RV Accidents

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Top Fort Lauderdale RV Accident Lawyer Today

At Bernheim Kelley Battista, LLC, our Fort Lauderdale RV accident attorneys have the skill and experience that victims and families can rely on in RV crash claims. If you have been involved in a crash with an RV, you already know the devastating effects that such an enormous vehicle can have. You need a lawyer who can fight for real justice and real results. Contact us today to set up your free, no-obligation consultation with a car accident lawyer in Fort Lauderdale.

RV Accidents: Know the Data

Motor vehicle collisions are among the leading causes of accidental injuries in the United States. As many as four million people are required to seek professional medical care for traffic-related injuries each year. According to data cited by Fifth Wheel Street, NHTSA estimates that around 70,000 people are injured in the United States each year in RV-related crashes. Notably, the large size of RVs makes these collisions disproportionately likely to result in serious injuries.

The Most Common Causes of RV Accidents

RV accidents can happen for many different reasons. What are the common causes of collisions? Some of the most common reasons why RV accidents happen in Florida include:

• Driver Inexperience: Many RV accidents occur due to operators unfamiliar with the RV's size, weight, and maneuverability.
• Speeding: Given their size and weight, RVs require longer distances to stop. Excessive speed can cause accidents when drivers cannot brake effectively.

• Improper Weight Distribution: Overloading or unevenly loading an RV can affect its stability and maneuverability, potentially leading to accidents.

• Equipment Failure: Breakdowns such as tire blowouts or brake failures can lead to serious accidents, especially at high speeds.
• Neglecting Vehicle Maintenance: Regular servicing is crucial to ensure the RV functions correctly

The Most Common Injuries Associated With RV Accidents

Due to their immense size, RV crashes in Florida can cause catastrophic injuries. Here are some of the most common types of injuries associated with RV accidents:

• Lacerations and Bruises: Flying debris, shattered glass, and impact can cause deep cuts and severe bruising.

• Whiplash: Sudden stops or changes in direction can cause neck injuries, with symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to debilitating pain.

• Fractures: Bones can easily break due to the force of a collision, especially in high-speed accidents.

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): These may occur from sudden impacts causing the brain to collide with the skull.

• Spinal Cord Injuries: Severe RV accidents can result in injuries to the spine, potentially leading to paralysis.

• Internal Injuries: These can result from blunt force trauma, affecting organs like the liver, kidneys, or spleen.
• Burn Injuries: These may occur if an RV accident leads to a fire or explosion.

Determining Fault After an RV Accident in Florida

One of the most important steps at the start of an accident claim is to clearly determine fault, which in turn will determine who is liable for the many damages resulting from the RV crash. In some cases, this can be a fairly straightforward process, especially with the help of things like dashboard cameras, eyewitness accounts, or a driver being cited or even arrested for a traffic violation. Other times, it can be extremely tricky to fully understand the cause. It is crucial that your crash is carefully and thoroughly investigated by an experienced attorney.

Most states use a law known as “comparative negligence” when assigning liability to different parties in an accident. Florida is not an exception. With this law, each party can accept a percentage of liability and still be entitled to compensation. For example, if you are involved in an RV accident, and you ultimately accept 10% of the fault due to the fact that you were driving above the speed limit, your final settlement will simply be reduced by that 10%.

To learn more, schedule a free consultation with us today.

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Calculating Damages After an RV Accident in Florida

Determining fault and calculating damages are two essential steps in completing any sort of personal injury case and may be done in tandem or separately. As long as it is clear that you are, in fact, the victim, your attorney will be able to pin down the details of your percentage of comparative fault as they calculate your damages. A lawyer can help show you how to dispute car accident fault.

Compensatory damages (the type a victim seeks in a personal injury case) are divided into two distinct subsections — economic and non-economic. Economic damages seek compensation for financially measurable impacts, such as your medical bills and lost wages. In contrast, non-economic damages seek compensation for more abstract, non-financial impacts, such as the actual pain and suffering your injuries have caused you and the emotional trauma you endured through a collision with such an enormous vehicle.

If you are wondering, “How much does an accident devalue my car?” then a lawyer can help you figure that out, too.

Understanding the Driver’s License Regulations for RVs

CDLs (commercial drivers’ licenses) are specifically intended for commercial truckers, so even though these licenses are required for people who drive large commercial vehicles, there are very few instances where someone needs a CDL (or any additional licensing at all) to operate a Recreational Vehicle, more commonly referred to as an RV or motorhome. In Florida, These large vehicles can be as large as a Greyhound bus in some cases, and a driver typically only needs additional licensure (typically a Class B CDL) when operating a motorhome that exceeds 26,000 lbs.

To realize the enormous size difference between a standard passenger vehicle and a 25,000 lb (under the CDL requirement) RV, consider this: a 2021 Ford F-150 weighs between 4,000 and 5,600 lbs, meaning that a driver can operate a vehicle up to 5x larger than this large passenger vehicle with zero additional training or certification. This can be a terrifying thing to think about while sharing the road with a large RV, and for good reason.

How Can BK Law Help in With an RV Accident Claim in Florida

Navigating an RV accident claim is never easy. If you are asking when to get an attorney for a car accident, the answer is now. You can benefit from hiring the right personal injury lawyer in Fort Lauderdale. At BK Law, we can build a comprehensive case to get you the money you deserve to ensure that you do not take on the financial impacts of someone else’s dangerous driving. RV insurance policies typically have higher policy limits for things like bodily injury liability and property damage liability, but these higher limits don’t mean that an insurer will voluntarily pay you what you are owed. Our law firm is proactive—we are ready to get started on your case right away. At Bernheim Kelley Battista, LLC, our Florida RV accident attorneys represent injured victims with the highest degree of care, compassion, and professional skills. If you or your loved one was hurt in an RV crash, we are ready to help. Contact us today for your free, no-obligation case review.