How Car Accident Compensation Works in Florida
We Will Fight to Get the Most Money for Your Car Accident Injuries
Car accidents can be sudden, life-altering, and, unfortunately, common events that leave even the most careful drivers with serious injuries. Although crashes happen frequently in Florida – about 500 per day – a lot of injured accident victims don't know how to get the compensation they deserve.
If you were injured in a Florida crash, our car accident attorney at Armando Personal Injury Law can help you pursue the maximum compensation you deserve. Schedule a free case evaluation with us to learn more about how we can help you.
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Types of Car Accident Compensation in Florida
After a bad accident – whether it's a rear-end crash, head-on collision with a distracted driver, or a T-bone at an intersection with a red-light runner, for example – there are generally two types of car accident compensation you can collect: economic damages, which are objectively verifiable and tied to a specific dollar amount, and non-economic damages, which are more subjectively determined losses like pain and suffering.
Compensation is intended to cover accident-related expenses and losses, such as:
- ✓ Emergency medical care
- ✓ Hospitalization
- ✓ Surgery
- ✓ Medical expert doctor visits and consultations
- ✓ Travel for specialized medical care
- ✓ Physical therapy
- ✓ Medication and disability equipment
- ✓ Vehicle and other property repairs and replacement
- ✓ Lost wages and diminished earning potential
- ✓ Loss of mobility, brain function, and/or enjoyment and quality of life
Typically, injuries that receive the most compensation are permanent and/or incapacitating. This includes damage like lost limbs, Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs), Spinal Cord Injuries (SCIs), and severed nerves. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) such as muscle, tendon, and ligament strains and sprains may also fall into this group. Compensation for a back or neck injury in a car accident can be significant, depending on the nature of the injury and whether you have chronic pain or other problems.
Punitive damages are rarely awarded in Florida, reserved for the most egregious and reckless cases in which the at-fault driver displayed gross negligence. In those circumstances, punitive damages may be awarded by a jury in addition to regular damages as a way to punish the at-fault parties and send a message to those who may try something similar.
"My car was totaled and Armando's office referred me to a chiropractor to help with my injuries. I highly recommend this law firm."— Vasha M. Actual client. Results may vary; each case is different.
"I was rear-ended and Armando's team made sure I got immediate care. They handled everything and I recovered without ever having to go to court."— Chailyn M. Actual client. Results may vary; each case is different.
Compensation Factors
Whether you need compensation for a rear-end accident, a drunk driving accident, or any other type of crash, how much you get for a bad car accident is typically determined during negotiations with an insurance adjuster or by a court. The final amount of a settlement or verdict can be influenced by several factors. Here are some of the most common factors that affect compensation for a car accident:
Injury Severity
Lifelong injuries that cause permanent disabilities and wrongful death cases typically yield the most compensation. Temporary disabilities can also earn substantial payouts, depending on the effects they have had on your life.
Cost of Treatment
Major injuries may require surgery, physical therapy, medical devices, and other expensive treatments, all of which should be accounted for in your claim.
Insurance Policy Limits
Like most states, Florida sets minimum insurance requirements for drivers. Unfortunately, the minimum policy limits are quite low. Florida requires people with registered personal vehicles to purchase $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and $10,000 in Property Damage Liability (PDL).
Drivers are advised to carry more than the minimum because, following a serious crash, $10,000 typically doesn't buy much care. You can spend that in one night at the hospital.
Whether the At-Fault Driver Has Insurance
Unfortunately, many Florida drivers are uninsured. If the at-fault driver doesn't have liability insurance, you may still have a case on paper, but you're unlikely to get compensation in practice. That's why it's so important to carry uninsured and underinsured motorist protection on your policy.
Third-Party Negligence
Sometimes it's not just the at-fault driver who is liable for your injuries. Third parties who may owe you money for your injuries could include:
- ►Manufacturers of defective vehicles or defective auto parts.
