Not all car accidents in Florida end up in victims being seriously injured or vehicles suffering a lot of damage. It is very common for minor accidents to happen with no serious injuries or vehicle damage involved. When these accidents happen, victims may be unsure whether they can make a compensation claim to recover damages.
Typically, claims for smaller accidents don’t end up in court, and victims don’t usually receive compensation for non-economic injuries. It is usually the responsibility of insurance companies to reward victim’s compensation for any harm they have suffered, regardless of how minor it is. However, it is important to know that you are still entitled to file an injury claim if you feel you have been undervalued by your insurance company or if you have been unable to recover compensation.
Here at The Law Place, we can help you get the compensation you are owed for your car accident even if there was no visible damage. Our law office has over 75 years of combined experience in multiple practice areas, and we have built up a strong attorney-client relationship throughout our many years of practice. Our team of personal injury lawyers is highly experienced in dealing with compensation claims and will help you every step of the way to ensure you get justice. We offer free consultations for you to receive legal advice with no strings attached.
Call us today to schedule your free legal consultation at (941) 444-4444. Our phone lines are always open.
What Should I Do Following a Car Accident?
Regardless of whether you have been involved in a serious or minor accident, you should always take the following steps to ensure that you can recover compensation and that that at-fault party is held liable:
- Contact law enforcement – You should always contact the police to report an accident. Once they arrive at the scene, they will make an accident report outlining the details of the accident scene, including any damage to your car, physical injuries, and the information of the parties involved. This police report will be essential when you try to seek compensation.
- Seek medical attention – Even if you don’t believe you have suffered any injuries in the car crash, you should always seek medical assistance. They will report any injuries you have suffered, and they may notice more serious injuries that you were unaware of.
- Gather evidence – This evidence should include photos of the scene of the accident and any damage to your car, the contact information of the other party involved, and any witnesses to the scene.
- Contact your insurance – It is required by law that you report your vehicle collision immediately to your insurance company. Once you have done this, you can file a claim to seek compensation for any damage or harm you’ve suffered.
- Call a car accident lawyer – It is recommended that you call a car accident lawyer as soon as possible following a collision. They can speak with your insurance on your behalf to ensure that your claim is not undervalued.
For a free legal consultation, call 941-444-4444
Insurance Laws in Florida
Florida is a no-fault state, as provided under Florida Statute 627.7407. This means that your own insurance has a duty to compensate you if you have been injured or have suffered damage to your car in an accident. Under this law, all drivers in Florida are also required to have personal injury protection (PIP) insurance coverage of at least $10,000 for personal injury and the same amount for property damage.
This no-fault law provides that in order to file a claim against the other party for any serious damages, you must meet a ‘serious injury threshold.’ A serious injury is defined in Florida Statute 316.027 as one that creates a risk of permanent damage, debilitation, or death. As such, if you have not been seriously injured in a car accident, you will be unable to file a claim against the negligent party involved.
This also means that if the other driver has not sustained a serious injury or serious property damage in the accident, they will be unable to file a claim against you personally for their harm. Any damage the other driver has suffered will be covered by their own insurance company.
What Damages Can I Get in Insurance Claims?
If you file an insurance claim with your own company, you may be able to receive compensation for any damage to your car or any injuries you have suffered. Some of the damages you can claim include:
- Medical bills – You can make a claim to cover any medical treatment you had to undergo as a result of the car accident. This can include bills for hospital appointments, transport to and from these appointments, and any bills for long-lasting injuries.
- Lost wages – If you have been left unable to work as a result of the car accident, you can try to recover any wages you’ve lost as a result, including potential future earnings.
- Property damage – If your vehicle was damaged in the accident, you could recover property damage costs for vehicle repairs and repairs to any valuable items damaged inside the vehicle at the time of the accident.
- Wrongful death – A personal injury lawyer can help you file a wrongful death claim to cover funeral costs and a loss of consortium if you have lost a loved one in an accident.
Even if your vehicle did not suffer any property damage in a car accident, our car accident lawyers could help you cover the costs of personal injuries you have suffered. For example, you may have been a cyclist or a pedestrian that has been injured as the result of a distracted driver. In this type of car accident case, we can help you file a compensation claim against the distracted driver to recover damages for your injuries.
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How Do I Build a Case for a Car Accident With No Damage?
If your car was not damaged whatsoever in the car accident, you would have to file a personal injury claim to recover any costs for your injuries. We recommend that you contact one of our car accident lawyers as soon as possible as they will help you build a strong case to ensure that you receive compensation.
Firstly, they will investigate the police report thoroughly to assess what happened at the scene of the accident. Then, they will look at your medical reports from the incident and figure out how much money you are entitled to for medical costs and future bills resulting from long-lasting injuries. They will also speak with your insurance company and the insurance company of the other driver on your behalf to ensure that they do not use the information you have given you as a means to undervalue your claim.
Once they have taken the above steps, they will build a strong personal injury case on your behalf and make a claim to get you the damages you are owed. It can be difficult to get compensation when there is no property damage in an auto accident. This is why our law office always recommends that you speak with a car accidents lawyer as soon as possible following your collisions. Contact us today for your free consultation.
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Contact The Law Place Today
Car accidents can be extremely stressful, even if you have not suffered any serious damage to your vehicle. The insurance system in Florida is built to ensure that you are compensated for any damage you have suffered, even if you were at fault for the collision. This is also the case if your vehicle did not suffer any serious damage or if you were not seriously injured.
However, it is always recommended that you speak with a lawyer who can help you build a claim to ensure that your insurance company does not offer you a low-ball settlement or give you less than you deserve for a collision. At The Law Place, we have a mountain of experience working with injury claims, and we are renowned for always getting our clients the best possible outcomes for their cases.
Our law firm offers a free case evaluation meaning you can receive honest legal advice from us at absolutely no cost to you. We want to ensure that all victims of accidents have access to legal help regardless of their financial situation.
Call us today at (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free case review. Our phone lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Call or text 941-444-4444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form