If you’re like many Americans, you may have spent this past Memorial Day basking in the sunshine, barbecuing, taking a beach trip, and just generally enjoying some quality time off. But there’s a dark side to Memorial Day as well. While most people don’t know this, the four-day weekend is one of the most dangerous times to drive throughout the entire year.

Were you or a loved one involved in an auto accident on Memorial Day? You’re not alone.

On average, Memorial Day weekend has around 13% more deaths than non-holiday weekends. And Memorial Day itself sees 31% more auto accidents than the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before. This year, the National Safety Council predicted that 439 people would be killed from auto accidents. The past few years seen very similar numbers.

The Start of 100 Deadly Days

Think the worst is over? Think again.

Unfortunately, Memorial Day is just the start to a season of historically dangerous driving. The 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are considered the deadliest days for drivers. The Fourth of July weekend is especially notorious. The Independence Day holiday sees 37% more deaths than any other day in July.

Why? There are many reasons for the high number of driving accidents during the summer season and holiday weekends:

• Taking longer road trips, and overall increase in mileage
• Driving on unfamiliar roads
• Drowsy driving
• Speeding and excitement
• Driver distractions: more people, more new roads, more vacation plans to make
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Typically, all of these factors increase when schools are let out and the weather is more enjoyable. Teenagers dramatically increase the amount of new drivers on the road, and more families decide to take long road trip vacations to new and fun destinations – where they are unfamiliar with the roads.

And the warm weather also tends to bring with it a desire to cut loose and party as much as possible. From poolside get-togethers to barbecues to boating, people like to drink during the summertime. And it doesn’t take someone who is completely drunk to cause an accident either. Simply having a beer or two with friends may seem harmless, but it can be enough to dull reflexes to the point where someone isn’t able to drive as well as normal.

Keys to a Safe Summer

So prepare yourself for the dangerous roads this summer. Wear your seatbelt, put your phone away, and download ridesharing apps on your smartphone. If you plan on drinking this summer, remember that DUI accidents are preventable. Do not let yourself or your loved ones get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.

On holiday weekends, take the time and effort to host a safe holiday party. If you plan on taking a road trip vacation, plan your route ahead of time and make sure you give yourself enough time to drive, and enough time to get the rest you need to drive safely. As a general rule of thumb, if you do not have to drive, don’t. And keep your eyes peeled for drivers who may not be taking safety precautions as seriously as you.

Unfortunately, even after taking every precaution you may find yourself in an accident. Know what to do if you are injured in a car crash, and immediately call a Florida auto accident attorney to guide you through the possible lawsuits and claims that are ahead.

Car crashes are scary, dangerous, and can result in a legal and financial mess. Unfortunately, you are at risk of being involved in an accident each and every time you head out on the road.

Because of this, it is important to understand what information to gather, what benefits you are entitled to, and what may lay ahead in the next few weeks or months in the event you find yourself in an accident.

Below are several frequently asked questions that will tell you what steps you need to take to make sure you are doing everything you can to protect your rights and future.

What information do I need to gather after a car crash?

Failing to get thorough, accurate information is a big mistake. Here are a few things you cannot miss:

You need to collect the insurance information of all of the drivers involved. In Florida, it is illegal to drive without proper insurance. If there are drivers at the scene without insurance information, still record their names, phone numbers, and addresses. Also remember to record the license plate numbers and a physical description of any cars involved.

Additionally, you should make a list of any injuries at the scene, no matter how severe or minor. A slight neck or back pain after the accident may lead to more painful injuries down the road; recording any injury is crucial for tracing fault back to an accident.

Be sure to take photos and record eyewitnesses accounts of the crash. Pay close attention to any damage done to cars at the scene. Also record information about the road and weather conditions at the time of the crash. All of this information will help to correctly identity who is at fault.

There are many mobile apps that can guide you through what information to gather after a car accident with checklists, recording devices, and organizational tools.

 How soon do I need to file a claim?

