What Does Florida’s No-Fault Auto Insurance Law Mean For Car Accident Victims?

Florida is considered a “no-fault” auto insurance state. This does not mean that drivers can’t be held responsible for causing a car accident. Rather, it is an auto insurance issue that is intended to help those who have been in car accidents quickly obtain insurance money to help pay for medical bills and property damage. 

Under state law, all drivers are required to carry at least $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) auto insurance. If you are involved in an accident, you can file a claim with your own insurance provider to help pay for any expenses incurred. The intent was to help speed up payments to injured parties without having to go through a legal battle to determine fault and then work with the other insurance company to get a payout.

No-Fault Does Not Mean No Claim

Just because Florida is a no-fault state does not mean a victim can’t file a claim against the other party. Drivers who caused a car accident in Florida can still be sued. PIP coverage only covers 80% of medical bills and 60% of lost wages or income and it only kicks in after the deductible has been met. In many cases, this is simply not enough compensation to cover all of the costs associated with the car accident and a car accident lawsuit may be pursued.

Another exception is if permanent injuries or death occurred. In that case, the one who caused the accident can be sued directly regardless of the no-fault coverage.

Meet With Our Florida Car Accident Attorney To Determine Your Next Steps

If you have been injured in a car accident, you may have basis for a claim, despite the state’s no-fault law. Contact The Beregovich Law Firm for advice and a legal assessment of your situation. You may be able to obtain additional funds to help pay medical bills, replace lost income, and repair or replace your car.

Call (800) 631-9009 or email us to arrange a consultation at your convenience.

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Don’t Let Spring Fever Lead To An Auto Accident

Spring break is in full swing here in Florida. That means plenty of winter-weary travelers are hitting the highways in search of some fun in the sun. More drivers on the road, distracted drivers, drunk drivers, and even inexperienced drivers all up the chances of a car accident occurring. While even the best drivers can get into a car accident, you can reduce your chances by remembering your defensive driving skills.

Defensive Driving Saves Lives

Defensive driving is sometimes confused with aggressive driving, but they are not the same thing. “Defensive” driving means defending or protecting yourself from threats on the road. Where an aggressive driver may try to get through that yellow light, a defensive driver will take stock of whether or not it would be safer to stop suddenly or to go through the yellow.

Being aware of your situation and thinking ahead are hallmark skills of a defensive driver. Defensive drivers:

  • Stay focused on driving. They don’t use their phones or multi-task while driving, nor do they try to pick things up off the floor or reach into the backseat.
  • Obey traffic laws and best practices. Sticking to the speed limit, obeying traffic signs and signals, yielding to pedestrians, and maintaining a safe distance between cars protect drivers and passengers.
  • Are aware of other drivers. They pay attention to what other drivers are doing and are prepared to respond appropriately.
  • Plan ahead. Know where you’re going and how long it takes to get there. Check your route ahead of time so you’re not surprised by construction or heavy traffic.

Involved in a Car Accident? Contact Us

Despite all of these precautions and your best intentions, car accidents can still happen. If you are involved in a car accident in Florida, contact The Beregovich Law Firm for help. We can help you navigate the insurance claims process, fight against denied claims, or file injury lawsuits. Contact us at (800) 631-9009 or email us to discuss your situation free of charge.

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Must-Do Steps To Take After A Car Accident

No one expects to be involved in a car accident. Once the immediate shock wears off, chances are you’ll be left wondering what to do. The actions you need to take after a car accident can be separated into two parts:

  1. The immediate aftermath of the accident and
  2. Post-accident

What To Do In The Immediate Aftermath Of A Car Accident

1. Stay at the Scene. Always remain at the scene of the accident until you have spoken to the police. Leaving the scene before doing so can be misconstrued as hit-and-run – particularly if there have been severe injuries and/or a death.

2. Check for Injuries. If you are able to do so, check yourself, your passengers, the occupants of the other vehicle and any bystanders for injuries. Call 911 to get medical attention if needed.

3. Call the Police. Even in non-serious accidents, it is best to call the police, but if there is serious property damage or significant injuries or a death, calling the police is a must. When the police arrive be sure to collect their names and badge numbers for future reference.

4. Collect and Share Information. While you wait for the police to arrive, exchange insurance and contact information from the other driver(s), passengers, and witnesses. Take pictures at the scene to document the situation and property damage.

5. Do Not Talk About the Accident. One thing you should never do is discuss fault for the accident. Don’t apologize if you think you were at fault and don’t accuse the other if you think he/she was at fault. By discussing the accident, you may be admitting legal liability, cloud witness judgement, or confuse your own memory of the event.

6. Remain Calm. Throughout this entire process, remain level headed, calm, and cooperative. Emotions are no doubt running high and the last thing you need is an emotionally charged situation on your hands.

Step To Take After The Accident

After the accident has been cleared and you are home, you’ll need to take a few more steps.

1. Call Your Insurance Company. Contact your insurance agent as soon as possible after the accident. Provide them with the facts and answer their questions honestly. If you lie or withhold information and the insurer finds out, it could jeopardize your coverage payout.

