Personal Injury FAQs

As tempting as it is to accept the first offer from an insurance company — especially if it appears fair and reasonable — this is not a mistake you want to make. If you do this, you close your claim. And that will stop you from seeking additional compensation.

Insurance companies are known for sending lowball offers to accident victims in hopes that they’ll immediately accept. 

If you receive an offer, share the letter with your attorney to better understand the terms and conditions and your options moving forward. 

Just remember that there’s never a good time to accept the first offer from an insurance company for a car accident. 

Many types of cases fit within these categories. For example, motor vehicle accidents include car accidents, commercial truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, public transportation accidents, and pedestrian accidents. 

Research shows that the average settlement for a car accident in Florida is somewhere in the $10,000 to $50,000 range. 

However, this is just an average. You may learn that you can’t recover any more than $10,000. Conversely, if you were seriously injured in an accident, you may be in line to obtain compensation in excess of $1 million.

If you’re injured in a car accident in Florida, consult with a personal injury attorney to better understand how much you can expect to receive. 

If you’re unable to consult with a personal injury lawyer — perhaps as the result of serious injuries — ask a loved one to do so on your behalf. This puts the wheels in motion as you take steps toward your recovery. 

A minor fender bender in which you suffered no injuries does not typically call for the assistance of a personal injury lawyer. 

But if you were injured in the accident, regardless of the severity, it’s generally best to have a lawyer on your side.

Damages and losses can add up quickly when you take into consideration repairs to your vehicle, medical bills, and future expenses. 

A qualified car accident attorney can review the details of your accident and help you decide what to do next. They only get paid if you get paid, so you can expect honest feedback during your consultation. 

Insurance companies are not required to use a specific formula for calculating pain and suffering in a motor vehicle accident.

There are two ways to calculate pain and suffering: 

1. Multiply your damages, such as lost wages and medical bills, by a specific number, typically between one and five. The more severe the injury, the higher the multiplier. 
2. Per diem method: With this, a certain dollar amount is assigned to every day of your recovery until you make a maximum recovery. It’s important to negotiate the daily amount to maximize your compensation for pain and suffering. 

There are a variety of steps you should take if you’re rear-ended by another vehicle:

1. Stay where you are to assess yourself for injuries
2. Don’t move your vehicle, as doing so can harm your chances of proving the other driver hit you from behind
3. Call 911 to request that police and an ambulance respond to the scene
4. Receive treatment
5. Learn more about your legal rights

If you’re rear-ended, such as when sitting at a traffic light, it’s generally clear that the other party was at fault.