Whether you live in Florida full time or only recently went for vacation, you likely felt dismayed when you were involved in a serious car accident. You suffered injuries that required medical attention and possibly even a stay in the hospital. Now, you are wondering what steps to take in order to seek compensation.
It may interest you to know that Florida is a no-fault state when it comes to insurance coverage of car accidents. This fact means that your insurance coverage will be responsible for paying your medical bills even if another party caused the injury-causing accident. Fortunately, that does not have to be where your pursuit of compensation ends.
Agreeing to a settlement
If you suffered serious injuries in a car accident, you may first worry about your recovery and then wonder how you will pay for your bills. As mentioned, your insurance company will hold the first responsibility to cover your bills. Of course, that may not always be enough. Luckily, you may still attempt to gain compensation from the driver considered at fault or his or her insurance company.
Many people and companies want to reach a settlement because this prevents any lawsuits moving forward. However, settlement amounts may not always reach a point that would cover your needs. They often depend on the following factors:
- Lost wages
- Severity of injuries
- Whether you hold partial responsibility for the accident
- Evidence and documentation provided
- Medical expenses
- Your insurance and the other party’s insurance coverage
If you do not feel that a settlement would work in your best interests, you do not have to accept one. Instead, you could pursue a personal injury claim.
Personal injury claims
Because the accident in which you were involved proved serious, you may have reason to seek compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. Of course, you may first want to focus on your recovery before considering this course of action. However, it may benefit you to remember that though you have a four-year statute of limitations for filing a claim after the car accident, you could lose vital evidence during that time. As a result, taking action sooner rather than later could work in your favor.
If you would like to gain more information on how car accident settlements and lawsuits are handled in Florida, you may want to consult with an attorney
