Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog
Florida is surrounded by water, with close to 1,700 rivers and streams, over 30,000 lakes, and about 1,350 miles of coastline. All that water creates stunning sunset views and lots of opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming, and more. Unfortunately, it can also pose a risk for drivers, especially with the more than 54 inches of rain falling in the state, on average.
The legal team at Flaxman Law Group has worked with many car accident survivors who have been injured because of flooding and water-related car crashes. Our team has recovered over $100 million for these and other survivors and if you’re injured we invite you to contact our Miami, Hollywood, or Homestead offices for a free accident consultation. We can talk about ways you can seek fair compensation for your injuries.
Flooding and Florida Car Crashes
Flooding poses a serious risk in Florida. Each year, cars are washed away by flood waters after storms and bad weather. Here’s how to reduce your risk:
- Listen to weather reports and avoid driving in any areas where flash flooding is expected or present.
- Never drive through flooded streets. It takes less water than most people realize to lose control of your vehicle and it’s often difficult to tell how deep waters really are.
- Never cross barricades set up around flooded areas. Take an alternate route.
- If you find yourself caught in flash flooding conditions, find high ground and call for emergency help.
Going into Water
In some cases, you may have no choice but to drive through a flooded area. This isn’t a decision to take lightly and it comes with many dangers. Only attempt to drive through a flooded street if there is no safe place to wait out the weather and simply staying in place is too dangerous. Then follow these tips:
- Never enter water where there are downed wires.
- Try to estimate how deep the water is and do not enter if it may be more than twelve inches.
- Look for floating objects. If there are objects floating towards you, they can crash into your car and cause severe damage and injury. In this situation, seek higher ground, instead.
- Drive slowly and steadily through.
- If your call stalls, restart the engine. If you can’t get the engine started and the water is rising, call 911 and get out of the car to seek higher ground.
- After you have left the water, dry and test your brakes by gently pressing the brake pedal.
In some cases, an accident may push you into deeper body of water, such as a river or lake. This is very dangerous, since your vehicle will sink, putting you at risk of drowning. Here’s what to do:
- Roll down your windows as quickly as you can so you have an escape route, and unbuckle your seatbelt.
- Help occupants of the car, especially young children or anyone who can’t escape themselves.
- Move calmly but quickly. You want to escape before the car submerges and water pressure makes it harder to leave the vehicle.
- Escape through the windows, pulling children and vulnerable passengers through first. Do not open the doors, since this will cause the car to sink faster.
- Push off the car and swim to safety. If you can’t swim, get to higher ground or something solid to hold onto and wait for rescue.
Getting Fair Compensation After a Water-Related Car Accident in Hollywood
Getting your rightful compensation after a water-related crash isn’t always simple. It may be a one-vehicle accident and your car may be totalled, meaning the insurer may balk at the costs.
In this situation, an experienced Hollywood car accident claims attorney can make all the difference. He or she can protect your rights and be persistent in negotiating with your insurance company.
What you need in this situation is a partner who will be on your side, which is why we recommend contacting us at Flaxman Law Group. Our family-based law firm genuinely cares about our clients. In fact, when you work with us, we give you our cell phone number. Whether you have a question or are getting calls from your insurer, you can always reach us for help. Schedule your free accident consultation today and let’s review how much your potential case may be worth.