Car Accident Compensation in Fort Lauderdale

According to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), Broward County saw more than 34,000 car crashes in 2020, with almost 19,000 injuries reported. Receiving fair car accident compensation can be essential if you suffer severe or life-changing injuries in a vehicle collision in Fort Lauderdale. 

The amount of your settlement can depend on several factors, including the insurance companies involved, the severity of your injuries, and the facts of the accident. In some cases, receiving what you deserve can be challenging, especially if you have high damages, the accident is complicated, or you were involved in a multiple car pile-up.

However, you are not alone. If you or a loved one suffered an injury in a car accident and you are now struggling to get the compensation you deserve and need, Morgan & Morgan is here for you. Our experienced car accident attorneys want to help you get properly compensated for your injuries. Contact us today to determine for free if you have a case and could receive compensation.

Calculating the Value of an Accident Claim

How much money victims can receive in a car accident settlement will vary from one accident to another. Generally, someone with only minor injuries and car damage will receive less compensation than an individual who suffered life-altering injuries and other damages. Expenses that determine the value of your case include your medical bills, costs for car repair, wage losses, and other damages.

Property Damage

The amount of property damage could add significantly to your overall settlement amount, particularly if your vehicle was badly damaged or totaled in a Fort Lauderdale crash. During the repair or replacement of your car, you may need a rental vehicle. The at-fault driver or insurer should pay for your rental car or other transport costs. 

If your car is a total loss, the at-fault driver may be responsible for reimbursing you for the value of the totaled car. They could also be liable for any personal property damaged or destroyed in the collision, such as a laptop, phone, eyeglasses, and other items. 

Medical Expenses

Depending on the severity and permanence of your injury, medical costs can soar to tens of thousands of dollars or more. When calculating your settlement amount, an attorney will take into account all your medical expenses from the accident, including present, past, and future expected costs, such as:

• Emergency medical treatment
• Hospitalization
• Surgery
• Rehabilitation
• Prescription and over-the-counter medication
• Medical devices
• Medical transportation
• Future estimated medical expenses

Wage Losses

Depending on the extent of your injury, you could be off work for several weeks or longer. In some cases, car accident victims in Fort Lauderdale are permanently disabled and may never return to their careers. Compensation for lost income can include: 

• Work missed due to doctor’s appointments
• Future lost wages
• Work missed during recovery
• Lost wages from working part-time due to the injury

If you can never work again after a serious car accident, your attorney will calculate the amount of lost earnings for the rest of your life. Typically, they will multiply your annual wages by the number of years until you reach retirement age. Any expected raises, bonuses, and inflation should be added to the amount.

Non-Economic Damages 

If you were seriously hurt in a motor vehicle accident in Fort Lauderdale, your non-economic damages such as pain and suffering could make up a large proportion of your settlement. The accident injury may have a wide-reaching effect on your life quality, forcing you to give up hobbies or having a negative impact on your marriage. Non-economic damages can include awards for:

• Physical and emotional anguish
• Loss of life quality
• Loss of consortium
• Disfigurement
• Loss of a limb or a sense

Monetary damages can be relatively easy to calculate as they generally come with receipts and dollar amounts. However, determining an amount for non-economic damages can be challenging. It is generally best to let a car accident attorney assess and calculate your damages, so you do not risk leaving money on the table in negotiations with an insurance company. 

The Multiplier Method for Pain and Suffering

The multiplier method is one of the most common ways to determine a dollar amount for non-economic damages such as pain and anguish. It works by adding all monetary damages such as medical bills and wage losses. The amount is then multiplied by a factor (the “multiplier”) between 1.5 and 5. The factor used to multiply your expenses will depend on your injuries. 1.5 is typically used for minor injuries, while the most serious or life-changing injuries are multiplied by 5.

The multiplier method assumes that those with higher medical expenses and other costs also suffer higher non-economic damages. Factors that could be considered in determining the correct multiplier for your non-economic damages include:

• The degree of fault of the other driver 
• The severity of your injuries 
• Evidence of your pain and suffering, such as medical documents, physician statements, statements from friends and family
• The length of your recovery period

No-Fault Auto Insurance Settlement

Florida Statute 627.7407 requires Fort Lauderdale residents to carry personal injury protection insurance (PIP) with a minimum of $10,000 coverage. PIP insurance coverage applies regardless of who is at fault for the accident. Therefore, when you are involved in a car crash, you should contact your insurer as soon as possible to file a claim. PIP coverage generally includes:

• Medical expenses
• Medical transportation costs
• An amount for lost wages
• Death benefit

The Limitations of PIP Insurance 

If you suffered a severe or life-changing injury, your PIP insurance benefit limits could quickly become exhausted. Moreover, PIP does not cover non-economic damages such as pain and suffering or loss of life quality. To recover an adequate settlement for all your damages, you might have to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver.

It is also vital to seek medical treatment within 14 days of the accident. If you wait longer than two weeks to see a doctor, you may become ineligible for your PIP insurance policy benefits. 

Filing a Car Accident Compensation Claim

If you have significant losses and injuries after a car accident in Fort Lauderdale, you may struggle to secure the compensation you need to pay your bills and move on with your life. In this instance, your only path to receiving what you deserve can be filing a lawsuit against the responsible party, such as an at-fault driver. Having an experienced car accident lawyer on your side can be critical for the successful outcome of your case.

Timely Action Can Be Essential for Recovering Car Accident Compensation

According to Florida’s Statute of Limitations § 95.11, you must generally file a personal injury lawsuit within two years of your accident or risk losing the right to compensation.

However, filing a lawsuit too soon after getting injured can also be a mistake, as knowing your future potential medical costs can be tricky if you are still recovering. A car accident attorney at Morgan & Morgan can advise you and determine the best timing for legal action in your specific case.

Morgan & Morgan Can Help

In the most difficult times in your life, Morgan & Morgan can be your shoulder to lean on. We understand how confusing and stressful navigating the legal system can be for injured car accident victims and their families. However, you do not have to navigate the legal process alone. Our determined car accident lawyers can:

• Offer legal advice and guidance
• Negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurer
• File a lawsuit on your behalf
• Collect the evidence required to prove your case and your losses
• Take your case to trial if necessary 

We have been helping people like you for many years and can leave no stone unturned in fighting for the maximum settlement amount on your behalf. You pay nothing unless we win and you recover compensation.