2. See a Doctor. Even if you feel fine or were cleared by paramedics at the scene, make an appointment to see your own physician to rule out any missed injuries. Some injuries don’t begin to show themselves for days or even weeks afterward. Keep track of all medical appointments, reports, treatments, and bills.

3. Record Changes to Your Life. If the accident or related injuries cause you to miss work or injuries prevent you from returning to your normal routine, document the changes. This kind of information can be helpful when proving pain and suffering.

4. Contact an Auto Accident Attorney. If there were injuries or severe property damage or if you are having trouble dealing with your insurance company, contact an experienced car accident attorney. An attorney can help you navigate the claims process, ensure you receive a fair settlement and defend you from lawsuits if it comes to that. Many personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis; that means you will only need to pay them if you are awarded damages or achieve a settlement.

If you have been involved in a car accident in Florida and need legal advice, contact The Beregovich Law Firm. We offer free consultations and a no-hassle process to help you recover after an auto accident.

Call (800) 631-9009 or email us to discuss your situation.

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Crucial Evidence That Helps Win Car Accident Lawsuits

Car accident lawsuits and insurance company payouts both help victims recover from the financial costs associated with an accident – such as property damage, medical bills due to injuries, or even lost wages. However, simply being in a car accident and bringing forth a lawsuit doesn’t guarantee that you will receive compensation. For that to happen, you’ll need to provide evidence that you have a right to compensation, better known in legal terms as “damages”.

You will need to prove several things in order to win a car accident lawsuit:

  1. That the other driver was negligent.
  2. That you sustained injuries as a result of the negligence.
  3. That the injuries caused you to suffer damages.
  4. The cost of those damages.

Whether you are seeking compensation from a car insurance company or in a civil lawsuit, winning the case relies on providing the right evidence.

5 Examples of Evidence That Will Support Your Case

Here’s a look at 5 pieces of evidence that are common in car accident cases. When presenting your case, it’s always a good idea to have as much evidence as possible. Presenting all 5 types of evidence will boost your case, but you aren’t required to have all 5 types in order to bring a lawsuit.

  1. A police report. Police reports from the collision site are very valuable pieces of evidence as they lay out in impartial terms the facts of the collision. Police reports can also help verify your version of what happened.
  2. Witness statements. Witness statements are equally valuable as police reports and may even be included in the police report. Witnesses can describe what happened prior to, during, and after the crash. If you are ever involved in a car accident, try to obtain witness contact information so you can reach them if you ever need to present witness testimony.
  3. Specialist statements. Specialists like accident reconstruction specialists can help prove exactly what happened when an accident occurred by examining evidence and damage to vehicles. Your car accident attorney can help you find an accident reconstruction specialist if you need one.
  4. Photos. “A picture never lies.” This is very true in the case of car accidents where witnesses may have fuzzy memories or police may not be able to piece together exactly what happened. Any kind of photo can help build your case, so use the camera on your phone to document damages and injuries.
  5. Medical records. If you are seeking compensation for your injuries, medical records are vital to proving the severity of your injuries and the financial hardship the injuries have placed on you. This information will be instrumental in determining the amount of compensation you are awarded.

Contact The Beregovich Law Firm For Help Building A Car Accident Case

Engaging the services of a Florida car accident lawyer can help you present your strongest case and win your car accident lawsuit. The Beregovich Law Firm helps victims of car accidents in Florida obtain the compensation they need to move forward with their lives after an accident. We will help you collect and review evidence, develop a case, present it to the insurer or in court, and fight for your right to compensation every step of the way.

Call our firm at (800) 631-9009 or email us to schedule a car accident consultation.

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The 4 Most Dangerous Types of Car Accidents

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were over 395,000 car accidents in Florida just in the year 2016. Of those thousands of crashes, more than 250,000 of them resulted in injuries, while just fewer than 3,000 of them resulted in fatalities, proving that there is a wide range of severity in auto accidents.

What makes one car accident more dangerous than another depends on many factors including the speed of the vehicle(s) involved, the size of the cars, the use of seatbelts, and the way the car is hit. Here is a quick look at some of the most dangerous types of car accidents.

Dangerous Car Accidents

Any car accident can be injurious or even fatal, but some have a higher probability of severe injury or death. Those include:

  1. Head-On Collisions. Head-on collisions result in the most fatalities due to simple physics. If 2 cars, each traveling 60 mph, hit one another head-on, the resulting force is the equivalent of crashing at 120 mph. Add in to that the face-to-face positioning of the cars and the position of the occupants inside, you can see why head-on collisions so often result in fatalities.
  2. T-Bones. T-bone accidents occur when the front of one vehicle hits the side of another. They most often occur at intersections, usually when one driver is turning and the other fails, or is unable, to yield. The danger in these types of accidents is due more so to the fact that the sides of cars are less protected than the front and back of cars. T-bone accidents can be especially bad for backseat passengers.
  3. Pile-ups. Pile-ups involve more than two cars. They are particularly dangerous because they make it difficult for anyone to exit their vehicles and/or get out of the path of destruction. There’s also a higher chance of debris, fires, and explosions which can harm people who are not even involved in the accident.
  4. Rollovers. While rollovers are most often associated with large, high-profile vehicles like SUVs, RVs, vans, and pick-up trucks, even small cars can roll over. Taking turns too fast, overcorrecting at high speeds, and impaired driving all up the chances of a rollover. The danger from rollovers comes from the ferocity of the car turning upside down as well as the likelihood of being trapped inside the vehicle once it comes to a stop.

