After a serious car accident, you may be dealing with painful injuries that prevent you from working or caring for the family that depends on you. Even a relatively minor collision can create physical and financial issues that bring turmoil into your life.
When another driver’s carelessness causes your injuries, you should not have to shoulder the financial burden. Our Fort Pierce car accident lawyers can help you hold the at-fault driver liable for your damages when you have suffered a serious injury.
At GOLDLAW, we have recovered more than $1 billion for injured accident victims throughout South Florida. Our Fort Pierce personal injury lawyers hold accountable those who hurt others. Call today for a free consultation.
Understanding No-Fault Insurance in Florida
In Florida, drivers must carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, which is part of the No-Fault insurance system. This insurance helps pay for certain medical expenses and lost wages after an accident, regardless of who caused the crash.
Because of this, if you’re injured in a crash, you usually start the claims process with your own insurance company. You would only seek more compensation from the driver at fault later.
This process is different from many other states, where you file directly against the at-fault driver from the beginning. In Florida, that option only opens up once your injuries meet a specific serious injury threshold.
For a free legal consultation with a car accident lawyer serving Fort Pierce, call 561-222-2222
The Limits of Your No-Fault Coverage
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage offers financial help after a crash, but it has limitations. It does not cover pain and suffering or many other losses from serious injuries. Typically, PIP under Florida’s No-Fault insurance pays for:
- 80% of reasonable and necessary medical expenses, up to your available policy limits.
- 60% of lost wages if your injuries prevent you from working.
When an accident causes significant injuries, damages often exceed what PIP was designed to cover. Our Fort Pierce car accident attorneys can help you understand Florida’s No-Fault insurance and what it means for your case.
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Compensation Beyond Your No-Fault Benefits
Although PIP provides an important source of immediate benefits, it has limitations. It does not cover non–economic damages such as pain and suffering, and the available benefits often fall well short of a person’s actual losses.
In Florida, injured drivers can only file a liability claim if they meet the serious injury requirement, which is based on the severity of the injuries rather than just the occurrence of an accident.
Our attorneys review the medical evidence and the relevant laws to see if your injuries qualify for compensation. If they do, we pursue payment from the driver at fault for damages that go beyond what your PIP coverage covers.
Call or text 561-222-2222 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
Definition of a Serious Injury Under Florida Law
Florida’s serious injury threshold looks at whether the accident caused a permanent injury, a significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function, substantial and permanent scarring or disfigurement, or death.
A herniated disc that leaves someone with lasting limitations, for example, may qualify if the medical evidence supports a finding of permanency. Determining whether an injury meets that legal standard is rarely as simple as reading a diagnosis from a medical chart.
Insurance companies often argue that a condition will improve with time or that it existed before the collision. Our Fort Pierce car accident lawyers work with your medical records, treating physicians, and other evidence to present a clear picture of how the crash affected your health.
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Time Limits for Filing Your Car Accident Lawsuit
Per Florida Statutes § 95.11, in most cases you will have two years from the date of your accident to file a negligence lawsuit against the at-fault driver. Miss that deadline, and the courts will likely bar your claim permanently.
Filing a lawsuit is not the only deadline you need to keep in mind. PIP claims move much faster. You generally need to report the accident to your insurer without delay, and medical providers must submit bills within the applicable time limits for benefits to be paid.
Most people have enough on their minds after a serious crash without trying to keep track of insurance paperwork. Getting legal guidance early can help you stay ahead of those deadlines and avoid unnecessary complications.
Get Help From Our Fort Pierce Car Accident Attorneys
After a car accident, you may need to deal with more than just fixing your vehicle. Doctor appointments, pain, and financial uncertainty can take their toll physically and mentally. The last thing you want is pressure from an insurance company focused only on its profits.
Get GOLDLAW and get the help you need and compensation you deserve. Our car accident attorneys in Fort Pierce will investigate how the crash happened. We gather evidence to support your claim and work to hold careless drivers and insurance companies accountable. While these times may seem tough, you are not alone.
GOLDLAW brings more than 200 years of combined legal experience to injury cases throughout southern Florida. Most cases take under a year, and because we work on contingency fee arrangements, you never get a bill.
