How are personal injury cases in Florida paid out? This is a little tricky as it's different than most states. In Florida, we have personal injury protection (PIP) benefits which is your own insurance company paying for your medical care. Your insurance company will pay 80% of each medical bill up to $10,000. This same PIP will also pay out unemployment benefits up to 60% if you are unable to return to work as a result of the injuries of your accident.
Claim
After recieving your initial benefits, the next step you should take is to make a claim through your PIP benefits. If the insurance company finds your claim not significant enough, they may not cover future expenses. If your future expenses are denied, then you must make a claim through the offending parties insurance. These types of settlements normally come after you have been fully treated by your doctor and have had all diagnostic testing completed. This allows the doctor to know the extent of your injury or injuries and potential care needed in the future. You should never settle a case by yourself without seeing a doctor first to know the severity of your future damages as settling too early can have expensive consequences in the future. To get the most out of your case, hire an experienced personal injury attorney.
So how are personal injury cases in Florida paid out? Cases are paid out fully from the other person's insurance company after full treatment, proper medical evaluation, and proper liablity.
Why Should I Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?
According to a survey done by Nolo, it was found that two-thirds of their readers who hired a personal injury attorney received a payout between $3,000 and $75,000 with the average payout being $52,000. Here are four reasons why you should hire a personal injury attorney to handle your accident case.
1. You Suffered a Serious Injury or Permanent Disability
If you were seriously injured in an accident, you will need a lawyer. Gambling the bills of a potential lifetime of pain and suffering is risky. If you consult with an experienced personal injury attorney, a lawyer could be the only way to prevent financial stress for you or your loved ones after an accident.
2. You Are Not Sure Who The At Fault Party Is
If it's not clear who is at fault in an accident, the opposing parties insurance company will most likely try to blame you for the damages. Hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer can protect your rights and help in the defense of counterclaims or cross-claims.
3. There Is More Than One Party Involved
In many accidents, there can be more than two parties who are involved. The more involved increases the risk of being stuck with the bill of multiple parties. Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney can help build a case to protect you from multiple parties or their insurance companies from ganging up on you.
4. The Insurance Company Denied or is Delaying Your Claim
Most insurance companies will take advantage of your lack of knowledge of the complicated laws and procedures that take place behind the scenes in a personal injury claim. With this, insurance companies will in many cases deny a legitimate personal injury claim because they know that many will do nothing about it. Insurance companies that do pay out without an attorney will also often times only offer a fraction of the amount that your claim is worth. Consulting with a personal injury attorney can prevent this from happening to you.
To learn more about personal injury actions, download my book 'What the Heck Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?' for FREE or call us right now at (561) 671-5995.
