A car accident can leave you with serious injuries and in some cases permanent disability. While insurance companies can cover the damages, they tend to take advantage by downplaying victims’ losses to avoid paying them to the full extent of their damages.
If you have been injured in a car accident, an experienced car accident attorney can help you claim compensation for all your losses, including pain and suffering. Our team at Andrew Pickett Law can fight for you to help get full compensation and recover financially from the accident.
How Can a Melbourne Village Car Accident Attorney Help?
Florida laws on car accidents are complex compared to other states and require deep knowledge of the law to know how to proceed in order to get compensation. An experienced car accident lawyer can help explain your legal rights, walk you through the legal procedures regarding your case and help with the following:
Filing Your Case
There’s heavy paperwork involved in the filing process and multiple legal procedures to follow. Your lawyer can file the paperwork with the right people, i.e, the insurance company, car manufacturer, or the other driver, and make a strong claim on your behalf.
Gathering Evidence
Car accident attorneys know exactly what to look for in terms of evidence and how to represent them in favor of your case. In addition, your lawyer can have access to resources to help with the investigation in order to get more evidence to support your claims.
Negotiate a Fair Settlement Amount
Insurance company representatives can understate damages in order to pay the minimum amount. An experienced lawyer can represent your interests by negotiating a fair value to cover all your damages.
Represent You in Court
In the event that the other party doesn’t settle the case out of court, your lawyer will file a lawsuit on your behalf and represent you during the proceedings.
For a free legal consultation with a car accidents lawyer serving Melbourne Village, call 321-503-4014
Florida No-Fault Laws in Car Accident Cases
Florida is a no-fault state, which means that each driver’s car insurance company is mandated to pay for the victim’s losses regardless of who was at fault. Every vehicle owner within the state must have no-fault coverage, also known as personal injury protection (PIP) coverage.
PIP coverage covers the driver’s damages and their respective resident relatives up to $10,000 per person, per accident.
Melbourne Village Car Accident Lawyer Near Me 321-503-4014
Damages Covered by PIP Coverage
Damages sustained in a car accident include economic and non-economic damages. PIP coverage only covers the following economic damages:
- 80% of medical bills up to the $10,000 limit
- 60% of disability up to the $10,000 limit
- $5,000 death benefit for wrongful death
PIP coverage is also applicable if the victims sustained injuries while in someone else’s vehicle. To be eligible to receive the full $10,000 benefit, you must be diagnosed with an emergency medical condition by a licensed medical professional within 14 days of the accident, or the limit falls to $2,500.
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What If the Damages Exceed $10,000?
In cases where your medical bills exceed the $10,000 PIP coverage limit, you can file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company on their bodily injury liability policy. This policy has a limit of $100,000 per person, $300,000 per incident, and up to $50,000 in property damage.
For severe injuries, your lawyer can file a suit against the at-fault driver if the accident was due to negligence, to get you fair compensation for your injuries. A jury trial can be held and depending on the outcome, the court will determine your compensation amount.
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Compensation for Non-Economic Damages
Generally, non-economic damages are not covered in the state of Florida due to the no-fault laws. However, there are exceptions where you can claim compensation for non-economic damages from the at-fault driver’s insurance. Such damages include:
- Permanent disability.
- Significant or permanent loss of an important bodily function.
- Significant scarring or disfigurement.
- Loss of life.
Compensation, in this case, will depend on the limit of the at-fault driver’s bodily injury liability policy.
What Happens If the At-Fault Driver Has No Bodily Injury Liability Policy?
In cases where the other driver is uninsured, your insurance company can cover your losses if you have uninsured motorist coverage. If not, your lawyer can negotiate a settlement with the uninsured driver or take the case to court.
According to Florida laws, any vehicle owner who has no insurance or whose coverage limit is less than $500,000 is liable for an additional $500,000 for economic damages caused by their vehicle.
Property Damage in a Melbourne Village Car Accident
While property damage falls under economic damages, they are not eligible for compensation in a car accident. Damage to your vehicle can be covered by your car insurance company if you have property damage liability coverage.
Florida laws require every vehicle owner to carry a $10,000 minimum property damage liability insurance to cover vehicle damage in the event of a car accident.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Melbourne Village
The actions you take immediately after a car accident can go a long way in helping you build a strong personal injury case. Here’s what to do in the event of an accident:
- Can call 911 or visit a hospital near you. Both police and an emergency response team will be dispatched to the scene to provide medical care.
- Record your statement with the police at the scene to help with investigations.
- Exchange the following information with the other driver: name, address, driver’s license number, and insurance card information.
- Document the accident scene with photos of both cars, skid marks, your injuries, and other passengers’ injuries, etc., to serve as primary evidence of the accident.
- Notify your car insurance company, should they be liable to pay for damages.
- Hire a car accident attorney in Melbourne Village to help you with the filing process and sue liable parties.
Contact an Experienced Melbourne Village Car Accident Lawyer Today
Car accident cases in the state of Florida are very complicated due to the complex laws regarding insurance caps and fault. An experienced attorney can help you categorize your losses and file claims with the right people to get you maximum compensation for your losses.
Our car accident lawyers in Melbourne Village are well versed with the Florida legal system and have dealt with the most complex cases. If you have been injured in a car accident in Melbourne village, contact us today for a free consultation.
Call or text 321-503-4014 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form