How Much Is My Florida Car Accident Case Worth?
After a car accident, one of the first things on most people’s minds is, “What’s my case worth?” The truth is, there isn’t a set dollar amount for every car accident claim in Florida. The value depends on several key factors. Knowing what can affect your case can help you make smart choices and keep you from settling for less than you deserve.
Every Case Is Different
No two car accident cases are the same. Some are minor, involving just a few scratches on your bumper. Others completely change your life with injuries that make working or just living normally a struggle. Settlement amounts vary widely depending on exactly what happened and how you were affected.
Damages are the heart of a Florida car accident case. The more severe and more lasting the consequences, the higher the potential compensation.
Medical Expenses Play a Major Role
Your medical expenses are usually a major part of your claim. These can include expenses related to:
- Emergency room visits
- Hospital stays
- Prescriptions
- Surgeries
- Future medical care
- Physical therapy
If your injuries are serious and you need extensive treatment, your case is probably worth more. Accurate medical records are important. They show exactly what you went through and how the accident changed your life.
Lost Income and Reduced Earning Ability
If you had to take time off because of your injuries, you can claim those lost wages. Sometimes, injuries make it impossible to ever return to your old job, or any job at all. For example, if you suffer a lasting back injury, you may no longer be able to perform physically demanding tasks, which may affect your earning ability. That loss or reduction in earning capacity is recoverable in your car accident claim.
Pain and Suffering Damages
Not every loss after a crash comes with a receipt. Florida law lets you seek compensation for non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, which may include physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, losing the ability to enjoy life, or even permanent scars and disabilities. These damages are harder to measure, but they’re just as real. Generally, more severe injuries mean greater pain and suffering damages.
Insurance Coverage Can Affect Compensation
Even with significant damages, your recovery may be limited if there’s not enough insurance available. Florida drivers are covered by Personal Injury Protection (PIP), but more serious accidents usually mean you’ll be dealing with the other driver’s liability insurance as well. If the driver who hit you doesn’t have much coverage (or any at all), it gets tougher to recover everything you’re owed. In cases like that, your own uninsured or underinsured motorist policy can help cover remaining damages.
Liability Matters
Fault plays a big role in Florida car accident claims. Under Florida law, if you share part of the blame for an accident, your compensation is reduced by that percentage. So, if you’re found 20% at fault, you’ll recover 20% less than your total damages. Evidence such as police reports, witness accounts, photos, and traffic camera footage can all be important in determining who was responsible.
A Florida car accident attorney can help investigate your case, calculate potential damages, collect the right evidence, and negotiate with the insurance companies for you.
Contact Us for Legal Help
If you were injured in a Florida car accident, don’t guess what your case may be worth. Contact an experienced Orlando car accident lawyer at Orlando Accident Attorneys today to understand your rights, evaluate your damages, and pursue fair compensation.
Source:
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0768/Sections/0768.81.html