Have you or a loved one suffered serious injuries in a car crash? Since 2016, Raymond Ravis Attorney at Law has helped those who have sustained severe injuries obtain fair settlements to cover their losses. Jacksonville car accident lawyer Ray Ravis has over two decades of experience in injury law and has recovered millions of dollars for his clients.
A serious car accident can lead to both current and future medical expenses, lost wages, and a loss of earning capacity. These expenses can quickly overcome the minimum personal injury protection (PIP) coverage requirement of $10,000.
Furthermore, accidents can create unrealized costs that greatly affect your personal life. We will help you fight for compensation that will cover all your accident-related costs if you have been seriously injured in Florida.
As a general guideline, it’s best to contact an attorney after a car accident right away, there are a couple reasons for this, the first being the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations is a rule which allocates a specific timeline where personal injury cases can be filed. According to the Florida Statutes section 95.11(3)(a) the state of Florida has a four-year timeline. If you try to file a claim outside of this four-year period, you will most likely be unable to no matter how severe your injuries. There are some exceptions to this law where the filing time may change, including:
Beyond the statute of limitations, which applies to all personal injury claims, car accident injuries are unique in that they are most usually soft tissue injuries. Soft tissue injuries occur when the tendons, ligaments and muscles are damaged, such as whiplash. Like whiplash, these types of injuries don’t completely show their severity for a few days or even weeks after the injury occurred.
Because of this, many injury victims sign a compensation agreement with an insurance company without talking to a lawyer only to discover later that their injuries are worse than they initially believed but are unable to recover any additional compensation. If you have suffered injuries at the hands of a negligent driver, talk to our Jacksonville car accident attorney for help today!
According to the 2021 Florida Statutes, a physical condition that results in or creates a significant risk of death, permanent disfigurement, or permanent and significant loss or impairment of an important bodily function is considered to be “serious bodily injury.”
Examples of serious car accident injuries include:
In the state of Florida, an individual will need to provide proof of serious bodily injury in a personal injury case. Without the assistance of an experienced lawyer, proving serious bodily injury can be difficult. If you were involved in a severe car accident, make sure you have a capable advocate on your side to fight for your rights and best interests. Reach out to Raymond Ravis Attorney at Law to get started.
Some of the most common types of automobile accidents where injuries or death could warrant a consultation with an attorney include those caused by:
Rear-end collisions, side-impact and sideswipe collisions, rollovers, and head-on collisions all have the potential to result in serious injuries. In the state of Florida, an injury must be considered “serious” in order to file a car accident claim.
Accident victims (and/or their families) who have suffered any of the following should seek legal advice about their options for a fair recovery:
However, injured motorists or passengers may also need legal assistance to assist in recovering from aches and pains that linger after the accident, such as joint, muscle, back, neck, and bone injuries, knee damage, and whiplash.
Contact us to learn more about whether your auto accident injury is serious enough to warrant a claim.
To obtain compensation for non-economic damages, you will need to file a liability claim against the individual who caused your accident. However, you are only eligible to file if your injuries qualify as “serious.”
Florida law considers injuries to be serious when they involve:
Florida’s minimum personal injury protection coverage of $10,000 won’t cover some of the worst injuries that can result from car accidents, such as those above. Therefore, car accident victims may be allowed to sue for additional damages from the at fault party.
Compensation may include:
If you have been hospitalized or are otherwise seriously injured, notify your employer immediately. Discuss with your doctor whether or not you will need time off of work. You can recover lost wages as part of your car accident claim, so take all the time you need to recover rather than attempting to work through a serious injury.
You may already have rental reimbursement coverage on your auto insurance policy, which will allow you to rent a car through your insurer. You may also be able to use the at fault driver’s rental reimbursement coverage in the event they possess it, but you do not. Their insurance company must compensate you for any rental cars necessary after a crash.
Victims of auto accidents don’t just need to go to the doctor within 14 days of an accident—they need to go to the right doctor, one who can make the proper diagnosis and who is prepared to deal with the insurance company. While new laws are designed to prevent auto insurance fraud, the effect they are having is to limit personal injury protection coverage for anyone who has been in an accident.
While an at-fault driver’s insurance company may be offering to settle, it could be in order to avoid taking responsibility for the long-term costs, leaving those to you. Also, sometimes the other driver’s insurance company won’t cover your injuries or damages, even if the other driver was given a ticket by the police. It’s important to understand the potential costs of an accident before dealing with an insurance company.
Contact a lawyer to discuss your legal options and learn about your rights. Many accidents involving minor injuries like whiplash or scratches and bruises can be handled without legal care. However, when an auto accident involves serious, disabling, or catastrophic injuries in the state of Florida, retaining legal representation is very important.
The other party’s representation and the insurance company will likely be fighting to get out of paying you, which is why hiring your own Jacksonville car accident lawyer is essential. At Raymond Ravis Attorney at Law, we advocate for our clients and aim to take the burden off your shoulders while you recover. Reach out to us today to learn more about how we can help.
Call (904) 358-4004 or contact us online for your free consultation with our Jacksonville car accident attorney.
