Being in a car accident is stressful and frightening, no matter the circumstances. You immediately start thinking about your bills and how long it might take for the pain to subside. Because of stringent state laws, recovering losses from a vehicle accident in Florida can be incredibly complicated, even with good insurance.
If someone else’s negligence caused your collision, a personal injury attorney at the Daniels Law Firm can help. We are committed to helping clients navigate their car accident claims from start to finish, and strive to ensure they are thoroughly and justly compensated for pain and suffering, loss of income, and past and future medical expenses. We represent clients from across the state of Florida in car accident cases, and we will gladly represent you. Call today to discuss your unique case with a seasoned Jacksonville car accident lawyer.
Florida Statute §627.736 requires all drivers in the state to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance of $10,000. This no-fault insurance cover medical costs and lost wages for the insured, and may cover their passengers, and family members if they suffer injuries in a motor vehicle accident. Your PIP pays regardless of who was at fault in the crash.
PIP pays only 80 percent of the medical expenses resulting from the accident and 60 percent of lost wages. In addition, PIP coverage limits are low at $10,000. If you sustained an injury that requires significant medical care, you could exhaust this coverage quickly. This means that you should look to the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage to pay the balance of your losses after the accident.
A Jacksonville car crash attorney could help you pursue a claim with your PIP and the at-fault driver’s insurance. If the at-fault driver is well-insured, the claims could cover your out-of-pocket expenses. However, in cases of severe injury, you might have to bring a lawsuit against the at-fault driver to get full reimbursement.
Anyone seeking damages after a car accident must prove that someone else’s negligence caused the crash. Negligence means not using the same caution that a reasonable person would have used in similar circumstances.
In car accident cases, the at-fault driver usually was negligent. If the driver received a police citation, the violation of law is negligence per se, meaning that you do not need to prove the driver was negligent—the fact that they violated a traffic law is sufficient. If the at-fault driver did not receive a ticket, a Jacksonville attorney could introduce evidence showing that the negligent driver caused the car accident through a lack of reasonable caution or care.
In some cases, more than one person might have been negligent, including yourself. Florida law allows a negligent person to collect damages, but a judge or jury could reduce your compensation amount proportionally to your degree of responsibility, if applicable.
Additional parties besides the drivers could be found responsible for a vehicle accident. A Jacksonville attorney could investigate the car wreck and identify all the parties whose carelessness or recklessness might have contributed to it.
Similarly, the local government might be liable if an unrepaired pothole or other road defect had a role in the accident. Bringing all the negligent parties to the negotiating table could help ensure you receive adequate damages to cover your losses.
Collecting damages after a wreck is a complex and often frustrating ordeal. Working with a knowledgeable professional could speed up the process and ensure that you do not make any mistakes that might affect your claim.
If you were harmed in a car collision because of another person’s negligence, call our office immediately to discuss your unique circumstances with a Jacksonville car accident lawyer. Let us help you get the compensation you deserve for your suffering.
Millicent Daniels the Peoples Attorney
