When you have been injured in a car accident in the State of Florida, bills and other costs can build up fast. These costs tend to include medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and more. You might be feeling overwhelmed by the situation, but the good news is that you can hire a personal injury lawyer from The Law Place to win the compensation that you deserve.
The Law Place has over seventy-five years of combined experience and knowledge in helping clients who have suffered injuries in car accidents all over the State of Florida, with great success. Our team of personal injury lawyers has a comprehensive understanding of the laws surrounding car accident cases and personal injury claims, and we want to be the ones to help you during this difficult time.
Following your car crash, you might be wondering how long it will take for the insurance company to settle your car accident claim in the State of Florida. Rest assured that a personal injury lawyer from our law firm will be at your side to answer all of your questions.
Pick up your phone and call The Law Place today to set up a free consultation, in which a car accident lawyer from our law firm will explain the process to you and offer you professional legal advice to help you in your current situation. Our phone lines are open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week so that we can be available for you at any time of the day.
Contact us now on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation, and we will fight your car accident case together in the State of Florida.
How Long Does the Insurance Company Have to Settle a Claim in Florida?
The time that it will take for insurance companies to settle car accident claims will ultimately depend on the circumstances surrounding the claim in question. There are a variety of factors to consider here, and a car accident lawyer from The Law Place will be able to evaluate your case to determine the negligent driver, the extent of your injuries, and the types of compensation that you might be entitled to receive.
There are also many other factors at play that could possibly impact the length of time that it takes for your car accident claim to be settled in the State of Florida, so it is important to be patient and trust your car accident lawyer to get the job done.
Once a car accident lawyer from The Law Place has developed your case, they will begin to negotiate with the insurance companies involved. The exact time that it could take to resolve a claim will depend on the type of claim that it is. For a generally straight-forward settlement, the insurance company will investigate the accident, and then they will either decide to pay out or deny the claim. Furthermore, the insurance company will have up to 30 days to pay or deny a claim for personal injury protection (PIP) insurance in the State of Florida.
For more complex cases, like those that require a lawsuit, it could be resolved within a year or possibly even longer. The process to agree on a settlement could become even more complicated when there are severe injuries that require long-term medical treatment in the State of Florida.
We understand that you might feel under pressure when the bills are piling up following a car crash, and it is especially difficult when you have suffered serious injuries. However, there is no need to be concerned, as The Law Place will work hard to make sure that your car accident case is resolved as soon as possible, and we will keep you up to date every step of the way.
Factors to Consider When Determining How Long It May Take to Settle a Car Accident Claim in Florida
- If the other driver or their insurance company admitted fault and they then dispute, then a lawsuit will be required to resolve the case.
- The length of time it takes to complete the medical treatment for your injuries.
- If the insurance company cannot agree on a settlement amount and refuse to pay you a fair settlement.
- If the personal injury lawyer that you hired has the necessary experience to make sure that your car accident case is not delayed in any way.
It is essential that you choose the right personal injury lawyer to pursue your car accident claim in the State of Florida.
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Why Some Car Accident Claims Take Longer to Settle in Florida
- Legal or factual issues – If the insurance company believes that you do not have a valid claim, or if liability is challenging to prove, then a car accident claim might take longer to resolve. Another factual issue is when the negligence or recklessness of the driver who caused the accident is up for dispute.
- Amount of money – Insurance companies, are widely known for wanting to avoid paying out large sums of money for car accident victims, and they will especially want to avoid it if the value of your car accident case is high. In most cases, insurance companies will try to wait you out so that you accept less compensation than you deserve.
- Recovery times – It can be difficult to determine the overall costs of injuries sustained in a car accident if the process of recovery hasn’t finished yet and you are still receiving treatment.
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General Insurance Claims in Florida
Every insurance company has a reasonable amount of time to accept or deny a car accident claim in the State of Florida. It is considered unlawful for an insurance company to fail to accept or deny a car accident claim within a reasonable period of time following the submission of the claim, according to Florida Statute 634.336. If an insurance company denies a car accident claim, then they are required to offer a reason for their rejection. It is also considered unlawful for an insurance company to misrepresent the facts of a case, lie about the amount of coverage available, or fail to communicate efficiently after a claim has been submitted to them for review.
Florida Statute 627.4265 states that an insurance company must pay within 20 days of agreeing to settle with the other party. However, if they fail to pay by the due date, then they must pay 12 percent annual interest to the claimant. Car accident settlements are often worth large amounts of money, which means that a 12 percent annual interest can quickly grow if the insurance company fails to pay out on time.
From the initial call to updates on your case status, we are here to get you answers.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Claims in Florida
You must seek medical attention within 14 days following a car crash in order to submit a claim to receive the benefits of personal injury protection (PIP). Florida Statute 627.736 states that the insurer has to accept or deny your claim within 30 days of submission. If you do not have all of the required information to submit at once, then the insurer has up to 30 days to pay the claim as soon as they receive every part of it.
However, if they deny the claim, then they must explain why. If the rejection was due to an error on the part of the client, then the insurance company will have to give an explanation. In this case, you will have up to 15 days to submit a revised version of your claim to them again.
What Happens When the Insurance Company Does Not Pay as They Should in Florida?
