You may be left with a large medical bill if you are injured in a Florida car accident. This is due to the hospitalization and emergency treatment you received. It may have taken a long time to heal or you might have needed surgery, physical therapy, or chiropractic care. Understanding car accident settlements is important.
Your injuries may have prevented you from doing your normal job. You may have to leave your vehicle because of damage. You may also be suffering from emotional trauma, pain, and suffering as a result of your accident.
If you are in doubt, contact an auto accident lawyer as fast as you can after the collision.
Settlements After a Car Accident: What You Need to Know
You may have considered hiring a Florida auto accident lawyer to recover the money spent on medical expenses and cover any losses resulting from an accident you did not cause.
A car accident attorney can help you recover all the money you have lost due to the collision.
When you work with your attorney about your car accident, it is important to understand the settlement procedure to better understand your legal options. This will help you make informed decisions and fully protect your interests.
The basis of car accident settlements is a simple proposition: If someone else caused the accident by failing to do their duty (through negligence or recklessness), and you were injured, traumatized, and inconvenienced as a result, you are entitled to compensation.
Settlements allow you to get back into the same financial position as before your accident. You can receive money for the total cost of your accident and to compensate you financially for any pain and suffering.
Timeline for Car Accident Settlements
The process of a collision is different for each one, but the steps that follow are similar. From determining the cause to hiring a lawyer and negotiating with the other side, to settling the claim, everything happens in essentially the same way.
What to do after an Accident?
If you are involved in an accident, contact the police and file a report. If the collision is injured or killed submit an accident report within 10 days with the municipality in which the accident occurred.
It’s best to dial 911 immediately after any accident, no matter how minor it may appear.
In Florida, all drivers involved in an accident are required to exchange their name, contact information, license plate number, insurance information, and driver’s license number. Anyone involved in an accident must provide reasonable assistance to the injured.
After the accident, we recommend that you gather as much information as you can and notify the police. Your car accident lawyer will need the information in the report of the responding officer to make a strong case for settlement.
The police officer will also be able to determine the cause of the accident, and if there was an intoxicated motorist involved.
Be careful with what you say, even if it seems like you are at fault. Avoid saying anything to indicate that you think you were responsible for the accident.
How to Contact Your Insurance Company and What to Say
Florida’s coverage for car accidents is different from other states. The minimum coverage required by drivers is Property Damage Liability and Personal Injury Protection.
No-fault insurance is used in the state. This means that the PIP coverage of each driver will cover all bills and expenses after an accident, regardless of who caused it. Your PIP insurance is sufficient for minor claims.
If you decide to sue your accident attorney, you will need to prove that the other driver was at fault.
Florida law permits drivers to file claims against a driver who is at fault for property damage and medical expenses. You must report accidents within the deadlines of your PIP or auto insurance policy. Otherwise, you risk having your policy canceled.
After an accident, only speak to your own insurance company and never to the insurance of the other party! Your car accident lawyer should be handling all communications with the other party’s insurance company.
How Much Compensation Can a Settlement for a Car Accident Recover?
Many people are curious about the amount of money they will receive in a settlement for a car accident, especially if their vehicle is still being repaired or replaced or if additional medical care needs to be paid.
Car accident settlements amount may vary widely depending on how serious the accident was, the number of vehicles involved and whether or not the driver at fault was driving a commercial vehicle.
Your medical professional will determine the extent of any injuries you have sustained and whether or not you need treatment. Your attorney will add up all of your medical expenses, including any ongoing treatment that you require to recover.
The settlement will include any amount that you require for long-term care (such as a nursing facility) or temporary or permanent disability.
In a settlement for a car crash, victims are compensated for their current and future discomfort or pain resulting from their injuries. This type of compensation is a bit harder to quantify and comes with a few conditions.
The insurance company will only pay one compensation for pain and suffering. Your car accident attorney will not submit this part of your claim until you have completed your medical treatment. You must also present a doctor’s release.
Most settlements for car accident lawsuits include several types of damages.
Medical Bills
In most car accidents, the injured party will be taken to an emergency room to check for any injuries that may not show up immediately. This could include soft tissue injuries and possible concussions. For more serious injuries, ambulance transportation and hospital stays can be expensive. They may also require specialty care such as radiology or surgery.
You can add these costs to the settlement if you need a home-health aide or a nursing facility to help you recover after you leave the hospital. Keep copies of all your medical bills and records for your attorney.
Property Damage
You can request reimbursement from the other party if your vehicle has sustained damage exceeding $500 (which is possible, even in minor accidents).
You can add the cost to replace the items damaged in the accident.
Medication costs
Most people are prescribed painkillers to manage their injuries and heal. Your settlement may cover the cost of painkillers and anti-anxiety medications to treat emotional trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that you experienced after your accident.
Your lawyer can include any copayments in your settlement demand, even if your insurance usually covers them.
Hospitalizations
A hospital stay can easily cost more than $1,000 per day. Many car accident victims do not need to stay over night, but some may require surgery or extended observation if they suffer head injuries. Also, keep copies of your hospital bills.
Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
You may need rehabilitation if you are injured in a serious accident. It takes time to recover from these injuries. Your car accident attorney will often wait until you have completed physical therapy, chiropractic care, or your post-surgery rehab before filing your claim.
Lost Income
You may be able to recover your wages if you are unable to work due injuries, or if you take time off work for rest and healing, and you may not be able to resume your normal schedule or perform the duties of the job that you held before the accident.
You may have to pay back your earnings potential if you are reduced to part-time work or given a new job with a lower salary because of an injury.
Modifications and Medical Equipment for Your Home or Vehicle
You may be temporarily or permanently disabled by a car accident. Some victims suffer from broken limbs and spine damage. They may also need to modify their homes in order to live independently. They may also need to modify their car for disabled drivers.
The settlement should include these expenses as well as any other medical equipment that you may need. Save all receipts related to home or vehicle modifications so that the attorney who files your claim can include them.
Car Accident Lawsuit Settlement FAQs
Your lawyer can answer all your questions! Here are some common questions that car accident victims have about their settlement. During your initial consultation, however, your lawyer for car accidents will provide specifics regarding your case.
What Is the Value of My Car Accident Settlement?
You can recover economic damage (the amount you paid for the accident) and non-economic damages such as pain and suffering. Your injuries will determine the amount.
Insurance companies calculate non-economic damage as a multiplier of the actual or economic damages.
What Is the Time Limit for Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit?
Florida’s four-year statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit for personal injury or a car accident is. If you do not file your lawsuit within two years after the accident, it will most likely be dismissed by the court.
What Will a Car Accident Lawyer Cost Me?
Most personal injury attorneys work on contingency, which means they charge fees only if they are successful in settling your case. It’s usually a percentage, but you will be informed of the fee structure during your first consultation.
Is It Possible to Get a Settlement Without a Car Accident Lawyer?
It’s not a good idea.
Lawyers who specialize in car accidents are familiar with the laws governing claims for auto accidents and how to correctly word court documents. Lawyers also have the expertise to negotiate or go to court with the opposing party.
Contact an Accident Lawyer if You Have Been Injured
Negotiate with the insurance company of the other party. An experienced lawyer who specializes in car accidents can help you receive compensation for your losses if a driver hits you.
Do not wait to contact a lawyer. Speak to an attorney for more information about how to get compensation following a semi-truck accident talk to Jenkins Law.