The state of Florida gives you two years to file a wrongful death claim, and four years to file a personal injury lawsuit or property damages claim. If you discover that an accident caused an injury but it has been many years since your accident, you can still file a personal injury lawsuit within four years of discovering the injury itself. That being said, it is recommended that you file a claim as soon as possible.

Will I have to go to court?

In most cases, claims are negotiated and closed without you ever having to see the inside of a courtroom. However, if you and your personal injury attorney believe that it is in your best interests to go to trial, you want to be prepared.

What information should I give if I am the cause of a car accident?

You will need to give accurate, up-to-date information about your auto insurance. Giving the correct information will ensure fewer consequences and a quicker settlement.

Will I still receive coverage if I am the cause of a car accident?

Yes. Florida is a “no-fault” state when it comes to car accidents. This means that your auto insurance will help to cover your medical costs, whether or not you are at fault.

 Does the “no-fault” rule apply for all car accidents?

There are a few cases in which the “no-fault” rule does not apply to your claim. If the personal injuries include permanent damage or significant disfigurement, the claim will be settled in court under the “comparative fault” system.

Under this system, you are liable for costs depending on how much you were at fault for the accident. For example, if were in a car accident and your damages totaled $10,000, but it is determined that half the blame should be placed on you and half the blame should be placed on the other driver, you will only receive half of the total damages ($5,000).

The “no-fault” rules also will not cover every loss, whether you are a victim or at fault. It will not cover the cost of damages to your car or any other cars involved in the accident. It will also not cover vehicles that have been stolen.

Should I discuss the accident with another driver’s insurance company?

No. Contact your lawyer and ask him or her to give details and testimony for you. Speaking directly to another insurance company may end up hurting you in court. Unless the insurance company is setting you up with a rental car while yours is in repair and you need to discuss logistics, there is no reason for an insurance company to speak directly with you about the accident.

And under no circumstances should you try and negotiate payment with the other parties involved in a car crash. This can trap you into a lower settlement or cause other unfortunate problems.

Car accidents, unfortunately, happen all too frequently on roads in Florida and throughout the United States. And being involved in a car accident can result in property damage, injuries, and even death.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety determined that in 2013 there were 30,057 fatal motor vehicle crashes in the United States, which resulted in 32,719 deaths. Of those deaths, 2,407 fatalities occurred on Florida public roads – which turns out to be about 12.3 deaths for every 100,000 people.

Whatever the number of deaths, it’s too high, and drivers need to be more cautious than ever when they’re on the road for the safety of themselves and others.

Fatal car crashes can be caused by numerous factors. Let’s look at some of the most common causes and what you can do to avoid these perilous situations.

Reckless or careless driving. In Florida, the most dangerous driving behavior that causes fatal car crashes is reckless or careless driving. Careless driving involves failing to drive a motor vehicle in a careful and cautious manner. Reckless driving involves driving a motor vehicle with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of other people and property. Examples of careless or reckless driving can include speeding, tailgating, not using signals, running stop signs or red lights, and distracted or drunk driving. If you see someone on the road driving carelessly or recklessly, keep your distance from the vehicle, get to a safe location, and alert law enforcement about the driver.

Failing to stay in your lane. Drivers failing to stay in their lane kills the most people in a majority of states. This might look different depending on the situation. A driver might go off the side of the road into the shoulder or ditch. A driver might swerve into another lane – even slightly. Or a driver might continually change lanes for no apparent reason. When you’re on the road, be on the lookout for drivers who can’t stay in their lane. Then, get to a safe location and alert law enforcement.

Drunk driving. In 2013, there were 10,076 fatalities involving a driver with a BAC of 0.08 or higher – 31 percent of all crash fatalities on roads. This amounted to about one person dying every 52 minutes. While drunk driving can have serious consequences for both the driver and a victim, people continue to drive under the influence of alcohol when they shouldn’t and they end up paying the price. Pay attention to signs of a drunk driver on the road like swerving, weaving across the road, quickly speeding up or braking, hitting objects, driving anywhere but the road, or driving into opposing traffic.

