Overview of Florida Auto Accident Settlements
Car accident in Florida? This article will help you understand the factors that most impact the potential auto accident settlement amount for your injuries and damages.
You’re in the right place, not only can we help with your claim, we can give you some Florida car accident settlement examples from our own case files. And if you have been involved in a car accident and have suffered multiple injuries, you might be wondering if you will be eligible for a higher multiple injury settlement. Read on for more information on typical car accident settlement amounts with injury.
What is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident in Florida?
If you were injured in a car accident in Florida, you are probably wondering how much money can you get from a car accident settlement. According to the car accident settlement examples listed on this page, the Florida car accident settlement average is anywhere from $300,000 to $6,100,000. Settlements in car accidents depend greatly on the unique circumstances of each case which is why there is no accurate average settlement amount for car accidents in Florida.
Many factors affect your car accident settlement payout amount. Every case is different, so the typical car accident settlement amounts with injury can vary depending on the severity of injuries, medical expenses, and other factors specific to each case. An additional factor is whether your attorney cannot negotiate a fair settlement with insurance. If not, they may recommend filing an insurance lawsuit. Learn more about Farmers insurance lawsuits as well as other insurance disputes.
At Abrahamson & Uiterwyk our Florida car accident lawyers research the specifics of your case extensively and represent you during negotiations.
Along with the factors that we will explain below, legal representation significantly affects your settlement amount.
Due to our experience and expertise, our attorneys help clients achieve a higher average settlement for car accidents in Florida.
The car accident attorneys of Abrahamson & Uiterwyk are ready to discuss your accident and possible settlement payout amount during a free case evaluation.
If you’ve been injured in a Florida car accident we invite you to contact us by phone at 800-538-4878 or online anytime to get answers from our qualified legal professionals.
Several factors affect your car accident lawsuit settlement, including:
- Negligence of the at-fault party,
- Any comparative negligence of the injured party,
- Extent of impact and property damage,
- Whether the at-fault driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol,
- Amount of available bodily injury insurance coverage with the at-fault vehicle owner and driver,
- Amount of available uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance coverage with the injured party, their resident relatives, and the car they are in,
- Severity of your injuries,
- Extent of pre-existing injuries,
- Ability to prove the injuries were caused by the accident, and
- Extent of your damages, including pain and suffering, past and future lost wages, and past and future medical bills.
Since settlement amounts are highly contextual, it’s best to discuss the specifics of your case with one of our personal injury attorneys.
FLORIDA CAR ACCIDENT SETTLEMENT EXAMPLES
2023 Settlements in Car Accident Examples from Abrahamson & Uiterwyk
If you are wondering what is the average settlement for a car accident in Florida, take a look at some of our recent 2023 car accident settlement examples as well as some from previous years.
At Abrahamson & Uiterwyk, we have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for our clients involved in auto accident lawsuits. Here are several recent auto accident settlement payouts we have achieved for our Florida clients.
Recent 2023/$150,000/Car Accident
Our client, who was 34 years old at the time of his accident and worked for an excavation company, was traveling south on Tamiami Trail on July 19, 2022. At that time, the defendant negligently turned directly into the path and collided with our client’s vehicle. The defendant was cited by the police for improper change of lane/pulling out in front of a vehicle.
Shortly after the accident, our client began experiencing pain primarily in his neck and right shoulder and sought treatment at a nearby clinic. After a course of therapy, he underwent an MRI scan of the shoulder which revealed inflammation and bursitis and was also suspicious for a tendon tear. Due to the continued pain, our client was referred to an orthopedic surgeon who recommended a procedure known as an arthroscopy to relieve the impingement in his shoulder. Our client opted for the surgery, and it was successful in relieving his pain.
We prepared a comprehensive demand package seeking compensation for our client from the defendant’s insurance company. The company fought us by arguing, among other things, that the side-to-side impact in the accident would not have resulted in a shoulder injury. We responded by pointing to the fact that our client had no history of prior shoulder problems and that his pain began right after the accident. Ultimately, through negotiation, we were able to convince the insurer to pay our client $150,000.00. We felt this was a solid result in the case, and our client was very satisfied with the outcome and with our representation.
2023/$160,000/Car Accident
Our client, a 73-year-old realtor, was involved in a significant rear-end collision on Valrico Rd. in Hillsborough County, FL. The defendant was found to have operated his vehicle in a negligent or careless manner by the police.
