Thousands of children suffer fatal or non-fatal injuries in Florida car accidents annually. As a result, Florida, like every other state, requires children to ride in approved car seats or boosters. Florida child car seat laws are less restrictive than most states, though, only requiring children under six to use approved restraints.
After a car accident in St. Petersburg, FL, you may have the right to pursue compensation from a negligent driver who seriously injures you or your child. A St. Petersburg car accident lawyer from Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group can help you recover fair compensation for your family. Contact us online or call (772) 569-8155 to learn more and set a time for your free consultation.
How Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group Can Help After An Accident In St. Petersburg, FL
Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group has assisted injured clients in St. Petersburg, Florida, since 2005. Our attorneys have decades of combined legal experience and include a board-certified civil trial lawyer.
After an injury caused by someone else’s negligent or wrongful actions, our attorneys provide the following services:
- Conduct a free consultation to discuss your legal options
- Investigate your case and gather evidence to support it
- Submit an insurance claim and negotiate to resolve it
- File a lawsuit if a settlement cannot be reached
The injuries your child suffers in a car accident can change the course of their life. Contact Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group to schedule a free consultation with a St. Petersburg car accident attorney to discuss your child’s injuries and how we can pursue fair compensation for them.
What Factors Affect The Value Of A Car Accident Claim?
Under Florida’s no-fault system, you can only pursue compensation from the at-fault driver if your child’s medical costs exceed your no-fault policy limits or your child suffers a significant permanent injury. Thus, the severity of your child’s injuries and the medical expenses you incur will determine the value of the case.
What Compensation Can I Seek For My Child’s Injuries?
You can pursue compensation for economic and non-economic losses. Your child’s economic losses include past and future medical bills and the diminishment in their earning capacity due to their injuries. Their non-economic losses encompass the impact of their injuries on their quality of life.
How Much Does A Car Accident Lawyer Charge?
Car accident lawyers charge a contingency fee calculated at the end of a case based on the outcome. You pay a percentage of your child’s compensation as a legal fee if the lawyer wins or settles the case. If the lawyer fails, you pay no legal costs.
Can I Recover Compensation In Florida If The Other Driver Blames Me For My Child’s Car Accident Injuries?
Normally, Florida applies comparative negligence to allocate fault for a victim’s injuries. However, the state’s child car seat law presents an exception. The failure by a parent or caregiver to provide a child car seat is not considered comparative negligence. This means your child can usually seek full compensation for their injuries.
Do Car Seats Prevent Car Accident Injuries?
Children face many risks when riding in cars. Even if you strap them in using the vehicle’s seat belts, they can slip through them or suffer injuries to the neck and abdomen when they strike them. As a result, Florida created the following child car seat requirements:
- Children must ride in a car seat from zero through three years old
- They can ride in a car seat or booster seat at ages four and five
Once they turn six, children can use the car’s seat belts without a booster. However, Florida’s law is the minimum standard. The best practices endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control suggest the following:
- Rear-facing seats from birth until two to four years
- Forward-facing seats until five
- Booster seats until they reach the seat belts
Additionally, you should try to keep your child in the back seat.
What Causes Car Accidents In St. Petersburg, FL?
Road crashes typically involve a rear-end collision caused by tailgating, speeding, or distracted driving. These accidents are dangerous because children usually have weak necks and can suffer whiplash and concussions.
Intersection collisions typically involve a side-impact crash due to a failure to yield the right of way. If a vehicle is hit from the side, a child can get whipped sideways, injuring their neck, abdomen, or chest.
How Much Time Does Florida Provide To File A Car Accident Lawsuit?
Florida gives victims two years to file a lawsuit for car accident injuries. The time for your child’s claim starts running when they turn 18.
What Should I Do After My Child Is Injured In A Car Accident?
You should call the police to report the accident and your child’s injuries. When you leave the accident scene, take your child to a doctor or emergency room to diagnose their injuries and get a treatment plan. These records will help you prove their accident claim.
Contact Our St. Petersburg Car Accident Lawyers For A Free Consultation
A car accident can permanently disable or disfigure your child. Contact Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group for a free consultation to discuss your options for seeking injury compensation on their behalf.