Bad weather. While we don’t get snow in Florida, we do get rain – and lots of it. Rain covered roads actually tend to kill more people than roads with snow unless you live in the Midwest. Rain can make roads slippery, leading to difficulty staying on the road, braking, or avoiding a collision. Rain can also cause visibility issues, both due to the downpour itself and due to water splashed onto your car from other drivers. If you’re caught in a rainstorm, be cautious, drive slower, don’t brake suddenly, and avoid any standing water.

Car crash fatalities are a serious matter, and everyone on the road needs to be fully alert – regardless of whether you’re a driver or a passenger in a vehicle. If you or a loved one has been injured or was involved in a fatal car crash, contact an experienced car accident attorney today to see if you’re entitled to any damages.

About the Author:

Jeffrey Braxton is a trial lawyer in Fort Lauderdale who has devoted his 22-year career to the practice of personal injury law. As lead trial attorney for The South Florida Injury Law Firm, Jeff has litigated thousands of cases and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an exclusive group of attorneys who have resolved cases in excess of one million dollars.

A car accident is serious business. The outcome of a car accident could result in car damage, property damage, a ticket, raised insurance rates, injuries, and possibly death. Whatever the circumstances of your car accident, one thing is true – it can end up being expensive.

In Florida, as in every other state, it is illegal to drive a car without possessing car insurance. Florida wants to ensure that all of its drivers not only have insurance but that they are able to pay for the damages they cause or could potentially cause when owning and operating a vehicle.

Despite this, for some reason our state has a ridiculously high percentage of drivers who carry no car insurance whatsoever.

Today we will be looking at the benefits of having insurance in an auto accident and what auto insurance can do for you.

What Type of Car Insurance Is Required?

The Florida Financial Responsibility Law mandates that the driver of any vehicle must have insurance coverage in the event that the driver causes an injury or property damage to others during a crash.

Florida also has a minimum requirement for insurance. In order to register your vehicle, you must have $10,000 of personal injury protection (PIP) coverage and $10,000 in property damage liability (PDL) coverage.

Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage will help to cover your part of any medical costs or lost wages that may result from a car accident. In addition, PIP insurance also covers:

• Your child and other household members
• Your child if they ride on a school bus
• You if you’re involved in a car accident as a bicyclist or pedestrian
• You if you’re involved in a car accident as a passenger in someone else’s car
• Other passengers in your car if they don’t own a car or have their own PIP insurance

Property damage liability (PDL) coverage will help to cover any damages you may cause to someone else’s property during a car accident.

If you have been involved in a previous car crash or have been convicted of certain offenses, the Florida DMV may require that you purchase additional insurance coverage such as bodily injury liability (BIL) coverage.

It’s up to you if you would like to purchase additional insurance coverage. Additional coverage options can include collision, comprehensive, and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.

What if I Don’t Have Car Insurance?

When you own a vehicle but don’t have car insurance, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) will notify you by mail. You will also receive a notice if your car insurance gets cancelled for any reason. Your car insurance company will automatically alert the DHSMV to the cancelled policy.

If you receive a notification from the DHSMV, you will have to purchase car insurance by the specified date in the notice or your driver’s license, license plates, and car registration will be suspended.

If you want to reinstate anything that has been suspended, you will first need to show proof of having Florida insurance and then pay a fee. If it’s your first offense, you will need to pay $150. The fee is $250 for a second offense, and $500 for any offense after.

To avoid these penalties, show proof of insurance before the date on the notice and you won’t have to pay any fines.

You can show proof of insurance by going to your local driver’s license office, online at the DHSMV website, or by calling (850) 617-2000.

What Should I Do If I’m in a Car Accident?

If you’re involved in a car accident, you should follow these steps to make sure the accident is handled properly.

