One Killed, More Hurt in Auto Accident in West Palm Beach
A West Palm Beach man was killed and four others were injured in an auto accident last Saturday night just before 8:00 p.m. According to authorities, the accident occurred at Haverhill Road and Cresthaven Boulevard. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office reported that Johnny Lara, 19, was driving a 2009 Nissan Sentra on Haverhill Road when he lost control of the vehicle and drove into the northbound lanes.
Traveling in the northbound lanes was the driver of a 1999 Chevrolet pickup truck that was unable to avoid crashing into Mr. Lara’s vehicle, which had come into the path of the truck. Police reported that the front of the truck collided with the passenger side of Lara’s vehicle. Neither the driver nor the three passengers in the pickup truck were wearing seatbelts, and all were injured in the accident.
The driver and two of the passengers were transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center for treatment. One child in the truck who was not properly secured in a car seat was airlifted from the scene with serious injuries. Unfortunately, Mr. Lara was declared dead at the scene.
Florida Auto Accidents
In 2013, there were a total of 316,943 traffic accidents on Florida roadways. Of those, 2,402 people were killed. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, as of January 28 this year there have been 19,127 traffic accidents reported around the state. A total of 8,280 of those accidents have resulted in the injury of 12,507 people involved, and of 118 fatal accidents so far this year 129 people have died. In addition, the same Florida department has recorded another 10.729 accidents that have occurred across the state that have resulted in property damage costing over $400.
Compensation for Auto Accidents
Many people believe that compensation for auto accidents only covers the medical costs that occur right after the accident. However, the damages in this type of accident include far more than just the immediate medical bills. Compensation for an auto accident in Florida can include:
- Past, present, and future medical bills;
- Lost wages;
- Impaired earning ability;
- Disability;
- Scarring and disfigurement;
- Pain and suffering;
- Emotional distress;
- Loss of enjoyment of life;
- Loss of consortium;
- Lost opportunity;
- Wrongful death;
…and other costs that are reasonably related to the damage caused by the auto accident.
While personal injury protection (PIP) coverage may cover some of the damage caused in the accident, rarely does it cover all of the costs. Insurance companies will routinely try to get auto accident victims to settle their claims for far less that what they are actually owed, so it is smart to get an experienced auto accident attorney on your side.
Contact a Florida Accident Attorney
Auto accidents are scary experiences that can result in years of physical, emotional, and financial struggle. If you or someone that you know has been injured in an auto accident in the West Palm Beach area, let the experienced personal injury attorneys at Gary Roberts & Associates help. Call or contact the office today for a free and confidential consultation of your case.
