In the event your injuries are serious or permanent, hiring a lawyer is strongly advised. The reason is that there is much more at stake – for you, as well as for the other party's insurer. Insurance companies are notorious for tactics intended to lowball those injured.
You need an auto accident lawyer who understands how to deal and negotiate with the at fault party's insurance company. An experienced lawyer can guide you through the process, hold the responsible parties accountable, and get you the fair compensation you deserve.
Hiring a motor vehicle accident lawyer after a car accident that was your fault is a good first step, before speaking to the insurance companies. Lawyers know how to deal with insurance companies and can help mitigate any claims that are made against you by the other parties involved in the accident.
In Florida, a person injured in a car accident is entitled to sue the at-fault driver and the owner of the at-fault driver's vehicle personally. Even if the at-fault driver has insurance, the injured person can still file a lawsuit for the amount of their damages against both the at-fault driver and the vehicle owner.
Florida is a "no-fault" car insurance state, which means the insurance claim process is meant to be more efficient after a car accident, since your own insurance pays for your medical bills and other economic losses.
Do what you can to eat sensibly, stay hydrated, exercise if possible, and follow your physician's recovery plan. In the event you are seriously struggling with guilt, you may want to consider asking for help from doctors, counselors, clergy, friends, or family.
State law does not require motorists to report every accident to police. Minor collisions and fender benders do not necessitate notifying law enforcement. The situations where you must notify the police of an accident include: Accidents that result in bodily injuries.
The average accident settlement in Florida is about $15,000. When injuries are severe, the average settlement is higher.
Under Florida's comparative fault rule, you are entitled to get 60 percent of the $100,000 total, or $60,000 -- still a significant sum, but not as much as the grand total of your damages. The comparative fault rule in Florida applies even if you are found to be more responsible for the accident than the other driver.
Florida is a no-fault state, which means each driver carries their own insurance to cover medical bills and car repairs up to a certain amount. More specifically, Florida Statutes § 627.736 requires drivers to carry PIP and property damage coverage policies of up to $10,000.