Immediately after the accident, our client began experiencing back pain as well as chest discomfort. He was taken to the hospital where he was found to have suffered a lung contusion among other injuries. As a veteran, our client followed up initially with his primary care doctor at the VA. He was prescribed medication and told the symptoms would likely improve with time. The pain in his back, however, continued and intensified over the next few months causing him to seek treatment and our representation. After an MRI scan showed herniated discs in his mid-back, our client came under the care of an orthopedic surgeon who recommended injection therapy including a procedure called radiofrequency ablation. This process, which our client underwent, involves heating of the spinal nerves to block the pain signals coming from the joints in the back.
After our client’s procedure, we presented a claim for compensation to the defendant’s insurance company. The company argued that the findings on the MRI scan were degenerative changes that were not caused by the accident. They also asserted that our client had very little treatment in the four-month period right after the accident. We negotiated hard and exchanged multiple demands and offers with the company. In the end, we were able to obtain a settlement of $160,000.00 for our client.
Recent 2022 / $938,077.05 / Motor Vehicle Accident / Rear End
Our client was traveling eastbound and came to a stop for traffic stopped ahead. The defendant failed to stop, and the front of the defendant’s truck slammed into the rear of the van our client was driving. The defendant driver alleged that our client made a quick and sudden lane change and a quick and sudden unexpected stop causing the collision. The defendant driver did not receive a citation for causing the accident.
Our client was transported by ambulance and treated at an emergency room for neck pain, back pain, and hip pain. Our client was involved in a prior motor vehicle accident where he suffered lower back pain a few months before the most recent accident. He had recovered well but still had some intermittent neck and lower back pain. After the most recent accident, his doctors opined he suffered an aggravation of previous lower back pain. An MRI of the lower back was compared to the MRI of the lower back taken in the previous accident revealing our client suffered from an aggravation of prior lower back injuries. The surgeon opined the client needed lower back surgery to alleviate the pain after all conservative treatments failed. Our client had lower back surgery. Unfortunately, one of the screws placed in the lower spine moved post-surgery and required yet another surgery to revise/correct the instrumentation & screw that moved post-surgery. Thereafter, our client required two other surgeries to both of his hips to alleviate his hip pain.
A demand was presented to the defendant’s driver’s insurance company. The defendant driver was insured with a 1 million dollar combined single limit policy. $16,922.95 was paid for property damage to repair our client’s work van. Only 983,077.05 of the combined single-limit policy remained. A demand was made for the remaining limits. The defendant’s insurance company merely offered 80,000 to settle the claim. That offer was rejected. The defendant’s insurance company claimed that our client was at fault for making a quick sudden lane change and also that all our client’s lower back problems were caused by his previous accident.
A civil suit was filed. A very lengthy deposition of the driver was taken promptly thereafter, which revealed the defendant driver was totally at fault for causing the accident.
The defendant’s insurance company offered 350,000 to settle the case at a mediation conference. That offer was rejected.
Several weeks after the mediation conference the defendant’s insurance offered 550,000 to settle the claim. That offer was rejected. A remaining policy limits demand was made yet again.
After the case progressed through the litigation process further, the bodily injury case settled several months after mediation for 983,077.05.
Our client was traveling eastbound and came to a stop for traffic stopped ahead. The defendant failed to stop, and the front of the defendant’s truck slammed into the rear of the van our client was driving. The defendant driver alleged that our client made a quick and sudden lane change and a quick and sudden unexpected stop causing the collision. The defendant driver did not receive a citation for causing the accident.
Our client was transported by ambulance and treated at an emergency room for neck pain, back pain and hip pain. Our client was involved in a prior motor vehicle accident where he suffered lower back pain a few months before the most recent accident. He had recovered well but still had some intermittent neck and lower back pain. After the most recent accident, his doctors opined he suffered an aggravation of previous lower back pain. An MRI of the lower back was compared to the MRI of the lower back taken in the previous accident revealing our client suffered from an aggravation of prior lower back injuries. The surgeon opined the client needed a lower back surgery to alleviate the pain after all conservative treatment failed. Our client had lower back surgery. Unfortunately, one of the screws placed in the lower spine moved post-surgery and required yet another surgery to revise/correct the instrumentation & screw that moved post-surgery. Thereafter, our client required two other surgeries to both of his hips to alleviate his hip pain.
