Fractured and broken bones are one of the most common injuries caused by car accidents. Victims of car accidents are especially likely to suffer from broken ribs due to the likelihood of a driver’s chest hitting the steering wheel or a passenger’s chest hitting the dashboard when the vehicle suffers an impact.
If you sustained broken ribs or your loved one died from this injury in a Fort Lauderdale car accident caused by another person, you may be legally entitled to compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses. A Fort Lauderdale broken ribs caused by a Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine could help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Call our team today at 888-369-4550 for a free consultation on your legal options after you suffer broken ribs in a car accident. We can gather evidence of liability and negotiate a settlement on your behalf. Since we work on contingency, you will never owe us anything unless we can earn a financial award for you.
Broken Ribs and Florida’s No-Fault Law
Broken ribs are one of the most frequent injuries caused by car accidents. Someone can break their ribs in a car accident when their chest hits the steering wheel or dashboard upon impact. Even the pressure of the chest strap of a seat belt can fracture a rib.
The MedlinePlus explains that the ribs in the middle of the chest are the ones that break most often. Broken ribs can be extremely painful, making it difficult for a person to breathe, cough, or move their upper body. While a broken rib on its own takes at least six weeks to heal, there can also be serious complications from rib fractures. The sharp end of a fractured rib can damage other organs, puncture the lungs, and cause internal bleeding. If you suspect you have broken ribs, you should seek medical attention right away.
If you or your loved one was in a car accident in Fort Lauderdale that was someone else’s fault and suffered from broken ribs, you would first need to turn to your car insurance provider for assistance with your medical bills because of Florida’s no-fault law. Florida Statutes § 627.736 requires all Florida drivers to carry at least $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) insurance coverage. Regardless of who caused the accident, your PIP coverage will pay for your medical expenses from the car accident up to your policy limit.
The problem with the no-fault system is that medical bills can quickly reach $10,000 or your policy limit. In situations where you suffer a severe injury, Florida law allows you to go outside of the no-fault system and hold the at-fault driver liable for your expenses. There are four possible qualifications for an injury to meet the “serious” threshold, according to Florida Statutes § 627.737:
- Significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function.
- Permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability, other than scarring or disfigurement.
- Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement.
- Death.
Depending on your situation, your broken ribs might meet the requirements of the serious injury threshold and allow you to pursue compensation from the at-fault driver instead of relying on your PIP insurance coverage alone. A Fort Lauderdale broken ribs caused by a car accident lawyer can help you prove serious injury and pursue the full compensation you deserve for all your losses from the car accident.
Recovering Compensation for Broken Ribs Caused by a Car Accident in Fort Lauderdale
You have several options for recovering compensation for your expenses after you are in a car accident caused by another driver. Although Florida law requires you to turn to your PIP coverage first for medical expenses regardless of who was at fault, the at-fault driver’s car insurance should pay for your property damage.
When you sustain severe injuries, you can file an insurance claim or pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver to seek the full compensation you deserve. Our team at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can help you by representing your interests with insurance providers, the at-fault driver, their attorney, or in court. We go the extra mile, and we will work to recover reimbursement for your broken ribs and all your expenses. If your loved one died because of a car accident, we could also help you by pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit.
We offer a free consultation to discuss your legal options and explain the process, so call us at 888-369-4550 at any time, day or night, to get started.
Types of Damages You Could Recover
When you suffer injury or property damage because of someone else’s actions, you have the right to receive financial compensation for your losses. Damages that you could recover after a car accident that caused broken ribs in Fort Lauderdale include:
- Your past and future medical expenses
- Your property damage costs
- Your lost income and loss of earning capacity
- Your pain and suffering
- Your emotional distress
- Your loved one’s burial and medical expenses
- Other non-monetary losses, such as impairment, disfigurement, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of support
A Fort Lauderdale broken ribs caused by a car accident lawyer can help you identify and calculate all the damages that the at-fault driver may owe you and argue for you to receive this compensation.
Contact the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine for Help
At the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, we provide responsive legal care. Our Fort Lauderdale broken ribs caused by car accident lawyers can help you by:
- Review your medical records to establish you suffered a serious injury.
- I am gathering evidence of the at-fault driver’s liability, such as photos, video footage, witness statements, and expert medical testimony.
- Completing your paperwork in a timely manner.
- Negotiating with insurance claims adjusters on your behalf.
- I am filing a Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawsuit or wrongful death lawsuit for you.
- Representing your interests with the defendant, their attorney, or in court.
- Negotiating for you to receive a full and fair settlement for all your losses.
When you entrust your car accident or Fort Lauderdale truck accident lawsuit to us, you can take the time you need to recover. You worry about getting better. We take care of everything else.
Keep in mind that you have a limited time to act. Reach out to our team today at 888-369-4550 for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation. We will never charge you any fees unless we can recover your compensation.