Whether someone stopped short on Las Olas Boulevard or a vehicle swerved into your lane on Andrews Avenue, your timely reactions may have kept you from colliding with the other car. However, you may still have ended up in an accident. When no-contact car collisions happen, you may still be eligible to recover compensation if another person’s negligent actions were the reason for the crash
In this article, we’ll explain how aFort Lauderdale car accident lawyer can prove someone else’s negligence and what you should do if you’ve been in a no-contact car collision.
What Is a No-Contact Collision?
No-contact collisions occur when one party’s actions result in another party’s accident, but without the vehicles coming into contact. For example, if someone runs ared light and you swerve to avoid them and go off the road. While they did not crash into your car, they still caused you to take actions that resulted in an accident.
Common causes of no-contact collisions aredistracted driving and drunk driving.In Florida, you can still pursue compensation if you were partially at fault.
These types of accidents often result in single-vehicle damage, such as hitting a guardrail, colliding with another object, or losing control and spinning out. Unfortunately, insurance companies may initially deny these claims because no impact occurred, making legal representation critical in proving fault.
Many no-contact crashes occur at intersections, on curved roads, or during lane changes where sudden maneuvers lead to an accident. In such scenarios, establishing the other party’s behavior is vital to your case.
What Should You Do After a No-Contact Car Collision in Fort Lauderdale?
If you’ve been involved in a car accident, your next steps are vital for protecting your health and your accident claim. You should:
- Seek medical care
- Call the police
- Document the scene by taking photos of the accident and your visible injuries
- Avoid taking blame when talking to insurance companies or the police
Challenges Unique to No-Contact Accident Claims
Unlike traditional vehicle collisions, no-contact claims often lack obvious visual evidence of fault. Without dents or points of impact linking two vehicles, you must rely on indirect evidence to establish responsibility.
Additionally, hit-and-run incidents where the triggering driver flees the scene can further complicate matters. If the negligent driver is unidentified, your claim may fall under your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, assuming you carry it.
A Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer can help identify alternate sources of liability and compensation, such as other drivers who witnessed the event or roadway cameras that captured the incident.
How Can a Lawyer Prove Negligence in a No-Contact Collision?
Because the other car did not make direct contact with your vehicle, it can be difficult to prove negligence. A Fort Lauderdale auto accident lawyer will thoroughly investigate the accident to demonstrate that these four elements of negligence were present:
- Duty of Care: The other driver had a duty to keep others on the road safe. They meet this duty by following traffic laws and behaving responsibly.
- Breach of Duty: The other driver failed to drive safely. For example, they were reading a text message and veered into your lane.
- Causation: Their actions directly led to the accident. For example, because they veered into your lane, you swerved to avoid them and ended up hitting a guardrail.
- Damages: The accident directly led to your losses, such as property damage or injuries.
YourFort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer can gather evidence that proves these four elements, including:
- Video Footage: This can include cellphone videos of the accident, as well as footage from dashcams, traffic cameras, and security cameras at local businesses. The aim of obtaining this footage is to see if it shows the behavior of the other driver, such as slamming on their brakes without reason or swerving in and out of lanes.
- Phone Records: In cases where the other party was distracted, your lawyer may obtain their phone records to prove they were talking or texting at the moment leading to the accident.
- Official Documents: Such as blood alcohol tests, police reports, maintenance records, and driver logs (for example, if the other party was a commercial truck driver).
- Eyewitness Statements: From drivers and passengers in other vehicles or bystanders.
- Expert Testimony: Such as from an accident reconstruction specialist.
These resources can form the backbone of a strong no-contact claim, especially when initial reports downplay the other party’s involvement. Early legal intervention ensures key evidence is preserved, including surveillance footage that may be routinely erased.
How Comparative Fault Impacts No-Contact Cases in Florida
Florida follows a modified comparative fault rule underFlorida Statutes § 768.81. This means that even if you were partially responsible for the crash, you can still recover damages as long as you are not more than 50 percent at fault.
For example, if you were 30 percent at fault and the court awarded $100,000 in damages, you would receive $70,000. However, if you are found to be more than 50 percent at fault, you may be barred from recovering anything. Insurance companies often use this law to shift more blame onto you. An experienced attorney can prevent this tactic from diminishing your claim.
Comparative fault frequently comes into play in no-contact cases where the defending driver claims they were unaware of the incident or asserts that your overreaction caused the accident. Legal counsel can challenge such defenses by reconstructing the scene and showing the foreseeability of the crash.
Common Injuries in No-Contact Collisions
Despite the absence of direct impact, injuries from no-contact collisions can be just as severe as those from traditional crashes. These include:
- Whiplash and soft tissue injuries from abrupt steering or braking
- Head trauma if the car strikes a fixed object
- Spinal injuries from vehicle rollovers or flips
- Fractures or sprains from losing control and colliding with terrain or roadside hazards
Documenting these injuries thoroughly with medical professionals strengthens your case, especially when the at-fault party’s insurance disputes the link between their actions and your harm.
Choose a Legal Team That Delivers Proven Results
At the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato, we understand the complexity and skepticism surrounding no-contact collisions. Our team has successfully handled high-stakes accident cases across South Florida and knows how to uncover the truth even when the other driver flees or denies involvement.
Some of our past results include:
- $3.85 million settlement in a truck rollover accident in Fort Lauderdale
- $5.25 million for a fatal truck crash involving a commercial vehicle
- $925,000 settlement for negligent security in a Miami shooting case
We investigate whether your vehicle was moved or towed before a full evaluation could be done. In some cases, this premature removal affects fault analysis. We leave no detail unchecked.
Our firm offers free consultations and works on a contingency basis. You pay nothing unless we win your case. Let us help you secure the compensation you deserve.
Contact a Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney
No-contact car accidents don’t mean that you’re on your own to pay for your losses. If you’ve been injured due to the careless actions of another party, a Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer can help you seek fair compensation from insurance companies.Atthe Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato, we fight for you. Our legal team has recoveredover $200 million in personal injury settlements. Call us today at (954) 633-8270 for a free case consultation.