Gainesville Uninsured Motorist Claims
Being injured in a car accident in Gainesville, Florida, can impact numerous areas of your life. In addition to the physical injuries, you also face financial issues if you cannot work because of your injuries. You deserve compensation for all of the damages you have incurred.
Our Gainesville car accident lawyers at Allen Law Firm, P.A., have over 20 years of legal experience in personal injury cases and hundreds of years of combined experience working in the insurance industry. We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients in negotiated settlements and trial verdicts.
Contact our law firm to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Gainesville uninsured motorist claims lawyer. Our attorneys are available 24/7 at (877) 255-3652, so call us today!
How Our Gainesville Car Accident Lawyers Help You Recover Compensation After a Car Crash
Florida’s no-fault insurance laws provide some compensation for car accident damages, regardless of who caused the crash. However, your damages could far exceed the policy limits of your insurance contract. If so, you could be responsible for the remaining financial losses.
You could sue the other driver for damages. However, the other driver might not have liability insurance. If not, there could be other options our Gainesville car accident attorney can pursue.
When you hire Allen Law Firm, P.A. to handle your claim, you can expect us to:
- Identify all parties who could potentially be liable for your damages
- Gather evidence proving fault and liability
- Review and confirm insurance coverage
- File insurance claims and handle all settlement negotiations
- Document damages and calculate the value of your claim
- Work with expert witnesses
- File a lawsuit and argue your case in court if settlement is not possible
If you wait too long to seek legal advice, you could lose the right to pursue an uninsured motorist claim. Contact us now to schedule a free consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer in Gainesville, FL.
How Does Car Insurance Work in Florida?
Florida insurance laws require drivers to have no-fault insurance. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is a no-fault insurance policy that pays benefits to the insured parties regardless of who caused an accident. Florida requires drivers to have $10,000 in bodily injury coverage.
When you are involved in a car crash, your PIP insurance pays up to 80% of your medical bills. You can also receive up to 60% of your lost wages. The coverage applies even when you cause a car accident.
However, Florida insurance laws also give you the right to sue an at-fault driver if you sustain serious injuries. Serious injuries are defined as:
- Permanent and significant loss of an important bodily function
- Significant and permanent disfigurement or scarring
- Permanent and significant impairment or disability
- Death
Liability car insurance compensates accident victims for damages when an insured driver causes an accident. Therefore, if you pursue a claim for serious injuries against the other driver, their liability insurance carrier should pay the damages.
Unfortunately, Florida does not require drivers to carry liability insurance. Suing the other driver might not be the best way to seek compensation. Filing an uninsured motorist claim with your insurance company might be the best way to recover damages.
What Is Uninsured Motorist Insurance Coverage?
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is an optional car insurance policy you can purchase. It covers your damages if you are injured in an accident caused by another driver. Your insurance company “stands in the shoes of” the at-fault driver’s insurance provider.
Therefore, you could seek compensation for your economic damages, including:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Nursing care
- Household services
- Diminished earning capacity
You can also recover compensation for your non-economic damages, including:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish
- Permanent disabilities and impairments
- Emotional distress
- Scarring and disfigurement
- A decrease in quality of life
The amount you receive depends on several factors. Your uninsured motorist insurance company is only liable up to your policy limits. Therefore, if your limits are $50,000, then the most you could receive for an uninsured motorist claim is $50,000.
The type and severity of your injuries also impact the amount you receive. Catastrophic injuries and permanent impairments generally increase the value of an uninsured motorist claim.
How Do I File an Uninsured Motorist Claim in Gainesville?
You file a claim with your insurance company. Even though it is your insurance provider, the company may deny your claim. You have the burden of proving:
- The other driver caused the car accident
- The other driver did not have insurance
- The car accident caused your injuries
- You have damages because of the car accident
Additionally, your insurance company could argue that you failed to mitigate damages or contributed to the cause of the accident. Contributory fault and failing to mitigate damages can reduce the amount of your uninsured motorist claim.
The best way to know what claims could result in compensation for damages is to meet with our Gainesville car accident attorneys.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Gainesville Uninsured Motorist Claims Lawyers
You deserve to be compensated for damages sustained in a car wreck. Let our legal team fight to get you maximum compensation. Call now for your free case evaluation with a Gainesville uninsured motorist claims attorney.
