at fault, then their insurance company is liable for all of your lost income and costs.

When you hire a lawyer, they can help you pursue the compensation you’re entitled to. They’ll help you calculate things like medical bills, lost wages, and long-term costs to figure out the exact compensation you should hold out for in a settlement.

Peace of Mind

This is a stressful time. You’re trying to recover from serious injuries, make sure that your finances aren’t sabotaged, and try to settle with an insurance company. It’s too much.

When you hire a car accident attorney, you’ll find yourself much more at peace with the entire process. They’ll give you instructions to follow and take over as the primary representative for your case.

A lawyer will allow you to focus on your recovery while they work on building evidence and waiting it out for the right level of compensation. They can even direct you to a pre-settlement funding provider to pay for those costly medical bills in the short term.

They’ll Take Over Communications

If you’ve ever talked with an insurance company before, then you know how frustrating it can be. Just imagine trying to get them to hand over money. They’ll do anything they can to avoid that.

That’s why hiring an attorney is so crucial for your case. They will take over all communications with the insurance company so that you can focus on getting things back to normal.

Better yet, they’ll only update you on significant occurrences; that way, you aren’t tied up in the back and forth of a typical settlement.

Hire a Trusted Attorney for Your Case Today

Now that you have a firm understanding of what it means to yield the right of way, be sure to use this information to your advantage.

Take the time to read this article for more information on what to do after a fatal auto accident if you or someone you know has been involved in one recently. To get started, please reach out to us at 844.RHINO.77.

CONTACT A TAMPA AUTO ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

In short, after a car accident, you may not know your rights. Above all, don’t struggle through the process alone. Actually, our equipo de lesiones personales is here to help you with any legal needs you might have regarding your accident.

Lastly, let RHINO Lawyers answer your questions and review the facts of your case with a Free Consultation. So, get started by completing the “Free Instant Case Evaluation” or by calling us any time, day or night, at 844.RHINO.77.

7 Tips to Avoid a Car Accident When It’s Raining

Getting behind the wheel when it’s raining can be overwhelming for many drivers. The ability to drive safely when it’s raining is underrated and can be vital to saving your life. As well as, avoiding a car accident when it’s raining.

Driving in the rain increases the chances of car accidents claiming about 3,400 people and injuring 357,300 others yearly within the US. The problem with wet roads is that they’re slippery, and rain decreases visibility which can have catastrophic consequences.

You’ll therefore need to be careful to wade the situation and reach your destination safely.

One of the main ways for accident prevention is to postpone your trip. If possible, wait out for a few hours to avoid putting yourself in danger.

However, not every situation is delayable. If you must go, you’ll need to be prepared to face the conditions out there.

If the worst happens, and you get involved in an accident, you’ll need to hire a lawyer. A reputable car accident attorney will be best for you whether you’re injured in an auto accident or facing criminal charges.

Read on to learn the seven tips to avoid a car accident when it’s raining.

1. Ensure Ventilation And Wipers Are On

As a driver, you understand the necessity of having wipers on when it’s raining. It would be best if you also didn’t forget to ensure your car remains ventilated.

Your wipers are critical in the rain by clearing out water from your windshield. Having them on at an appropriate speed depending on the rains will ensure your visibility is retained.

Aside from the windshield, ventilation is necessary when driving in the rain. During such periods, humidity builds up on the inside, causing car windows to become foggy.

Unfortunately, visibility is a significant problem caused as a result, and you’ll need ventilation to combat that. By reducing the fog on windows, you’re offered access to visibility on the road and even for blind spots.

Ensure you pull over and wait out if you experience zero visibility.

2. Focus On The Road

Do you get quickly distracted while driving? Being alert is a necessity anytime you’re behind the wheel. Focus on the road is an extra precaution when driving in the rain and can assist you in avoiding accidents.

Distractions of all sorts, including your cell phone or even staring at sites, can end fatally for you. You wouldn’t want that, right? Be extra attentive on the road; check for road signs and stick to your specific lane.

It’s also imperative to look out for water puddles and avoid driving through them. Most of the standing water accumulates in potholes and, if hit wrongly, can cause the car to swerve. Avoid splashing water as well since it’s able to cause mechanical damage to your car.

3. Maintain a Safe Distance Between The Vehicles

It would be best if you protect yourself and other road users while driving. One of the major ways you can do this is by maintaining a safe driving distance between vehicles when driving in the rain.

In bad weather, cars tend to have less traction because of hydroplaning. Your vehicle, therefore, slides uncontrollably, which, if not managed, can end up in your car crushing. Maintaining a safe distance between you and the car in front of you will ensure you have a comfortable braking room.

Besides other cars, the distance also serves to reduce the risk of hitting pedestrians or animals crossing. You’ll have more reaction time with the distance maintained to brake or avert accidents.

4. Reduce Your Speed Cautiously

Speed is the number-one killer on roads. Safety when driving in the rain is largely dependent on the speeds you maintain.

Take your foot off the gas pedal to allow your vehicle to slow down, and make sure you have control before lightly pressing back. Low speeds while driving in the rain will assist with accident prevention.

When braking, avoid a hard press. You have higher chances of your car spinning out of control with hard braking, so be careful. It would be best if your braking were gentle to allow the car to gain traction on the road surface.

5. Turn on Your Headlights

As a driver, your visibility is paramount. Consider turning on your headlights to better your visibility when driving in poor conditions, including rain.

Having headlights on is a legal requirement when driving in bad weather. It, therefore, could be used in an accident when determining fault. Ensure that your hazard lights are off to avoid confusing other motorists.

6. Turn Off the Cruise Control

Do you enjoy driving with cruise control? Turning it off when driving in the rain can help avoid a car accident.

You’ll need control of your car to react appropriately when in the face of adversity. Disengaging cruise control is a smart move while driving in the rain.

7. Ensure the Tires Condition Is Perfect

Are your car tires well-treaded? Ensuring your tire conditions are in the best state can be imperative to avoiding car accidents while driving in the rain.

Tire traction loss is common in wet weather, having drivers to experience challenges while driving. It’ll serve you best if you check your tire condition before you start driving in the rain.

Consider The Above Tips for Accident Prevention When It’s Raining

You don’t always have to be worried about the challenges of driving in the rain. It would be best if you considered the above tips for accident prevention when driving while it’s raining. In the unfortunate event that you have an accident, hire a lawyer.

Are you looking for a car accident attorney? RHINO Lawyers are your go-to option. We are here to help in your car accident lawsuit, whether you’re injured or arrested. We believe in exceptional preparation to ensure no details are missed, which is critical to problem-solving and winning your case.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

CONTACT A TAMPA AUTO ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

In short, after a car accident, you may not know your rights. Above all, don’t struggle through the process alone. Actually, our equipo de lesiones personales is here to help you with any legal needs you might have regarding your accident.

Lastly, let RHINO Lawyers answer your questions and review the facts of your case with a Free Consultation. So, get started by completing the “Free Instant Case Evaluation” or by calling us any time, day or night, at 844.RHINO.77.