We drive so much in Florida that it’s easy to forget how dangerous driving can be. In fact, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, automobile accidents are the leading cause of death for Americans ages 3 to 33, and the leading cause of accidental death for all age groups. When car crashes don’t kill their victims, they can leave them with very serious injuries, including brain damage, paralysis and other life-changing disabilities. And according to safety authorities, almost all of these wrecks could be prevented if one or more of the people involved had been a little more careful.

As dangerous as car wrecks can be, the stakes are even higher when motorcycles or large trucks are involved. Florida has the highest number of motorcycle accident deaths of any state. And statistics show that when cars and motorcycles collide, it’s most often the driver’s fault. Despite the growth in motorcycling in Florida, too many drivers still don’t look for motorcycles before they turn -- with tragic results for the rider. The opposite is true in accidents involving semi trucks (also known as tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers or big rigs), whose drivers frequently walk away from accidents that killed or catastrophically injured people in a smaller car. Because these multi-ton trucks have such great potential to do damage, truckers and trucking companies must follow strict regulations on rest breaks, maintenance, drug testing and other safety issues. Unfortunately, the trucking industry routinely ignores these laws in order to save money, putting all of the drivers around them at grave risk.

Under Florida law, your own personal injury protection auto insurance should cover most of the cost of treating minor and moderate injuries. That’s true regardless of who caused the accident. But under the law, people with certain serious injuries may sue the people who caused their accidents. The definition of “serious injuries” can be controversial, but the law specifies that victims may sue if they have suffered a wrongful death, permanent injury, significant loss of a bodily function or serious scarring or disfigurement. Victims may also sue in some circumstances where their injuries exceed the PIP insurance coverage available or when a third party, such as the manufacturer of a defective vehicle, is at fault. And unfortunately, some victims find that their own insurance companies won’t pay what they owe after a crash, forcing them to sue for a fair settlement.

If you’re in a situation like those because of someone else’s bad decisions, you should call Balliro. Our Miami-Dade car crash attorneys offer free consultations, at which we can review your case and your insurance coverage, and tell you more about your legal rights -- at absolutely no charge or obligation to you. We can also help protect your rights from interference, pressure or trickery by insurance companies, something that’s especially likely with serious and expensive injuries. And if we become your Sarasota truck accident lawyers, we will work hard to get you the best possible financial settlement, through aggressive negotiations or, if appropriate, thorough, professional representation in a lawsuit.

If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a car, truck or motorcycle accident in Florida, Balliro would like to help. To set up a free evaluation of your case, please contact us -- 24 hours a day and seven days a week -- at 1-866-INJURED or send us a message through our Web site.