1. Call the police. Report the accident to the local police and have them come out to complete a crash report. If you don’t have a crash report filled out by a police officer, you may not receive full compensation for the accident and you may be exposed to personal liability.
2. Seek medical assistance. If there were any injuries, seek immediate medical assistance to make sure the injuries are taken care of and under control.
3. Exchange information with the other driver. If a police officer fills out a crash report, you will have the other driver’s information. However, if you plan to file the crash report yourself, make sure you have all of the other driver’s information such as their name, address, phone number, driver’s license, car insurance, and license plates. Having a smartphone makes it easy to simply take pictures of everything to record it later.
4. Call your insurance company. If you and the other driver both have car insurance, the insurance companies will take it from here and handle the situation based on the facts of the accident and your coverage amounts.

Not only is insurance in Florida required, it’s also beneficial in the event of an accident. If you have been injured in a crash, contact a skilled auto accident attorney to find out your rights and what compensation you may be entitled to.

In the event of a car accident, you probably won’t be thinking very clearly. But learning how to respond beforehand can help protect you from further physical harm, in addition to protecting your legal rights.

We all know car crashes happen every day—according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, over 300,000 accidents have already been reported in 2015. But do you know what to do when you’re the one behind the wheel?

Though a car accident can be traumatic, how you behave immediately after the crash will have an enormous effect on you and your passengers’ physical wellbeing and your legal liability.

1) Check for Injuries. After a car crash, the first step is to check yourself and any passengers for serious, life threatening injuries. If your car is still in motion, pull it over to the side of the road when it is safe to do so.

Florida law requires you to stop and check for injuries at the scene of an accident, and contact emergency medical care for anyone who needs it.  If your car is blocking traffic, you must move it out of the way. If your car cannot move, you are responsible for calling a tow truck.

It’s important to also keep an eye out for minor—but still serious—injuries. If you or any of your passengers complain of neck, head, or back pain, it is best not to move them until medical personnel arrive.

2) Stay at the Scene. This is critical—leaving the scene of an accident before it is appropriate to do so can leave you open to criminal prosecution. Even if your intention isn’t to flee from legal liability, you could be charged with a hit-and-run, especially if someone was injured during the accident.

3) Call the Police. In minor accidents, this may not be necessary. But if anyone was injured, or if there was more than slight damage to either vehicle, you are required to report the situation to the police. If you aren’t sure, it may be better to err on the side of caution.

4) Exchange Information. Talk to the other drivers who were involved in the accident. Exchange names, addresses, phone numbers, driver’s license numbers, license plate numbers, and basic insurance information.

While it is important to be as civil as possible with the other drivers, do not admit any fault in any way after an accident. This includes saying things like “I’m sorry, I just wasn’t paying attention to that stop sign.”

5) Talk to Any Witnesses. If there were any witnesses to the accident, try to get their contact information and ask them what they saw. Your insurance agency or attorney may need a statement from them later.

6) Take Pictures. Make sure to take pictures of any physical damage done during the crash—both to your car and any other drivers’ vehicles. Having pictures of any damage will help your insurance properly compensate you, especially if you have photos from before the crash. Taking pictures of other drivers’ vehicle damage will help protect you from fraudulent claims.

7) Contact Your Insurance Company.

As soon as possible, you should contact your insurance company to notify them of the accident. Inform them of any injuries and damage to your vehicle.

8) Keep Track of Medical Treatment and Property Damage. Keep careful records of any medical treatment you receive as a result of the accident, and obtain a valuation of damages to your vehicle from your insurance company. If you disagree with your insurance company’s assessment, you can get a third party estimate from a dealer or car repair specialist.

9) Speak to an Attorney. It’s often difficult to get the compensation you need from insurance company settlements. When insurance companies fail to cover the true cost of the accident, you may need to contact an experienced auto accident law firm to get the necessary compensation from the individual responsible.

About the Author:

Jeffrey Braxton is a trial lawyer in Fort Lauderdale who has devoted his 22-year career to the practice of personal injury law. As lead trial attorney for The South Florida Injury Law Firm, Jeff has litigated thousands of cases and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an exclusive group of attorneys who have resolved cases in excess of one million dollars.