- ►The at-fault driver's employer, if they were driving a company vehicle or otherwise on the job at the time of the crash.
- ►Businesses that serve alcohol. Florida's dram shop law can hold businesses that serve or provide alcohol to people who are "habitually addicted" to alcohol or minors liable for resulting DUI or impaired crashes.
Comparative Fault
Florida applies the "modified comparative negligence" standard and a 50 percent bar rule to accident liability. This means that you can file an accident injury claim if you are 50% or less at fault in the crash. Your settlement or verdict is reduced by the percentage of fault you have in an accident. So, for example, if you filed a successful injury claim for $100,000 and you were found to be 25 percent at fault in the accident, your payment would be reduced to $75,000.
Your Car Accident Attorney's Skill and Experience
One of the biggest factors in whether you are able to recover all of the money you deserve after a crash is the skill of your car accident compensation lawyer. Armando Personal Injury Law has dedicated, aggressive, thorough attorneys ready to handle your car accident claim. We hammer away at the insurance companies until they offer you maximum compensation. If they do not make you a fair offer, we are ready to bring them to trial.
Local Car Accident Lawyers
Car Accident Resources
- How Car Accident Settlements Work ›
- How Car Accident Compensation Works ›
- Insurance Companies and Car Accidents ›
- How the Insurance Claims Process Works ›
- How Can a Florida Car Accident Lawyer Help Me? ›
- Rear-End Accidents ›
- PIP Claims After a Car Accident ›
- Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists ›
- How to Read Your Florida Car Accident Report ›
- Florida Car Accident Laws ›
- What Are My Rights If I Get Hit By a Drunk Driver? ›
Notable Results
$650,000 Settlement — Rear-Ended by a Semi-Truck $500,000 Settlement — Left-Turn Crash, Back Surgery"Armando scheduled all my appointments himself and walked me through every step. I walked away with everything he promised."— Jesse D. Actual client. Results may vary; each case is different.
ACS Forensic Lawyer-Scientist
Attorney Armando Edmiston holds the prestigious ACS Forensic Lawyer-Scientist designation — a credential that gives him a scientific edge in evaluating accident evidence, injury causation, and case value that most PI attorneys simply don't have.
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"Armando is the best injury lawyer not only in Tampa but all of Florida! When you get in an accident, if you don't call him first, you're doing yourself a disservice. The entire team is awesome, you'll love them, and they will do everything they can for you, no question."— Ambee Actual client. Results may vary; each case is different.
Contact a Florida Car Accident Attorney You Can Trust
Getting your life back on track after a bad car accident is a huge task made even more difficult by the insurance claims process.
It's unfair to expect people in serious pain to become master negotiators and liability law experts in order to have a shot at getting substantial injury compensation.
That's why Armando Personal Injury Law doesn't just level the playing field for our clients. We give you the advantage. Our attorney has years of experience with the Florida legal system and has developed winning, time-tested negotiation and trial strategies. We take on the insurance companies while you heal.
Get Your No-Cost Legal Consultation Today
If you were injured or lost a loved one in a Florida car accident, contact Armando Personal Injury Law to schedule a free case consultation. We represent car accident victims and their families on a contingency basis, which means there is no retainer or hourly rate for our services. Our fee is part of your final settlement or verdict. We only get paid when we win.
Contact Armando Personal Injury Law right now to discuss your car accident injury claim in a free case consultation. We proudly serve crash victims in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and across Florida. We are ready to hear from you today.
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About the Author
Attorney Armando Edmiston is the founding attorney of Armando Personal Injury Law in Tampa and St. Pete, Florida. A U.S. Marine veteran and Hillsborough County native, he represents injured people and families in serious injury cases, including car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, negligent security, premises liability, and nursing home abuse and neglect claims. Armando earned a B.S. in Biology from the University of South Florida and a J.D., cum laude, from Nova Southeastern University. He is also one of only six lawyers in Florida listed with the ACS Forensic Lawyer-Scientist designation.