4 Things to Know After a Car Accident

The aftermath of an auto accident is a mix of emotions. If an injury has occurred, there is healing and treatment that must be addressed. If injuries are severe, there may be time off of work that has to be managed. The severity of the damages to your property is another concern, as well as the trauma and emotional pain that has occurred and how to move forward from it. If you have never been in an accident, you may not know what to expect, so here are a couple of things to understand.

Forms and Paperwork

Most of the time, you won’t be overwhelmed by paperwork. In fact, there isn’t much that you are going to have to take care of. You may, in some cases, need to fill out personal injury protection (aka a PIP application) for your insurance company. As far as paperwork goes, this application is pretty straightforward and simple to complete. It basically allows for your insurance company to gain access to your medical records as well as gain access to any lost income you may have had to endure due to the accident.

Not Wearing a Seatbelt

The reality is, wearing a seatbelt has been proven to reduce the risk of injury during an auto accident, as a result, this factor can limit the compensation you may incur from the party responsible for the accident. That being said, not wearing a seatbelt may not completely negate your claim, so it is still important to seek the assistance of a Florida car accident Lawyer.

Damages

The damages that you should expect to obtain compensation for include those that cover the injuries that you suffered and those for costs associated with repairs to your vehicle. Should damages to your vehicle exceed 80% of the fair market value of the vehicle at the time of the accident, you will forgo repairs and instead receive the total cost of the fair market value for the vehicle. This total amount does also include the sales tax. The reason for this is so that you can replace the car you lost in the accident.

When it comes to your bodily damages, compensation for the bills that you incurred to pay for necessary medical treatments which were not taken care of through your PIP would have the potential to be covered. The other costs which could potentially be covered would be any loss of income that wasn’t covered by your PIP.

As far as those damages that are not tangible, and cannot be directly measured, such as pain and suffering or mental distress, the assessment of compensation can be a little bit more tricky. The injuries you have suffered will need to be fairly severe, such as permanent injury or disability, in order to have a solid case for compensation. In most cases, it will be dependant on your doctor’s assessment to show that this severity exists.

Auto Insurance Providing Payment for Medical Bills

Florida is a no-fault state, so it does not matter who is at fault for the accident. Under state law, you must carry PIP with your auto insurance, which will be responsible for paying those medical bills you incur. If your medical bills exceed the PIP benefits, it then goes to your health insurance to cover the additional expenses.

Finding a Florida Car Accident Attorney

In 2017, the number of automobile accidents that occurred in the State of Florida totaled 402,385. Navigating your rights and benefits, as well as your potential compensation, can be complex and confusing. If you have been injured as a result of an automobile accident, this task can prove to be extremely overwhelming when in conjunction with trying to also recover and heal from your physical injuries.

You need an experienced Florida car accident attorney that can help. The trusted team at Fulgencio Law understand car accidents. Our lawyers have a combined 60 years of experience representing victims across the good State of Florida. Our client-friendly practices are geared towards you and are completely focused on addressing your specific needs. Don’t wait to reach out; speak with one of our compassionate layers. We are here to help. Call us at (813)463-0123 today.