Most drivers will, at some point, be involved in a car accident. Hopefully, that accident will involve property damage alone, but if you faced any injuries in your crash, you could be entitled to file an injury claim. However, the process can be confusing, and getting full compensation is often difficult without the help of an experienced injury attorney.
Our car accident injury lawyers help victims navigate the complex rules of Florida’s no-fault insurance system, and we work to help our clients get full compensation for their injuries.
For a free review of your car accident case, call us today at (954) 568-3636. Work with The Law Offices of David I. Fuchs, Injury & Accident Lawyer, P.A. to get the help you need after a serious car accident.
Getting Compensation Through No-Fault Insurance for a Pompano Beach Car Accident
Under Florida’s no-fault insurance system, you usually have to file a claim with your own auto insurance first before you can get any other compensation. Your auto insurance is required to have at least $10,000 in coverage for injuries and medical bills, and it should cover 80% of medical expenses and 60% of lost wages. There are special rules concerning what exactly this insurance covers.
Nonetheless, it is important to have a car accident lawyer review your case when dealing with insurance. First, you should recognize that even your own insurance company might seek to underpay claims and exclude certain areas of coverage to save money. For example, no-fault policies use strict limits on payments, they require you to pay a deductible, and they exclude pain and suffering damages entirely. Second, you should be aware that there may be additional damages you can claim beyond what your PIP coverage allows.
Filing a Lawsuit for Serious Injuries in a Pompano Beach Car Accident Case
If you have “serious injuries,” then you could be entitled to sue the at-fault driver for damages above and beyond what your no-fault insurance covers. This includes damages for “pain and suffering” and other non-economic damages.
Florida considers an injury “serious” when it meets the requirements of Fla. Stat. § 627.737. Under these rules, you can always sue for damages and claim compensation for pain and suffering damages if your injury involves one of the following:
- Permanent injuries involving loss of a bodily function
- Other permanent injuries (aside from scarring)
- Scarring or disfigurement (only if it is “significant”)
- Death
Often, medical experts must testify on your behalf that your injuries are sufficiently serious. For example, the text of the statute references “a reasonable degree of medical probability” when discussing whether injuries are permanent. This is something you will often have to have a doctor testify about to proceed with your claim.
If your injuries do not meet these standards, then you may be limited to claiming only what your insurance provides damages for. If you do meet these standards, then you are permitted to claim additional damages – but you often should not try to do so without the help of an experienced car accident lawyer in your corner.
Common Types of Car Accidents Our Attorneys Handle in Pompano Beach, FL
Car accidents can be caused by a wide range of factors. However, the following are some of the most common our attorneys see:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Other traffic violations
The following are some of the most common types of car accidents. Our car accident injury attorneys can help you with your car accident case whether the situation falls on this list or involved a different type of crash:
Rear-End Collisions
Many drivers are rear-ended by impatient drivers who tailgate them. When another driver is so close behind you that it becomes a safety hazard, the resulting accident is often their fault. In these crash cases, victims often face whiplash and other back and neck injuries that could result in permanent or serious injuries that could allow pain and suffering beyond the limits of your no-fault insurance.
Head-On Crashes
Head-on collisions are often some of the most serious crashes because the combined speed of both vehicles traveling in opposite directions often causes more substantial damage, especially at highway speeds. In these crashes, drivers and passengers can face substantial injuries that can cause broken bones; blunt force trauma; head, back, and neck injuries; amputation; cuts, bruises, and scrapes; and other substantial injuries. Often, it takes a reckless or drunk driver to cause a head-on crash.
Bike, Scooter, and Other Vehicle Accidents
If you were hit while riding a bike, scooter, or any other vehicle aside from a car or truck, our attorneys can also help with your case. Often, these auto accidents cause more substantial injuries to the rider, who does not have the protection of a car around them to insulate them from injuries.
Hit and Run Crashes
If you were the victim of a hit and run accident, our car accident lawyers can help you get compensation. First, we can use your no-fault insurance to get as much of your damages covered as possible. Second, we can work with police to try to find the at-fault driver, potentially bringing them to justice and helping you get additional compensation through a lawsuit.
Low-Speed Crashes
Even accidents in parking lots and other low-speed scenarios can cause serious injuries. As mentioned above, whiplash and back injuries are common in rear-end collisions, even low-speed parking lot crashes. If you suffered any injuries in your accident, it is serious enough to call our car accident lawyers can get a free case review.
Call Our Pompano Beach Car Accident Attorneys Today
If you were hurt in a car crash, call our Pompano Beach car accident lawyers for help. Contact The Law Offices of David I. Fuchs, Injury & Accident Lawyer, P.A. by calling (954) 568-3636 today. We offer free case evaluations.
