Motorists owe each other a general duty of care when traveling Sarasota’s roads and highways by law. However, many shirk this responsibility by engaging in unlawful activities behind the wheel, causing serious accidents and injuries. If a negligent driver caused you to suffer from severe injuries, the Sarasota car accident lawyers at Salter, Healy, Rivera & Heptner are ready to help.
We hold liable parties accountable for your physical and financial losses through a negotiated settlement or civil action award on your behalf. For over six combined decades, the community has trusted our Sarasota personal injury attorneys to achieve justice on their behalf. Call us at (727) 321-HELP for your free consultation to find out more.
Navigating Florida’s No-Fault Insurance
Florida is one of approximately a dozen states across the country that uses a no-fault insurance system for vehicle accidents. This differs from a fault-based system where individuals recover compensation from an at-fault driver. Under a no-fault insurance system, drivers will typically turn to their own insurance carrier to receive compensation from their Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. PIP coverage can provide compensation for a crash victim’s medical bills and lost wages up to the limits of the policy.
There are certainly benefits to a no-fault insurance system. Typically, no-fault claims are resolved faster than claims based on determining liability. However, individuals filing no-fault claims may not be able to recover the true full value of their losses, and non-economic damages such as pain and suffering are not available under this type of insurance claim.
The No-Fault Thresholds
In Florida, the no-fault auto insurance system limits when drivers can pursue a personal injury lawsuit against another driver after a car accident. This system requires that your own insurance covers minor injuries regardless of who caused the accident.
However, to step outside of the no-fault system and file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver, certain conditions, known as the “no-fault thresholds,” must be met. The criteria for filing a vehicle accident personal injury lawsuit include:
Significant/permanent loss of an important bodily function. If the injury significantly impairs your daily activities and this condition is permanent, you may meet this threshold.
Permanent injury. Medical evidence, typically from a doctor, is necessary to claim that your injuries are permanent and will not fully heal.
Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement. If the accident results in considerable scarring or changes to your appearance that are irreversible, this may allow you to sue for damages.
Death. If the accident results in a fatality, the victim’s family may pursue a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault driver.
Types of Compensation Available for a Sarasota Car Accident Claim
Car accident victims in Sarasota may be able to recover a range of compensation types if their claim is successful. At Salter, Healy, Rivera & Heptner, our goal is to help clients recover the compensation needed to be as whole as possible after the incident occurs, including economic and noneconomic damages.
Economic damages. After a vehicle accident in Sarasota, victims may sustain various types of calculable losses that we can add up by gathering receipts, bills, and estimates. These types of losses focus on things like medical bills, lost wages, out-of-pocket expenses, property damage losses, and more.
Non-economic damages. Sarasota Vehicle accident victims may also experience a range of non-economic damages, including physical pain and suffering, emotional and psychological pain and distress, and a loss of quality of life. In the event victims can file a personal injury lawsuit (based on the seriousness of the injuries or the dollar value of the damaged property), they may be able to recover money for these specific types of damages.
The total value of a car accident claim in Sarasota will depend on various factors related to each particular case.
Salter, Healy, Rivera & Heptner Stands By Your Side
If you do not have a Sarasota car accident attorney, the insurance company will have full discretion over your settlement according to their interpretation of Florida’s civil laws. As such, you may be correct in thinking that your settlement is too low or unlawfully denied
Salter, Healy, Rivera & Heptner will right insurance company wrongs under the law by:
Preserving accident injury evidence from investigations
Documenting and presenting our findings
Working with experts to establish a reasonable demand for your injuries
Explaining personal injury laws so that you make informed decisions
Holding insurers accountable if they violate your civil rights
Our legal team will look at your car accident from a fresh perspective, backed by more than 60 years of combined experience and resources. You will have our full support and guidance at every turn in your case, and we will always honor your decisions throughout the time we work together.
You Deserve Answers to Your Legal Questions
Obtaining a fair outcome is one of many challenges experienced by injury victims during the claims process. These challenges can be overcome with a viable strategy in place. Find out how our Sarasota car accident lawyers at Salter, Healy, Rivera & Heptner could help you during a Free Consultation by calling (727) 321-HELP or messaging online.
