Car accidents happen all too frequently, which is why most states have laws that require all drivers to carry insurance and Florida is one of them. Vehicles can cause extensive property damage and severe injuries that require costly medical treatment. Insurance coverage is there to reduce the costs for people involved in an accident, whether or not they were at fault. By that logic, one of the seemingly worst things that can happen on the road is getting into an accident with an uninsured driver.
Getting involved in an accident with an uninsured driver may seem devastating but you do have legal options at your disposal. A seasoned personal injury lawyer can guide you through the claims process and protect your best interests every step of the way to help ensure that you’re compensated for your losses.
Understanding Your Legal Options After an Uninsured Driver Accident
When hit by an uninsured driver in Florida, accident victims have several paths to pursue compensation. Your own insurance policy may provide coverage through uninsured motorist protection, or you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit directly against the at-fault driver. A car accident attorney can evaluate your specific situation and recommend the most effective legal strategy based on the extent of your damages, available insurance coverage, and the negligent driver’s assets.
Gather Evidence Before You Make Your Claim
Your lawyer can help gather crucial documents such as bills and medical records. Getting these records from the hospital and police station can be difficult and time-consuming, and attempting to do so without legal help could be seemingly impossible. An experienced personal injury attorney can take some of the pressure off by going through the necessary red-tape to gather all the evidence they can to help maximize your compensation amount. This includes accident reports, witness statements, photographs of property damage, and documentation of all medical expenses and lost wages resulting from the collision.
Get a Lawyer to Negotiate A Settlement
If you choose to go through the process without legal representation, you’ll have to face the insurance company yourself. This means that you’ll likely have a visit from a claims’ estimator, who will ask you questions, hoping you’ll implicate yourself so that they don’t have to pay out as much money. It’s also commonplace for insurance companies to lowball victims, and once you’ve signed the deal, you can no longer pursue legal action.
With the help of a skilled negotiator who’s experienced negotiating settlements with insurance companies on the behalf of accident victims, you improve your chances of recovering compensation to cover all damages. A car accident claims lawyer understands insurance company negotiation tactics and can counter lowball offers with documented evidence of your accident-related damages. Having an attorney by your side can also help expedite the process to ensure that you’re compensated in a timely fashion.
Florida is a Partial No-Fault State
Partial no-fault states are those wherein drivers are required to have insurance to cover personal injuries, medical expenses, and lost earnings. In Florida, drivers are required to have a minimum of $10,000 in personal injury protection. When injured in an accident, regardless of if the other driver has insurance, you’re required to pull from your own policy for compensation, but sometimes that isn’t enough.
If the extent of your damages exceeds the amount covered by your insurance policy, you have the right to pursue compensation from the other party involved. In the event that party lacks car insurance, you may have to file a personal injury lawsuit to get the funds you’re owed. Florida law allows accident victims to step outside the no-fault system when injuries meet certain thresholds under Florida Statute § 627.737(2), including significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function, permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability, significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement, or death.
Legal Help Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit
The field of personal injury law is highly complex and best navigated by an individual with experience handling these types of cases. The Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers at Salpeter Gitkin, LLP are passionate personal injury attorneys with decades of experience representing South Florida accident victims. We understand the stress of suffering an injury as a result of a third party’s negligence. Allow us to take on the responsibility of securing compensation for all accident-related damages while you focus on recovering from your injuries. Contact us today at (954) 467-8622 for a free case evaluation.
