In Florida, if you are in a car accident and the other person is at fault, there are various forms of evidence that may be used in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. One type, which is also allowed in Pennsylvania, Illinois, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, is data from the vehicle’s black box. Black boxes may be found on many late model cars, as well as on commercial vehicles.
This data can help prove that the person who is at fault was speeding and driving in a hazardous manner.
Florida is a No-Fault State
In Florida, with most car accidents, the injuries and damages that are the result of such mishaps are usually covered by each person’s personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage liability (PDL) insurance policies. In the state, each driver must be insured for a minimum of $10,000 in PIP and $10,000 in PDL.
If it is a strict no-fault accident, in other words one in which each person’s injuries and damages are considered to be minimal and non-permanent, then the expenses associate with the car accident are paid by each person’s insurer. However, there are times when one can file a personal injury lawsuit claiming negligence. If this is the case, then the plaintiff may sue the defendant for damages that far exceed the minimum allowed by the state under no-fault.
When You May Sue
If you have been the victim of another driver’s negligence in the State of Florida, then you may file suit in civil court if there is:
- Permanent injury.
- Permanent or significant scaring.
- Disfigurement.
Such lawsuits must be filed within four years of the occurrence of the accident. If you have had a loved one who has been killed in a car accident due to another driver’s negligence, then you may sue the driver for wrong death. Reach out to a skilled West Palm Beach car accident lawyer for legal advice.
Black Box Evidence in Car Crashes
The black box in a motor vehicle records various forms of data, including that related to speed. When crash recreation investigators are in need of such information, they can get an accurate measurement from the black box that can be very useful. When combined with other information that they can garner from the accident scene, the data recovered from a black box can be compelling.
As an example, it’s one thing for a witness to say that the accused was driving at 100 MPH, but when the data from a car’s black box confirms that the speed topped specifically at 108 MPH, then you’ve got a very strong case if you’re alleging that speed was a factor.
Find Out: What You Need To Know If You Are got into a Car Accident
Contact to an experienced Personal Injury Attorney
If you have been in a car accident and believe that you may have grounds for a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit or if you have questions concerning such suits, contact the Law Team of Fetterman & Associates at 561-845-2510 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Because the laws in Florida are fairly vague, determining whether or not you have grounds for a case can be tricky.
For this reason, it’s best to consult with a personal injury attorney who has experience and success in settling car accident cases out of court and in winning such cases when they do go to trial.
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