How Much To Expect from a Car Accident Settlement in Florida

January 9, 2023 | Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers | Car Accident

One of the most common questions car accident lawyers receive is: “How much is my case worth?” Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question. Many factors can potentially affect the value of your claim, which are discussed below.

You can contact an experienced Clearwater car accident lawyer to get a better idea about the potential value of your claim.

Your Auto Insurance Coverage

Florida is a no-fault insurance state, meaning you turn to your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance for coverage after an accident – even if you weren’t responsible.

All Florida drivers must have the following amounts of insurance on their registered vehicles in the state:

$10,000 in PIP
$10,000 in Property Damage Liability (PDL)

You can purchase additional insurance, but these are the minimum amounts you are required to have.

Did You Suffer Serious Injuries?

Under Florida law, you can step outside the no-fault system if you suffered a “serious” injury, which is defined as any of the following:

Significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function
Permanent injury
Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement

Surviving loved ones can pursue a wrongful death claim if they lose a loved one in a fatal crash.

Under Florida’s pure comparative fault law, you can still recover compensation from an accident even if you were partially to blame for it. However, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found to be 20% at fault for the accident, your recovery is reduced by 20%.

If more than one party contributed to your accident or shares legal responsibility for it, you could potentially recover more compensation because you could file a claim against each negligent party.

The Nature and Severity of Your Injuries

Car accident injuries can range from minor cuts and bruises to catastrophic, life-changing injuries. The nature and severity of your injuries can significantly impact the potential value of your car accident claim.

Generally, the more serious your injuries, the greater the compensation you can receive. This is because your medical expenses are likely to be more expensive, and treatment is likely to be more invasive.

Whether You Were Permanently Disabled

Fortunately, many car accident victims are able to recover shortly after the accident and resume their normal lives.

However, this is not the case for some car accident victims, including those who suffer permanent disabilities or impairments, such as:

Paralysis
Amputation
A traumatic brain injury
Spinal cord damage

The costs to treat these conditions are much higher than for minor injuries. Additionally, the victim may require long-term personal care and be unable to return to work.

Through a personal injury claim, you can seek compensation for your medical expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering, and other damages stemming from the accident.

The Amount of Your Economic Damages

Another significant determinant in the potential value of your claim is the amount of economic damages you suffered.

Economic damages are the losses you suffered that can be quantified, such as:

Medical expenses
Personal care
Lost wages
Reduced earning capacity
Property damage

You are also entitled to compensation for the non-economic damages you suffer, such as pain, suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress. However, the amount of your economic damages may be used to estimate the value of your non-economic damages.

Hire a Clearwater Car Accident Lawyer for Help During the Settlement Process

Insurance companies love to take advantage of car accident victims who do not have a lawyer. They often try to resolve their claims for much less than they are worth or deny them altogether. Hiring a personal injury lawyer can impact whether you can recover compensation for your claim and how much.

Contact the Clearwater Car Accident Law Firm of Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today

For more information, please contact Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a car accident lawyer in Clearwater today. We have five convenient locations in Florida, including Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, New Port Richey, and Lakeland.

We proudly serve Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Pasco County, Polk County, and its surrounding areas:

Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – Tampa Office
601 W Swann Ave, Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 223-6200

Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – Clearwater Office
600 Bypass Dr Suite 224-D, Clearwater, FL 33764
(727) 493-4418

Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Petersburg Office
111 2nd Ave NE Suite 350, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 314-5988

Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – New Port Richey Office
5006 Trouble Creek Rd Unit #200, Port Richey, FL 34652
(727) 910-5060

Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – Lakeland Office
1543 Lakeland Hills Blvd Suite 18, Lakeland, FL 33805
(863) 251-6196