In the great state of Florida, there are a few things you want to keep in mind just in case you’re involved in a fender bender.
In the summer months, solo travel in the south picks up as people take off and chase wild adventures. Increased traffic on the road also means an increased chance of accidents, which means you should brush up on your traffic accident knowledge. In the great state of Florida, there are a few things you want to keep in mind just in case you're involved in a fender bender.
No-fault laws Florida
One thing that Florida does a little differently than other states in the US is no-fault. A no-fault law means that, regardless of who’s to blame, you have to file your claims with your own insurance company.
Note that this law applies to accidents with little injury involved. If you're seriously injured in an accident, you may be eligible to make a claim against the driver at fault.
Statute of limitations
When it comes to filing claims, each state has a statute of limitations. That means that you have a certain period of time in which you can make claims, after which they are no longer valid. In Florida, you have four years after an incident to make your claim, so make sure that you do so in good time.
Negligence
In most cases, when one driver is titled as the person at fault, they have to take care of the damages. However, in Florida, it's common practice for both of the drivers involved to share responsibility for the accident. There are some ways around this but you will need to make an appearance in front of a jury and prove that you deserve to pay less than the other party.
How to sue after a car accident
If you believe that things are handled wrongfully or that you deserve more than you got back, then you can sue. Before you take off and follow just any legal advice, follow these steps to suing mindfully.
1. Do your homework
While you may find a long list of attorneys in Florida that claim to be the best when it comes to traffic accidents, you should do your own digging. One such name in traffic is Michael T.Gibson, an Orlando based car accident attorney, coming with knowledgeable staff and inside-out knowledge of what you should do when involved in an accident.
2. Talk with insurance
If your attorney decides to go forth with the case, you can make a call to your insurance company and refine the details. Likely, both your and the other party's insurance companies will be involved, each fighting about the minor details in the accident.
3. Be patient
Lawsuits can be a long and drawn-out process. If you’ve never been through a traffic accident lawsuit, it might involve a lot of waiting. The key here is to be patient, gathering all of the necessary paperwork and evidence so that you can make your claim without any bumps along the way. In most cases, your attorney can discuss the odds and help you decide whether it’s worth it or not to go through the process.
Know your rights
If you’re from Florida or just passing through, it’s good to know what you could be dealing with in the case of a traffic accident. Brush up on the laws and your rights just in case something happens.
If you are involved in a traffic accident, follow our steps to sue if you feel like you have a case, and remember to do your homework before choosing your defense attorney. You could be looking at a long process but, if you're right, it will all be worth it in the end.
Photo by Lance Asper on Unsplash
