When another driver causes your accident, they could face civil liability for the injuries you suffered. You have the right to seek financial compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial harm you endured because of the crash. It can be challenging to navigate personal injury cases on your own.
Dealing with insurance companies and negotiating with attorneys is best left to your legal counsel. Let a Cocoa Beach car accident lawyer with the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine serve as your advocate while you pursue fair compensation for your injuries. You can learn more about your rights and legal options during a free consultation with our Cocoa Beach personal injury lawyers.
You Do Not Have To Deal With The Insurance Companies Alone
One of the most intimidating aspects of handling a personal injury case is dealing with the insurance companies. If you have never negotiated a settlement with an insurance company before, it is important to understand that its goal is to protect itself. Insurance companies limit payouts to injured drivers like you.
Hiring our personal injury attorney to manage your car accident case means we will handle the insurance company for you. Avoiding the time-consuming hassle of speaking with an insurance adjuster is only one of the benefits of working with legal counsel. By allowing our attorney to serve as your advocate, you could avoid putting your financial recovery at risk.
Protect Yourself With Legal Representation
Insurance adjusters understand they are at an advantage when dealing with injured drivers who do not have legal counsel. Without an attorney, you might not be able to determine whether a settlement offer is reasonable or not.
What’s more, insurance adjusters might take your statement out of context and deny your claim. These adjusters could even suggest you admitted fault in an accident when that was not the case.
Allowing our Cocoa Beach car accident lawyer to deal with the insurance company for you removes the risk of this outcome. Our attorney will evaluate any settlement offers you might receive while preventing you from jeopardizing your case.
With an attorney speaking on your behalf, you can rest easy knowing they understand the tactics adjusters are likely to use.
You Deserve Compensation For The Harm Suffered In a Cocoa Beach Car Accident
After a Cocoa Beach car accident, individuals may seek various forms of damages to compensate for their losses and suffering. These damages can be broadly categorized into economic, non-economic, and, in some cases, punitive damages. Understanding the scope of these damages can help victims ensure they are fully compensated for their experiences.
Economic Damages
- Medical Expenses: Costs for immediate and ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, and any future medical care related to injuries sustained in the accident.
- Lost Wages: Compensation for the income lost due to time away from work while recovering from the accident. This also includes loss of earning capacity if the victim can no longer earn the same amount of money as before the accident.
- Property Damage: Reimbursement for the repair or replacement of the vehicle and any personal property damaged during the accident.
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress experienced as a result of the accident, including anxiety, depression, and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Loss of Consortium: Damages awarded to the spouse or family members of the victim for loss of companionship, affection, and support.
Punitive Damages
In cases where the at-fault party’s actions were particularly reckless or egregious, punitive damages may be sought. These are intended to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future.
Each category encompasses a range of possible compensations, reflecting the accident’s impact on the victim’s life and wellbeing. Legal consultation can help clarify which damages apply to an individual’s case, ensuring a comprehensive approach to seeking justice and compensation.
Florida Limits Your Time To Sue For Damages After Your Cocoa Beach Car Accident
If you are thinking about suing to recover your damages after a car accident in Cocoa Beach, you must do so by a certain time. Florida Statutes § 95.11 generally allows you two years to file your lawsuit.
If a loved one died because of their accident injuries, you also have two years to sek compensation. We are ready to go over the details of your accident and advise you of your options. You can meet with us for a free consultation to determine your next steps.
Discuss Your Options During A Free Consultation
Most people who have had a serious motor vehicle accident have questions about their rights and responsibilities. This situation is especially true for those individuals who have suffered significant physical injuries in a crash. If you have questions after your accident, you could get the answers you need during a free consultation.
Most personal injury attorneys offer a free initial consultation for injured crash victims. During this time, you can discuss your accident and learn about your case’s strengths and weaknesses. You can also ask questions about the legal system or the litigation process.
Understanding Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Insurance Is Important To Your Case
Florida is one of the few states that follows a “no-fault” policy for motor vehicle accident compensation. Unlike most jurisdictions that allow injury victims to pursue a lawsuit against the negligent party, Florida requires drivers to rely on their insurance policy after a crash first. These policies are known as personal injury protection, or PIP.
Benefits through a PIP claim will not cover all motor vehicle accident losses. While these policies cover medical expenses, they will only pay up to 80 percent of your medical bills, according to the Florida Department of Financial Services. You also have the right to seek compensation for your lost wages, but these damages are capped at 60 percent.
What’s more, your policy’s limits cap the total amount of compensation you could receive. Together, these limitations could hamper your financial recovery. You should also be aware that PIP coverage does not cover all types of compensation.
Specifically, you cannot seek non-economic damages through a PIP claim. Pain and suffering is the most common type of non-economic compensation.
You Might Be Able to Pursue An Injury Lawsuit After The Cocoa Beach Crash
While the state’s “no-fault” insurance system could put create roadblocks between you and the compensation you deserve, the good news is that you could file a personal injury lawsuit.
Compensation limits that are available through no-fault claims do not apply to personal injury lawsuits. This means your medical bills are not capped, and you have the right to seek pain and suffering compensation.
Not everyone injured in a car accident will have the right to step outside the no-fault insurance system and file an injury lawsuit in Cocoa Beach. You could have the option to file a lawsuit if the other driver was uninsured, for example.
No-Fault Coverage Does Not Apply to Severe Injuries
The most common situation where it is possible to avoid the no-fault insurance system is when your injuries are severe. There are different ways you could meet this severe injury threshold, as Florida Statutes § 627.737 outlines. The courts will consider an injury severe if:
- Its effects are permanent
- It results in disfigurement
- It limits important bodily functions
Alternatively, an injury could be considered severe if the injury’s total costs exceed $10,000.
Our Attorneys Can Help You Pursue Fair Compensation Following A Car Accident
Car accidents can change your life forever. If your injuries are severe, you could face permanent consequences in your personal and professional life. While financial compensation cannot undo the harm you have suffered, it could make moving forward with your life easier.
The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine could help you get the compensation you need. We manage car accident cases and are proud of the results we secure for our clients. To discuss your options with us and learn more about how a Cocoa Beach car accident lawyer could help, call for a free consultation today.
We Can Help.