A demand was presented to the defendant’s driver’s insurance company. The defendant driver was insured with a 1 million dollar combined single limit policy. $16,922.95 was paid for property damage to repair our client’s work van. Only 983,077.05 of the combined single limit policy remained. A demand was made for the remaining limits. The defendant’s insurance company merely offered 80,000 to settle the claim. That offer was rejected. The defendant’s insurance company claimed that our client was at fault for making a quick sudden lane change and also that all our client’s lower back problems were caused by his previous accident.
A civil suit was filed. A very lengthy deposition of the driver was taken promptly thereafter, which revealed the defendant driver was totally at fault for causing the accident.
The defendant’s insurance company offered 350,000 to settle the case at a mediation conference. That offer was rejected.
Several weeks after the mediation conference the defendant’s insurance offered 550,000 to settle the claim. That offer was rejected. A remaining policy limits demand was made yet again.
After the case progressed through the litigation process further, the bodily injury case settled several months after mediation for 983,077.05.
Our client was stopped. The defendant’s vehicle failed to stop causing the front of the defendant’s vehicle to ram into the rear of our client’s vehicle.
Our client visited with numerous physicians due to neck pain radiating into the arms. The physicians ordered an MRI of the neck. The neck MRI revealed a large, herniated disc. The client submitted to numerous injections in hopes of alleviating the neck pain and radiating symptoms. Unfortunately, all conservative treatment failed. Her surgeon recommended neck surgery. Our client was in so much pain she agreed to have neck surgery.
We presented a demand to the defendant’s insurance company. The defendant’s insurance company merely offered 150,000 to settle the claim. The defendant’s insurance company claimed that our client was somehow negligent in causing the accident.
Suit was promptly filed after this low-ball offer. The defendant driver’s deposition was taken to establish the defendant driver was primarily at fault for causing the accident.
Shortly after this deposition the case settled at a mediation conference for 400,000.
Our client and his spouse were in a vehicle, traveling on a road in the same direction as the defendant’s vehicle, when the defendant pulled off onto the shoulder of the road and made an illegal U-Turn in front of our clients’ vehicle.
Both of our clients suffered injuries to their neck and lower back. The MRIs of the neck and lower back revealed multiple herniated discs. The husband was involved in a motor vehicle accident several years before this accident which resulted in herniated discs to his lower back. The new MRI revealed he sustained an aggravation of his previous lower back injuries.
Our clients treated conservatively for neck and back pain with multiple injections. The husband’s conservative treatment failed. The surgeon recommended that the husband submit to a lower back surgery to alleviate his lower back pain and radiating symptoms caused by the aggravation to his pre-existing lower back injuries from the prior accident. The husband submitted to the lower back surgery and it was a success.
The wife suffered from intermittent and occasional neck and lower back pain after conservative treatment.
The defendant’s insurance company merely offered the husband and wife, 40,000 & 70,000 respectively to settle their claims pre-suit.
Suit was filed and the case progressed through the litigation process to a mediation. At the mediation the defendant’s insurance company offered 60,000 to the husband and did not increase their offer to settle the wife’s claim. Those offers were rejected, and the case was set for trial.
Two months before trial the defendant’s insurance company accepted the formal demands to settle the wife’s case for 150,000 and to settle the husband’s case for the full policy limits of 250,000 for a full and final combined settlement of 400,000.
On July 22, 2016, our client was attempting to make a U turn on Highway 301 in Dade City, Florida and was stopped in the median. The defendant was headed south on U.S. 301 when he left the roadway, crashed through a street sign and struck our client causing him to be pushed into oncoming traffic whereupon he was struck by a passing northbound vehicle.
This photo shows the damage to our client’s vehicle as a result of the accident.
The defendant later claimed that a phantom vehicle rear-ended him causing him to strike our client. Our client was transported to the hospital with back injuries and later followed up with several physicians. An MRI scan revealed large disc herniations in his lumbar spine. He exhausted all conservative care, including therapy and epidural steroid injections.
Ultimately, he required a discectomy operation to relieve the pressure in his spinal canal. Our attempts to settle the case before a lawsuit were rebuffed by the insurance company, which acted unreasonably and refused to take responsibility for the accident. Therefore, we filed a lawsuit against the at fault party.
