If you are new to the state of Florida or still trying to understand the driving laws, you should know that Florida is one of 18 states that follows a no-fault rule. With that in place, there are certain regulations a driver in the state of Florida must know so that if they are involved in a wreck, they know what to expect. One of these regulations include the specific insurance that residents are required to carry.
Here is everything you need to know about Florida’s No-Fault Car Insurance and what it means to you.
What Does No-Fault Mean?
Living in a no-fault state means that whenever there is an accident, all parties involved are to seek the assistance of their own insurance to pay for medical bills. It also means that in court, all parties will be found to share the blame for the accident, although that doesn’t mean the blame will be dispersed equally.
The no-fault law was passed to try and limit the amount of civil lawsuits that were filed and to keep residents from suing each other automatically. However, some situations can allow for residents to step out of the no-fault system and sue the other driver if certain regulations are met. Regardless, it is still always vitally important for you to collect the other driver’s information if you were involved in a wreck.
What Is Florida’s No-Fault Insurance Policy?
Because Florida operates with the no-fault rule, all of its residents are required to have no-fault insurance to protect them from any damages in car accident situations. The kind of no-fault insurance policy drivers are required to carry does not protect against any damages made to your vehicle during the wreck, so you will also need to purchase collision coverage to take care of car damages.
The no-fault insurance will only help with medical bills and paying for the damage to the other person’s car. Florida’s no-fault insurance is split into two different categories: personal injury protection and property damage liability. They both cover different things, but residents are required to have a minimum of $10,000 in each. Personal injury protection is what will help cover your medical bills, while property damage liability covers the other driver’s damage.
Benefits Of No-Fault Car Insurance
It may not seem like there are a lot of benefits to this type of insurance, but it can help you out in the long run. On the other hand, if you need to file a third party claim, you can always seek the help of a Miami Car Accident Lawyer.
There are also downsides to no-fault car insurance, such as reckless driving, which can lead to more accidents. It has been recorded that states with the no-fault system have the highest number of road deaths since there is less penalty action towards at-fault drivers. You are also limited to the number of legal actions you can take against the other party, but there’s always help with hiring an attorney in the Miami, Florida, area.
Let’s look at the benefits of no-fault car insurance:
Automatic Payments
With no-fault insurance, you can be sure that you will always get a settlement to help cover the accident no matter who is at fault. Therefore, if you were the one who ran the stoplight and crashed into the other car, you can still receive financial assistance. If you were the innocent party that was struck, you will also receive automatic assistance in a timely manner.
Less Legal Hassle
No-fault insurance was put into place to reduce the number of lawsuits that are filed. This means that unless your accident requires you to step out of the no-fault system, you do not have to worry about the headache filing claims and suing someone can bring. Instead, you file your own claim and wait for it to be approved.
Can You File a Third-Party Claim?
Just because Florida has a no-fault rule does not mean any legal action is non-existent. If your case meets certain requirements, you have the ability to file a third-party claim with the help of a Miami Car Accident Lawyer.
Here are the stipulations your case must meet:
- $2,000 or more in medical bills
- Driver or others in your car suffered a severe injury as a result of the accident
When it comes to the severe injuries to allow you to file a claim, the injury must be one of the following:
- Death
- Dismemberment
- Permanent damage to the body
- Loss of body function
If you are unsure if your case meets eligibility to file a claim, consult with a lawyer. Legal experts can review your case to position and guide you on what to do next. You may not think your case could result in a claim, but your lawyer will be able to see if there is anything left to do after reviewing the details of your case.
Hiring a Miami Car Accident Lawyer does not just have to be for filing a claim against the other driver. You can also hire an attorney to negotiate with your insurer for a fair settlement.
Legal experts possess the best negotiation skills and story framing capabilities to help you seek extra compensation. When you hire an attorney in Miami, Florida, they will be responsible for handling your case and doing the majority of the work for you. You will not have to communicate with the other insurer, driver, or speak in court. All the evidence, medical records, and necessary items will be collected by your attorney, who will then start looking through the documentation to build the best case for you.
While you wait for a settlement offer from your insurance company or for a settlement from the other driver, your attorney can give you an estimate on how much you may deserve in your case.
You can begin your case by speaking with several attorneys for a free consultation to find the best lawyer for you. Hiring the right attorney is an important decision that should not be selected quickly. Searching for an attorney with years of experience can be what takes your case to the next level.
Work With Experienced Lawyers
Thinking about stepping out of the no-fault system? Hire experienced attorneys to help guide you through this legal process.
The law experts at Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers have been in practice for 40 years and know how to handle car accident cases. We have in-depth knowledge of Florida’s statute of limitations and know how the system operates with these kinds of cases.
Our lawyers are highly acclaimed and awarded for their expertise in the field. Getting started with us is very easy, and you can begin by calling our 24/7 hotline at (561) 800-8000 or filling out our free case evaluation online.
Once someone from our firm has your contact information, we will contact you about setting up a day where you can sit down with one of our attorneys to discuss your case in detail and hear how we can help.
Don’t wait any longer to get started on your claim and seek extra compensation. Call our firm at your earliest convenience.