Can I Collect Insurance After an Accident?

Whether you can collect insurance after an auto accident depends on a few factors, including the category of auto insurance and related damages in question.

• Medical expenses: If you’ve been injured, you’ll need to seek medical attention, which could involve hospitalization and specialist care. Florida law requires registered vehicles to carry at least $10,000 worth of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) on their auto insurance policy. If you call your auto insurance company after an accident, they will give you a claim number and your doctors will send their bills directly to the insurance company. Your PIP will pay 80% of each bill, up to $10,000, even if you were liable for the crash. If you weren’t at fault, you can file against the at-fault party’s insurance company to pay for the remaining damages if they have something called bodily injury coverage. About 25% of drivers don’t have this optional coverage, though, so it might not apply to your situation. That’s why our attorneys recommend you purchase uninsured motorist (UM) insurance, too.
• Property damage: The at-fault driver’s insurance company should pay for damage to your vehicle, or any other items that were damaged by the crash. If the damage to your vehicle costs more to repair than the vehicle is worth, it will be deemed a total loss, and the insurance company should pay you the fair market value of the car.
• Lost wages: If you’ve missed time from work because of your injuries, you can have related unearned wages reimbursed through your PIP coverage, which will pay you 60% of your lost wages. You can seek the remainder from the at-fault party’s bodily injury policy if they have one. If they don’t have bodily injury coverage, you can seek it through your uninsured motorist coverage, assuming that you purchased this optional coverage type.
• Pain and suffering: You can receive money for your pain and suffering, but only if the at-fault party has bodily injury coverage, or you have uninsured motorist coverage. Monetary compensation can’t undo the harm you have suffered, but it can help you feel like your life is stable again, at least financially.

For questions about what insurance you can collect after a crash in Florida, connect with the attorneys of Schackow & Mercadante by clicking here and asking for a free consultation.