During the course of the lawsuit, we pressured the insurance company to produce proof of their claims that they were not the at fault party, and that someone else had caused the accident. Eventually our pressure was successful, and we were able to force the company to pay $525,000.00 as compensation for our client’s injuries.
Our client was traveling on a main road in Homosassa, Florida, when a vehicle from her right, exited a private driveway directly into the path of our client. As a result of the other driver’s carelessness, our client impacted the side of the other vehicle. The impact was so severe that our client’s air bags deployed, and the vehicle was considered a total loss.
Settlement graph
After the accident, our client was transported to the emergency room where she was diagnosed with neck pain, chest pain and right arm pain. Following her discharge from the hospital, our client began conservative care with a chiropractor and underwent an MRI of the cervical spine and the lumbar spine. The MRI’s revealed multiple herniated discs in the cervical and lumbar spine.
Our client ultimately had surgery at both the cervical and lumbar levels. Based on the injuries sustained by our client, Abrahamson and Uiterwyk sent a demand to the defendant driver’s insurance company and they agreed to pay $100,000, which represented the full amount of the defendant driver’s insurance coverage. Abrahamson and Uiterwyk also sent a demand to the owner of the vehicle that the defendant was driving, which turned out to be a local car dealership.
The dealership had loaned the vehicle to the defendant while the defendant’s personal vehicle was being repaired. The insurance carrier for the dealership attempted to classify the loaner vehicle as a “rental car,” which would have had the effect of lowering the applicable insurance coverage to only $10,000.
Abrahamson and Uiterwyk conducted an extensive legal analysis of the insurance carrier’s position and was able to prove to the insurance carrier, that their opinion was not supported by Florida law. The insurance carrier agreed and after further negotiation, tendered their policy limits of $500,000.
On August 18, 2016, our client was northbound on Suncoast Parkway in Citrus County, Florida near the intersection of Veteran’s Drive. Unfortunately, the defendant failed to stop as our client was slowing to make a right hand turn and rearended our client. Our client was taken to the emergency room where she underwent initial treatment for her multiple injuries.
This photo shows the extent of the damage to the vehicle that rear-ended our client.
Her chiropractor later ordered MRI scans of her neck, lower back and left shoulder. The neck and back MRIs revealed multilevel disc herniations. The MRI of the shoulder unfortunately showed rotator cuff tears to two tendons. She required two separate surgeries to repair her shoulder. After we presented with a demand package documenting the serious injuries sustained, the defendant’s insurance company eventually became convinced to pay its $250,000.00 policy limit.
We then presented a claim against our client’s uninsured motorist insurer, who maintained a $50,000.00 policy limit. Believing the case was worth no more than the underlying coverage, the insurance company offered only $1,000.00. We then threatened litigation and accused the company of bad faith negotiations. We provided a deadline for them to either pay their policy limits or face a lawsuit for potentially more.
Recognizing that our law firm was fully prepared for litigation against them, the company paid its $50,000.00 just before the deadline ran for a total settlement of $300,000.00.
Determining auto accident shoulder injury settlement amounts depends greatly on the unique circumstances of each case.
What You Need to Know About Multiple Injuries Car Accident Settlements
Multiple injury settlements compensate people who were hurt in a car accident and damaged several different body parts. In a car accident case, it may be possible to receive a separate settlement for each of your injuries, depending on the severity and nature of your injuries. The settlement amount for each will typically be based on factors such as the cost of medical treatment, the extent of the injury, and the impact the injury has on your life, such as lost wages and pain and suffering. While settlement can be negotiated on a per-injury basis – it’s fairly rare and you’re much more likely to be offered a lump sum settlement. Your car accident attorney can help you determine the best negotiation tactics to maximize your settlement options.
It’s important to note that the total amount of the settlement may be subject to negotiation with the at-fault driver’s insurance company or legal team. In some cases, the insurance company may try to minimize the total settlement amount by offering lower amounts for each individual injury. This is why it’s so important to engage an experienced personal injury attorney who is familiar with the tactics insurance companies use in an attempt to minimize their payouts.
If you’ve had multiple injuries from a car accident, contact a Florida car accident lawyer today to start working on your multiple injury claim.
Wondering About Multiple Injury Claims After a Car Accident and Who Pays?
