Most people do not anticipate being involved in a car accident, and when they find themselves unexpectedly injured in a collision, it can cause numerous questions to arise. While the facts surrounding an accident vary from case to case, the concerns that develop after an accident may not depend on the specific cause of the accident. If you sustained injuries or damages in a South Florida car accident, it is crucial to meet with a trusted Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer to discuss your case and the actions that you should take to remedy your harm. Attorney Joseph I. Lipsky can analyze your case and advise you regarding the compensation that you may be owed.
While there are several questions that may arise following an accident, some questions arise more frequently than others. For example, one of the main inquiries following a car accident is who is responsible for paying the costs incurred due to the accident. Florida is a no-fault state, which means that if a driver is injured in an accident, the driver’s insurance company will pay 80% of his or her medical bills, 60% of any lost wages, and 100% of the cost of replacement services, regardless of who caused the accident, up to the policy limits. Some drivers have MedPay coverage as well, which can cover the cost of the remaining 20% of medical bills.
After a driver’s insurance coverage is exhausted, he or she may attempt to recover damages from the other driver involved in the accident. Florida drivers are not required to carry bodily injury liability coverage, however, and the other driver may lack the means to compensate you for your harm. In such cases, if you have uninsured motorist coverage, you may be able to obtain additional benefits from your insurance company.
If you were involved in a car accident, you should document all of your medical bills, lost wages, and out-of-pocket expenses caused by the accident. This will help the insurance company promptly and correctly assess the full amount of your damages. It is also advisable to speak to an attorney, even if you do not intend to file a lawsuit. An attorney can help you seek an accurate evaluation of your injuries and damages from your insurance company, and they can help you obtain your benefits in a timely manner. Additionally, if your insurance company undervalues your claim, an attorney can assist you in taking legal action to obtain the benefits that you are owed under the policy.
In the event that you wish to pursue a claim against the other driver, it is important to act promptly, since there is a limit on the amount of time that you have to pursue a claim. You should also speak with any witnesses to the accident and obtain any police report generated due to the accident. This can show whether the other driver was cited for a traffic violation or whether the police assessed fault to the other driver. Although Florida is a no-fault insurance state, this does not mean that fault cannot be attributed to a driver who causes an accident. Instead, when a lawsuit is filed to recover damages following an accident, the injured person, who is the plaintiff, must prove that the defendant driver caused the accident by driving recklessly or carelessly, and therefore the defendant driver should be held liable for the injured person’s harm.
When people are involved in car accidents, they typically have numerous questions regarding what they should do to recover monetary damages for their harm. Joseph I. Lipsky is a knowledgeable attorney who has the skills and experience needed to advise people harmed in car accidents regarding the claims that they may be able to pursue. Mr. Lipsky frequently assists victims injured in car accidents in Fort Lauderdale, as well as elsewhere in Palm Beach, Orange, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties, including in West Palm Beach, Orlando, Miami, and Key West. You can reach us at 1-888-352-5298 or via our form online to set up a free and confidential consultation to discuss your potential claims.