Fort Lauderdale Sideswipe Accident Lawyer

Side-swipe accidents can result in devastating injuries. If you were injured or lost a loved one in a side-swipe accident caused by another party’s negligence, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your damages.

However, insurance companies will try to shift blame to you to avoid or minimize their liability. You need the assistance of an experienced Fort Lauderdale accident lawyer to protect your rights and help you secure the full value of your claim. 

At Rosen Injury Law, our Fort Lauderdale side swipe accident lawyers have nearly 20 years of experience protecting car accident injury victims and their families. We have the knowledge, skills, and resources to help you recover maximum compensation for your damages. Call (954) 787-1500 or complete the short form on our contact page to schedule a free consultation to discuss your claim. 

Why Choose Rosen Injury Law For Your Fort Lauderdale Sideswipe Accident Lawyer

• Experience: Our Fort Lauderdale side-swipe accident lawyers have nearly 20 years of experience successfully handling complex car accident cases.
• Results: We have recovered over $125 million in compensation for our clients.
• Integrity: We will take your case only if we believe it has merit and that we can help you secure the maximum compensation for your damages. 
• Affordability: Our Fort Lauderdale side swipe accident lawyers will handle your claim on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing until we recover your compensation. 

What Is a Side Swipe Accident?

A side swipe accident occurs when the sides of two vehicles make contact while traveling in the same or opposite directions, or when the side of a car makes contact with another object. 

Some common ways side swipe accidents occur include: 

• Parallel lane collision. The most common type involves two vehicles traveling in adjacent lanes in the same direction, with one driver changing lanes or drifting into the other’s lane, causing side-to-side contact.
• Stationary object collision.  A vehicle may sideswipe parked cars, guardrails, concrete barriers, or other stationary objects along the roadway.
• Opposite-direction collision. Though less common, vehicles traveling in opposite directions can sideswipe each other when one crosses the centerline or fails to maintain its lane.

The initial sideswipe may be just the beginning of a catastrophic sequence of events involving other vehicles. 

Leading Causes of Fort Lauderdale Side Swipe Accidents

Sideswipe accidents in Fort Lauderdale typically occur due to someone’s negligence. Some of the most likely causes include:

• Improper lane changes are the leading cause of sideswipe accidents. Drivers may attempt to change lanes without checking blind spots, failing to use turn signals, or misjudging the speed and distance of vehicles in adjacent lanes.
• Distracted driving, including texting, talking on the phone, adjusting the GPS, or eating, can easily cause drivers to drift out of their lane and sideswipe other vehicles.
• Drowsy and tired drivers have slower reaction times and reduced awareness. A driver who briefly nods off can easily veer into an adjacent lane, causing a sideswipe collision.
• Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs severely impairs a driver’s ability to stay in their lane, judge distances, and operate their vehicle safely. 
• Aggressive drivers who weave through traffic, speed excessively, or intentionally cut off other vehicles create dangerous situations that can result in sideswipe collisions.
• Merging errors can occur when vehicles enter highway traffic and fail to yield to existing traffic. 
• Blind-spot accidents occur because every vehicle has areas that mirrors can’t cover. Drivers who fail to check blind spots before changing lanes may sideswipe vehicles they cannot see.
• Overcorrection accidents can happen when drivers swerve to avoid potholes, road debris, or other hazards and then overcorrect their steering, crossing into other lanes of traffic.
• Poor road conditions, whether due to dangerously designed roads or negligent maintenance, can cause a vehicle to leave its lane and collide with another vehicle. 
• Poor weather conditions from heavy rains in South Florida can reduce visibility and lead to hydroplaning. Strong winds, especially crosswinds on bridges and causeways, can push vehicles into adjacent lanes.
• Automobile defects such as tire blowouts, steering failures, or suspension problems can cause drivers to lose control and veer into neighboring lanes.

Each sideswipe accident requires careful investigation to identify the specific cause and establish which driver acted negligently.

How Florida’s Comparative Negligence Law May Impact Your Side Swipe Accident Claim

As outlined under Florida Statute 768.81, Florida follows a modified comparative negligence model, which can significantly impact your side swipe accident claim if fault is disputed. 

Under this comparative negligence rule, you can recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident, as long as you were not more than 50% responsible. However, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

For example:

• If your total damages are $100,000 and you are found 20% at fault, you could recover $80,000
• If you’re 30% at fault, you could recover $70,000
• If you’re 40% at fault, you could recover $60,000
• If you’re 50% at fault, you could recover $50,000

If you are determined to be 51% or more at fault, you will be barred from recovering any compensation, no matter how severe your injuries.

Defense attorneys and insurance adjusters understand Florida’s comparative negligence system and use it to minimize their payouts. They may argue that you were speeding, distracted, or failed to maintain proper lane position to increase your percentage of fault.

Common defense arguments in sideswipe cases include:

• You were in the other driver’s blind spot
• You were speeding or driving too fast for conditions
• You could have avoided the collision by braking or taking evasive action
• You failed to maintain awareness of your surroundings
• You changed lanes simultaneously with the other driver

At Rosen Injury Law, our Fort Lauderdale sideswipe accident lawyers know the tactics insurance companies try to use, and we know how to combat their strategies to hold them accountable for paying the full value of your claim. 

Florida’s Statute of Limitations in Side Swipe Accident Claims

A statute of limitations is a law that establishes a deadline for filing a claim to recover compensation in a personal injury case. If you miss your filing deadline, you will not be able to recover any compensation for your damages.

Florida’s statute of limitations for most car accident claims is two years. That means you must generally file your claim within two years of your accident. 

However, there are some exceptions to the two-year deadline. You may be required to act much sooner, or you may have an extended filing deadline. You must promptly consult an experienced Fort Lauderdale sideswipe accident lawyer to determine when you must file your claim. 

How a Fort Lauderdale Side Swipe Accident Lawyer Can Help

An experienced Fort Lauderdale side swipe accident lawyer can help establish causation and liability, take action to preserve vital evidence before it is lost or destroyed, and build your strongest claim. Being represented by a skilled Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer significantly increases your chances of securing maximum compensation for your damages. 

Contact Rosen Injury Law Today

The Fort Lauderdale sideswipe accident lawyers at Rosen Injury Law have a proven track record of securing maximum compensation for our clients, and we want to do the same for you. Call us today at (954) 787-1500 or visit our contact page and schedule a free consultation to discuss your claim.