In Florida, the party responsible for paying for your injuries after a car accident will depend on the type of insurance coverage involved. Florida is a “no-fault” state when it comes to car accidents, which means that drivers are required to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance to cover their own medical expenses and lost wages in the event of an accident, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. PIP insurance will typically cover up to $10,000 in medical expenses and lost wages.
What Happens When Car Accident Claim Exceeds Insurance Limits in Florida?
If your multiple injuries exceed the limits of your PIP coverage or if you have opted out of PIP coverage, you may be able to file a claim against the at-fault driver’s liability insurance to seek additional compensation. It’s important to keep in mind, Florida also has a “modified comparative negligence” law, which means that if you are found to be partially at fault for the accident, your compensation may be reduced proportionally to your degree of fault. Here’s how it works: as an example, if the fault in your accident is determined to be 30% your fault and 70% their fault – the total amount of settlement you may be entitled to based on treatment, time off work, rehabilitation, and damage to your vehicle could be reduced by 30%.
However, if your percentage of fault exceeds 50%, the law bars you from any recovery.
Recent Examples of Settlements for Multiple Injuries After a Car Accident
According to the recent multiple injury settlement examples listed on this page from 2021-2022, the average settlement for multiple injuries is anywhere from $300,000 to $1,600,000. Many factors affect your multiple injuries car accident settlement payout amount. Every case is different, so your settlement entirely depends on the specifics of your accident, injuries, and damages.
Our client was a back seat passenger in a vehicle when the driver made an illegal left-hand turn violating the right of way of an approaching vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. This resulted in a head on collision.
Our client was rushed to the emergency room via helicopter and treated for a broken pelvis, broken leg, neck fracture, neck pain and a closed head injury with a brain bleed. The client had surgeries to repair the broken pelvis and leg injuries and conservative treatment and rehabilitation to recover from the injury to the brain.
A demand was presented to the defendant’s insurance company. The initial offer was only 300,000. That offer was rejected.
Suit was filed immediately after receiving such a low offer. Depositions of the defendant driver, witnesses, and our client’s treating doctors were taken. Our client submitted to examinations by physicians hired by the defendant’s insurance company. One of these physicians confirmed our client had a closed head injury that was permanent.
The defendant’s insurance company offered 500,000 shortly after the suit was filed. That offer was rejected. The defendant’s insurance company offered 750,000 to settle the case at a mediation conference. The offer was rejected.
After the case progressed further through the lengthy litigation process the case eventually settled for 1.6 million dollars closer to the trial date.
Our client was walking his dog in Pinellas County, when he approached a crosswalk to walk toward the beach. Our client pressed the button to activate the rapid flashing beacons, to warn approaching vehicles. When the beacons activated, our client entered the crosswalk and began to walk across the street. Unfortunately, the defendant driver, who was clearly distracted, failed to see the flashing beacons and the pedestrian crossing sign, and struck our client going approximately 30 miles per hour.
As a result of the impact, our client rolled up on the hood of the defendant’s vehicle and was jettisoned into the other lane of traffic. Fortunately, the vehicles in the other lane had properly stopped. Our client was knocked unconscious and did not regain consciousness until he was seen in the emergency room.
At the emergency room, our client received emergent care to treat his dislocated left shoulder, broken left collarbone, fractured ribs, multiple lacerations and a concussion. Following his discharge from the hospital, our client was referred to an orthopedic surgeon who diagnosed our client with a left shoulder rotator cuff tear. The orthopedic surgeon prescribed our client with a regiment of physical therapy, aimed at restoring the range of motion in the left shoulder. Due to his dedication to the therapy, our client was able to regain full use of his left shoulder without the need for surgery.
After the conclusion of the medical treatment, we sent a demand for settlement to the defendant’s insurance company and to our client’s underinsured motorist insurance carrier. The plaintiff’s insurance refused to give our client a fair settlement offer, but through continuous negotiations were able to convince them to pay significantly more. In the end, we were able to obtain a combined $300,000 settlement for our client.
What A Happy Client Says About Their Abrahamson & Uiterwyk Experience on Google
When I was injured in a car accident I turned to Abrahamson & Uiterwyk for help. Thankfully, their law firm handled everything for me so I could focus on getting better. From start to finish they were very professional, efficient, communicative, and caring. I was provided a referral to an excellent doctor and received quality treatment. My paralegals, Heather and Kelly, were always available to take my calls and kept me updated on the progress of the case. My attorney, Dana Hoffman, was extremely thorough and worked hard to get me the best settlement possible. The process was smooth and went quicker than I expected. I was thrilled with the overall handling of my case and the settlement amount. Abrahamson & Uiterwyk will be my first call if I am ever involved in any type of injury accident and I will be referring all my friends and family.