All of these types of car accidents have high potential for serious or permanent injury or even death. If you have been involved in a serious car accident and have suffered as a result of it, contact The Beregovich Law Firm for advice and representation. There is a possibility we can help you obtain compensation for your injuries which can help you recover more fully and with less financial strain.

Contact The Beregovich Law Firm at (800) 631-9009 or email us to meet with a Florida car accident attorney.

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Defining Damages In Car Accident Personal Injury Cases

It’s not unusual for car accident injury victims to seek compensation after an auto accident. Such compensation can help pay hospital and medical bills, replace lost wages, and help pay for other expenses not covered by your or the other driver’s car insurance policy. In fact, it is the burden of these additional expenses that often leads victims to consult a personal injury attorney after a car accident.

As you move forward with a personal injury case, you will likely hear reference to different types of damages. In this post, we want to take a look at those different types of damages and explain when they may be sought.

Damages In Personal Injury Cases

“Damages” in a personal injury case, refers to the cost of the injuries you have sustained. Both direct financial costs, such as medical bills, and indirect costs, such as lost wages, are considered. Also highly considered are the emotional costs of the injury.

Most costs fall under the category of Compensatory Damages. Compensatory Damages include both specific and general damages. Specific damages correspond to the specific amounts of accident related injuries and/or losses including:

  • Medical bills and costs
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of earning capacity
  • Property loss

General Damages are less clear-cut. They do not have easily calculated values and are subjective. General Damages include:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Inability to have children as a result of accident-related injuries
  • Loss of an extremity
  • Loss of consortium, if the accident caused a strain on your relationship

There is also the possibility of the court awarding the victim Punitive Damages. Punitive Damages are meant to punish the defendant if the accident occurred due to their especially careless actions or activities.

Are You Eligible For Damages? Contact Our Personal Injury Attorney For A Free Evaluation

If you have been injured in a car accident, there is a possibility that you may be entitled to damages. There are many factors that will affect your ability to secure compensation for the injuries so a thorough review of the situation by an experienced personal injury attorney is crucial to helping you determine your legal options.

Arrange a consultation with our Florida personal injury attorney for a free case evaluation. We provide strong advocacy for our clients and leave no stone unturned, doing our own evidence collection, witness interviews, and accident reconstruction to establish the facts of the case.

Contact The Beregovich Law Firm at (800) 631-9009 or email us for an immediate, no obligation, free home, phone, email, or office consultation.

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I Was Injured in a Car Accident. Should I Hire a Car Accident Attorney?

If you have been injured in a car accident in Florida, you may be wondering if it’s a good idea to hire a car accident attorney. Not all auto accidents require legal representation, but if the accident resulted in personal injuries and/or financial loss, it’s a good idea to at least consult a car accident attorney and have him/her review your situation to determine if you have a case.

In general, you should consult a car accident attorney after an auto accident that results in:

  • Severe injuries
  • Long-term or permanent disabilities
  • Expensive medical bills
  • A significant loss of wages due to the injuries sustained
  • Disputed liability (when the insurer says their policyholder was not at fault)
  • Refusal by the insurer to pay damages or refusal to pay a fair amount

How A Car Accident Attorney Can Help You

Most drivers understand that they can file a claim against an insurance company on their own. Indeed, many drivers do this for fender-benders and minor accidents that only involve property damage so they can get help paying for repairs. But when personal injuries are involved, the situation becomes much more complicated. The stakes are higher and the insurance company will do everything it can to avoid having to make a payout. That means bringing in teams of lawyers and expert witnesses to try and get the case tossed out or the compensation lowered.

Hiring a car accident attorney is the best way to stand up for yourself in these types of situations. He or she will fight for your rights, advocate your position, and follow all procedures and rules to ensure the case isn’t tossed out on a minor technicality.

Hire A Car Accident Attorney With Personal Injury Experience

Many car accidents are subject to a statute of limitations, which sets a timeframe within which a claim must be filed. So it’s important not to wait too long before hiring an attorney and proceeding with a claim, but you want to hire the right attorney.

The very first thing you should look for in a car accident attorney is personal injury experience and specifically, car accident experience. This will help ensure you get an attorney who is familiar with the ins and out of car accident cases that have resulted in personal injuries and the peculiarities of such cases.

The Beregovich Law Firm represents drivers and passengers who have been injured in car accidents. Our Orlando personal injury attorney has extensive experience with automobile accident cases and has recovered millions for his clients. Learn more about our representation in car accident situations, here.

Call The Beregovich Law Firm at (800) 631-9009 or email us for a free consultation to get started.

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