Being involved in a car accident is a traumatizing experience for everyone involved. Depending on the severity of the crash, accident victims can sustain mild to serious injuries that can have a lifelong impact on them. Then there are car crashes that do not leave any survivors. The challenges for car crash survivors merely begin after the accident. Medical bills can soar through the roof, and the survivors also have to deal with a loss of wages during their recovery from the injuries caused by the accident.
When you think of car accident claims, you typically expect the drivers involved in the crash to file claims against each other. Passengers in car accident cases often wonder whom they can hold liable to cover the costs of the damages that they have incurred in the accident. After all, the passengers in the car can also sustain injuries in an accident, and they have the right to the full protection of the law in such cases.
It is crucial to be prepared for any possible situation, and that means knowing what you should do if you were a passenger in a car that was involved in an auto accident.
Working with experienced Boynton Beach car accident lawyers can relieve you from the stress of figuring out what you need to do. However, it is wise to know what you can expect in such a situation. It will help you make well-informed decisions from the get-go before you get your lawyers involved.
Can I File A Claim Against The Driver If I Was A Passenger In The Car They Were Driving During The Accident?
You definitely can make a claim against the driver of the vehicle you were in if you sustained injuries in an accident. When you enter a vehicle with someone else behind the wheel, it is their responsibility to drive the car carefully to ensure their safety, that of other motorists, and yours. If the driver of the car was driving recklessly and caused an accident, Florida’s personal injury offers adequate protection for passengers who suffer injuries.
If the driver of the other car was negligent, you can file a personal injury claim against them to seek reparations for the losses you incurred. But what if it was the driver of the car you were riding in that caused the accident? You can still file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver. However, the right to seek financial compensation, in this case, would still depend on Florida’s no-fault law’s requirements.
Florida’s No-Fault Law
The Sunshine State has a no-fault accident system. All the parties involved in car accidents in Florida must seek recovering benefits from their insurance policies. Florida has mandated every motorist to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, also called no-fault vehicle insurance.
When accidents happen in Florida, the motorists do not automatically sue the other motorist involved in the accident. Instead, they can file a claim with their insurance company to get the compensatory payout they need to be financially whole again. The use of this law makes the responsibility for causing the accident irrelevant for all parties.
Fortunately, PIP coverage can be handy for the driver and their passenger. PIP insurance offers coverage for the policyholder and other parties impacted by the accident. It means that the driver of the vehicle you were in during the car crash can help you cover your damages through their insurance policy.
When Can Passengers File A Case Against The Driver Of The Vehicle?
Suppose that the driver’s PIP insurance does not provide adequate coverage to cover all the damages you have incurred in the accident. In that case, your personal injury case may qualify to be moved outside the no-fault system, allowing you to file a claim against the driver.
Insurance policies also tend to detail what type of injuries they cover. Suppose that your recovery process requires getting massages and the driver’s PIP insurance does not cover that treatment. In that case, you can file a claim against the driver to recover the costs of getting such procedures.
It is highly recommended that you seek immediate medical attention after an accident. Many car accident injuries often show symptoms much later after the incident occurred. Accident victims who want to benefit from PIP insurance have to seek medical care within 14 days of the accident.
If you receive treatment for injuries that show symptoms after the 14-day limit, you will no longer have the right to seek compensation within the driver’s PIP insurance. In this case, you may have to file a personal injury lawsuit against the vehicle’s driver to become financially whole again.
Hire The Best Boynton Beach Car Accident Lawyers Today
Were you or was someone you know injured in an auto accident in Boynton Beach? Was the driver of your vehicle the negligent party who caused the crash and your injuries? If your answer to these questions was “yes,” you might qualify for compensation from the driver’s insurance company. However, it is a big legal mess to sort out the specifics of the case and secure your rightful compensation.
Consider contacting Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers to work with their team of Boynton Beach car accident lawyers. They are experienced in dealing with complex auto accident cases. They also boast an excellent track record of making strong cases for their clients and securing desirable results.
Working with experienced Boynton Beach car accident lawyers can make a world of difference in dealing with complicated car accident cases. The correct legal guidance can help you get the compensation you seek without having to deal with the complex legal waters of Florida’s personal injury law. The lawyer you work with can handle all the details of the case, allowing you to focus on recovering from the traumatic accident instead of worrying about your medical bills.