Shelby
Tampa, FL
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
We are proud of our 4.9 rating across 322+ reviews on Google!
Million Dollar Personal Injury Settlement Examples in Florida
Some of our past cases have resulted in multi-million dollar settlement payouts for car accident victims. Here are just a few Florida million dollar personal injury settlement examples.
Examples of Car Accident Settlements
| Description | Settlement Amount | Details |
| Vehicle Accident Lawsuit | Settled for $6.1 Million | A cement truck struck a 12-year-old child, causing serious injuries. The accident was the result of negligent driving and construction that prevented the child from using a crosswalk. We filed a lawsuit against the truck driver, his employer, and the contractor. Read more about what a car accident settlement for a child is. |
| Car Accident | Settled for $2.2 Million | In this case, a commercial truck rear-ended our client. The accident caused our client disc herniations that required anterior cervical fusion. We obtained a $2.2 million settlement in addition to a $2.5 million jury verdict. |
| Rear-End Car Accident | Settled for $1,575,000 | The defendant rear-ended our client, a 53-year-old male. The collision caused our client to suffer a three-level herniation. The injury ultimately required anterior cervical disc fusion. The case settled for $1,575,000 shortly before trial. |
You are welcome to look over many of our other car accident case results featured on our website.
TYPICAL CAR ACCIDENT SETTLEMENT AMOUNTS FAQ
Will a Lawyer Help Me Get a Bigger Florida Car Accident Settlement?
You might wonder whether you should hire a personal injury lawyer after an accident. Would a personal injury lawyer improve your chances of receiving a larger settlement amount?
Numerous studies and research have shown (including the Insurance Research Council) that car accident victims that hire experienced personal injury attorneys obtain larger settlements than those without representation.
Florida’s complex car accident injury laws are difficult to navigate without legal help. Our experienced lawyers can evaluate your claim and guide you through the legal hurdles of Florida’s insurance and personal injury laws. Contact us for a free consultation today. If you’ve been injured as a car accident passenger in Florida, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll it can take on you and your loved ones. Let us help you seek the car accident passenger settlement you deserve.
How Will a Lawyer Improve My Chances at a Bigger Settlement?
Our experienced and knowledgeable injury lawyers can help maximize your settlement amount by:
- Investigating the accident,
- Gathering and preserving evidence,
- Investigating the available insurance coverages,
- Proving the full extent of your injuries,
- Calculating your past and future losses,
- Effectively communicating and negotiating with insurance companies to maximize the value of your case, and
- More.
Insurance companies are aware of our law firm’s reputation and case results at trial.
Gathering and preserving evidence
Evidence collection and preservation are critical factors and might affect the outcome of your case including the amount of your settlement.
Evidence increases your ability to prove your claim and maximize your settlement amount. Important evidence could include:
- Surveillance footage, if any, of the accident;
- Statements from eyewitnesses;
- Physical evidence from the scene of the accident;
- Expert opinions and statements.
Our experienced attorneys will know the key evidence for your case and how to gather it.
Understanding your claim options
Depending on the circumstance of your auto accident and the severity of your injuries, you may have multiple options on how to proceed. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you get the most out of your Florida car accident settlement, whether through a claim with your insurance company, negotiations with the negligent party’s insurance company, or preparing and executing court proceedings.
An attorney will make timely recommendations for your claim and assist with all necessary documentation and filings. After being in a car accident, you already have enough to deal with. Not only does this ensure that your claim is being properly handled, it takes a lot of the stress off of you to learn your legal rights.
Calculating your losses for a fair settlement
In personal injury cases, you can recover the amount of your losses, also known as damages.
Losses can include past and future medical bills, loss of income, and pain and suffering. If you do not know the amount of your damages, then you will not know if a settlement compensates you fairly.
Our experienced attorneys can help calculate your damages for a fair settlement.
Effectively and smartly communicating with insurance companies
Insurance companies try to get statements from you, and they will use statements or admissions of guilt against you. This could potentially reduce your settlement amount.