You might have a claim for bad faith if the insurance company does not follow proper procedures for accepting or denying a car accident claim within the specified amount of time. In this case, the insurance company in question might have no choice but to pay you extra because they did not follow the rules by investigating and paying the claim accordingly.
Florida Statute 624.155 and Florida Common Law outlines the details of bad faith insurance in the State of Florida. In the event that you are dealing with the bad faith of an insurance company, then you can make a claim for bad faith, and you will also have the option to take the case to court to make the insurance company pay you the highest settlement and cover all of your costs.
You will usually have up to four years from the exact date of your car accident to bring your claim to a court of law in the State of Florida.
Compensation for Car Accidents in Florida
Economic damages and non-economic damages are two different categories that car accident victims can claim damages for after suffering injuries in the State of Florida.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are calculated by using bills and invoices.
- Medical bills – The costs for surgery, rehabilitation, prescription medication, hospital stays visits to the doctor, medical equipment, and more. This also includes any past, present, or future medical bills.
- Loss of income – The costs for any time at work you missed because of the injuries that you suffered. This also includes any changes to your usual income.
- Property damage – The costs to replace or repair your vehicle. This also includes any other property that might have been damaged in the crash, such as your mobile phone, clothes, or anything else.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages cannot be calculated using bills or invoices.
- Pain and suffering – The costs for mental anguish, emotional distress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and reduction to your quality of life following your crash.
- Loss of consortium and companionship – The costs for the loss of your companionship if you were tragically killed in a car accident. This compensates your spouse or family members for funeral expenses, medical bills, pain and suffering, and more.
- Wrongful death – The costs for the loss of a family member in a devastating car crash. This also includes funeral expenses, medical bills, pain and suffering, and more.
Important Things That You Should Know About Car Accident Settlements in Florida
It is crucial that you understand your legal rights under Florida law when you have been involved in a car accident. One of the most asked questions regarding personal injury cases is, “how long does it take to settle?” Well, every case is unique and will take a different amount of time to settle. Some cases will settle, and other cases will have to go to trial – depending on facts and circumstances.
- Extent of your injuries – This is one of the main factors that will impact the amount of time it may take to settle your case. We must wait as long as possible until the extent of your injuries is fully understood and documented so that we can have a better idea of your maximum medical improvement and what your future expenses will most likely be. The average personal injury claim without having to file a car accident lawsuit will usually take between 6 to 12 months to settle. Your doctor might be able to provide good insight into the extent of your injuries and the healing process once you are in medical treatment – this will benefit your personal injury claim and help to speed up the process. As soon as we have a clear picture of your full medical situation, then we can negotiate on a settlement that covers all of your costs with the insurance company of the at-fault driver.
- Insurance companies – It is widely known that insurance companies are not fond of paying out when it comes to car accident cases. It is also common for insurance adjusters to deploy a series of tactics to delay the settlement of your personal injury claim for as long as possible. It is crucial that you have a personal injury lawyer that you know and trust to protect you and stop insurance companies from taking advantage of you.
- Proof – You will have the burden of proof in the State of Florida, which means that you have to prove the extent of your injuries to file a personal injury claim. We know that it can seem like a burden to have to prove yourself when you are the one who has suffered because of someone else’s negligence, but it is crucial for your case. You will have to prove two aspects: the first one is negligence, and the second one is the cause of your injuries. When you are proving your injuries, you can take photographs and videos of your wounds/scars, medical records (including MRI and x-ray scans), medical bills, and invoices. If you have to take your case to trial, then you can rely on the testimony of your doctor.
- You are in control – You are the one who can decide whether you want to settle your case or take it to trial to win the compensation that you deserve. Rest assured that you will have a personal injury lawyer to advise you throughout the process and help you to understand the different benefits of deciding to settle your case or go to trial. But above all else, we will ensure you don’t unknowingly settle for anything less than what you deserve.
- Follow your doctor’s orders – If you wish to help your car accident lawyer and escalate your case as quickly as possible, then make sure that you follow all of your doctor’s advice and recommendations when it comes to your health. It is essential that you complete your medical treatment. Otherwise, the insurance company will try to argue that your injuries are not as serious as you said they were, and they will give you a low settlement offer.
Contact The Law Place Today
If you were involved in an auto accident that was not your fault in the State of Florida, then you might be feeling uncertain about what to do next. Personal injury cases have the potential to rack up thousands of dollars, and you will want to make sure that you are getting the compensation you deserve for your injuries, damages, and other losses. In order to do this, you will need the skills of a car accident lawyer to handle the case.
The Law Place has over seventy-five years of collective experience in winning compensation for car accident victims throughout the State of Florida. Our team of car accident attorneys understands the pressure that you are under, and we want to make the healing process as easy as possible for you.
Our law firm has a strong reputation for helping clients and achieving the best possible outcomes even in the most difficult of situations. If you put your faith in us, then we will ruthlessly fight for the success of your personal injury case. We will make sure to settle your case with the maximum amount of compensation to cover all of your injuries, damages, and other losses following your car crash.
Call The Law Place today, and we will set up a free consultation in which a car accident lawyer will talk you through the process and answer all of your questions. Our phone lines are open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, so feel free to call when you are ready to talk.
Contact us now on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation, and we will fight your car accident case together in the State of Florida.