Lake County Car Accident Lawyer

If you were injured in a car accident, you may be facing many personal and financial losses, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, vehicle damage, and maybe even significant disability. No matter how serious or minor your accident is, though, the aftermath will likely involve insurance companies, medical professionals, and members of law enforcement at various stages.

You may benefit from having an experienced attorney on your side through this process. A Lake County car accident lawyer could work hard to help you pursue compensation for your damages.

No-Fault Insurance Coverage in Car Accident Cases

Florida follows a unique no-fault liability system for auto accident claims. Under this system, all drivers in Lake County must carry at least $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. No matter who causes an accident, each driver must first recover their medical expenses and lost wages from their own PIP coverage.

It should be noted, however, that PIP coverage only compensates 80 percent of medical expenses and 60 percent of lost wages. PIP coverage is also subject to whatever deductible the driver selected.

Because of these limitations, a driver injured in an auto accident in Lake County may only recover a part of their actual out-of-pocket losses even when another driver caused the accident. For this reason, it could be important to understand the exceptions that apply to these limits.

Permanent Injury and High Damages Cases

In some circumstances, individual injured in car wrecks can recover larger damages directly from another driver who was at fault. If someone experiences an accident that leads to a permanent injury, they are not subject to the no-fault limits and could recover their full medical expenses and lost wages from the party at fault, as well as damages for intangible losses such as pain and suffering.

Another exception may apply if medical bills and lost wages exceed the coverage limitations of a driver’s PIP coverage. In such a case, the party or parties at fault could be liable for the excess losses.

Florida Statutes §627.737(2) defines a permanent injury as being one that causes one or more of the following conditions:

• Significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function
• Permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability
• Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement
• Death

In almost any situation, insurance companies work hard to pay as little as they can for accident claims. Legal advice from a Lake County car accident attorney could help individuals understand their rights and determine whether compensation greater than the PIP limitations may be available.

Comparative Negligence

The doctrine of comparative negligence can be a common stumbling block for people injured in car collisions in Lake County. Florida’s comparative negligence standard reduces an injured person’s recovery by the degree to which they were to blame for their own losses. For example, if a driver was 50 percent at fault, they can recover only half of their total damage award, if the court deigns to award them one.

Because several parties could be at fault in an accident, many cases involve multiple insurance companies, each of which may try to minimize their client’s liability by shifting blame to the other parties. A seasoned auto accident lawyer in Lake County could advise about how the apportionment of the fault may affect the recovery of damages in a car accident case.

What Our Clients Say

“Gordon is professional, patient, kind, and knowledgeable. From the first encounter I had with him, he was very kind and attentive. He was responsive throughout the entire process and consistently advocated for me. I would recommend him to anyone in need of legal counsel, as I had a very pleasant experience with him.”

By: April McDonald
Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jan 1, 2022
Read more reviews on Google!

How a Lake County Car Accident Attorney Could Help

If you suffer an injury in an accident, do not wait to hear from the other driver’s insurance company. Instead, call a Lake County car accident lawyer now. A dedicated attorney could work tirelessly to protect your rights and help you get the maximum recovery the law allows. Call Glover Law Firm today to schedule a consultation and start learning about the possibilities in your case.