On-road accidents are not unusual or unheard of in Florida. If you were injured in a serious car crash, you must take steps to protect yourself. Florida is a no-fault car insurance state. This means that you would have to file a claim with your insurer to seek compensation. The compensation will help cover your medical bills, lost wages, and other direct losses. If someone dies in such an accident, the immediate family members and children can file a claim under PIP coverage.
No matter what led to the accident, you need to consider hiring a reliable lawyer to evaluate your claim. Top firms like Loughlin Law P.A offer the option of consulting their lawyers for free, and you can eventually decide whether an attorney is right for you. Here’s more on what you need to know.
Stepping out of the no-fault system
Can you sue the party responsible for the accident? The answer depends on the nature of the injuries you have endured. Your injuries must qualify as “serious” as per the state laws, which may refer to injuries like loss of one or more bodily functions, a permanent injury, disfigurement, and permanent scarring.
Comparative fault in Florida
What if you have a valid claim against the other party but also have a share in fault? Florida follows the pure comparative fault rule, which means you can still sue the other side, even when you are more to be blamed for the accident. However, you will eventually lose a share of the settlement based on the fault percentage.
Deadline for filing a lawsuit
As per the statute of limitations in Florida, you have four years to file a car injury lawsuit. Compared to many other states, that may seem like a considerably longer period, but if you don’t take action immediately, you may lose valuable data and evidence. For wrongful death lawsuits, the deadline is two years from the date of death.
Get an attorney
Lawyers don’t charge an upfront fee for car accident lawsuits, and for victims, that could be a huge advantage. You don’t need to pay the lawyer until you win a settlement, and your lawyer will ensure all the norms and legal formalities are adhered to. They will talk to the insurance company or other parties as needed to get a fair settlement, and if the case requires a trial, they will prep accordingly.
Don’t delay in calling an attorney for your car accident claim.