The insurance company might record your statements or ask you to sign releases or settlement documents. These documents might prevent you from seeking further compensation related to the accident.
Our personal injury lawyers protect you from the insurance company’s manipulation by communicating on your behalf.
Pushing insurance companies to negotiate fair settlements
Having a lawyer negotiate with the insurance company gives you the best chance of recovering maximum compensation.
Insurance companies lose money by paying out accident claims. So, it is in the insurance company’s best interest to pay you as little as possible.
Insurance companies train teams of people to minimize the injured victim’s compensation and often take advantage of unrepresented claimants’ trust in insurance adjusters.
By working with our attorneys, you can avoid settling for less than you deserve. Our injury attorneys know the process involved in negotiating a settlement and understand the tactics insurance companies use to avoid paying claims.
Rather than negotiating yourself, our injury lawyers put experience on your side. It levels the playing field in negotiations between the insurance company and you.
How Does “No-Fault” Insurance Impact Your Case?
Florida follows a “no-fault” system when it comes to car insurance. Several other states also use this system. Under this system, your own insurance will cover medical bills and other financial losses regardless of who is at fault. Personal injury protection insurance, also called “PIP,” is required in Florida. There is a minimum amount of insurance that a driver must carry.
Vehicle damage claims after an accident are an exception to the no-fault system. There are no limitations on claims for damage or total loss of a vehicle. These claims can be brought against the at-fault driver.
No-fault claims do not cover all types of personal injury compensation. Though your PIP coverage will cover medical bills and property damage, it will not cover non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.
PIP will cover up to $10,000 for injuries with some limitations. The amount paid through PIP will cover up to 80% of necessary medical treatment and 60% of lost income when you are unable to work.
If your injuries are “serious” by Florida standards, you may still file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver or file a third-party insurance claim. You are also eligible to file a lawsuit or claim if the medical expenses from the auto accident exceed the $10,000 covered by PIP. You can read more about this in the “What Happens When Car Accident Claim Exceeds Insurance Limits in Florida?” section above
An experienced attorney can help you determine the best course of action given the specific circumstances of your accident and injuries.
What Is a Florida Auto Accident Serious Injury?
A Florida auto accident settlement does not have to be immediately accepted. There are times when PIP is not enough. You may be entitled to additional relief, depending on the severity of your injuries. To pursue a liability claim against the negligent driver and to recover pain and suffering damages, you must have experienced at least one of the following:
- Significant limitation of use of a body organ or member;
- Significant limitation of use of a body function or system;
- Significant scarring or disfigurement or;
- Death.
If you experienced any of these injuries, you are not limited to a PIP claim under your own policy. You may pursue compensation for non-economic losses.
AUTO ACCIDENT SETTLMENT AMOUNTS FAQ
Besides Car Damage, What Other Damages Might I Be Able to Get Compensation For?
After a car accident, you might recover compensation for vehicle damage or replacement. You might be able to recover several other forms of damages as well.
In addition to the property damage to your vehicle, car accident victims can also pursue compensation for:
- Medical bills,
- Lost wages,
- Pain and suffering,
- Emotional distress,
- Disfigurement, and
- Disability.
Complex insurance laws determine whether you can seek compensation for these and other damages. Consult a personal injury lawyer with our firm to discuss the damages you might be able to seek in your case.
Get a Free Florida Auto Accident Case Review
At Abrahamson & Uiterwyk, we have over 30 years of experience representing injured clients. Through prompt and aggressive representation, our injury lawyers help maximize our clients’ compensation.
We offer free consultations. Contact our attorneys today to schedule yours. We will calculate your car accident settlement together and fight to get you the amount you deserve. If you are in the New Port Richey area contact one of our car accident lawyers near you. If you’ve experienced an injury in an Uber accident, contact one of our Uber car accident lawyers today. Read more about How Much Compensation For Broken Ribs in a Car Accident.
Cities We Commonly Serve
- Tampa car accidents
- Lakeland car accidents
- Clearwater car accidents
- St. Petersburg car accidents
- New Port Richey car accidents
- Palm Harbor car accidents
- Sarasota car accidents
- Spring Hill car accidents
- Pinellas Park car accidents
- Carrollwood/Town ‘N’ Country car accidents
- Wesley Chapel car accidents
- Venice car accidents