A crash only takes seconds to occur but the financial consequences of its aftermath can result in burdens that last months, years or even a lifetime. The lower someone’s income is, the harder it will be to bounce back after a wreck. Property damage and major injuries often result from a collision, and people may struggle to absorb those costs, especially if they cannot work because of their injuries.
Thankfully, every driver in Florida with a vehicle is legally required to have insurance to cover the cost of a crash that they cause. Many motorists also have no-fault coverage for their medical expenses. Therefore, people often assume that insurance will cover their expenses after a crash. In many cases, they could have costs that insurance won’t fully cover.
People can potentially make claims against multiple policies
A motorist who isn’t at fault for a crash will make a claim against the coverage of the driver who is responsible for the wreck in most cases. Every driver in Florida should have at least $10,000 worth of property damage liability coverage that will reimburse someone else for the cost to fix or replace a vehicle following a collision.
Motorists can also make a claim against their own policy for injury-related expenses. Florida requires $10,000 in no-fault personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. This PIP coverage applies regardless of who is to blame for the crash. In some cases, drivers will have more liability coverage, including bodily injury liability coverage. However, some motorists will only have $10,000 to repair their vehicle and their own PIP coverage after a crash.
Lawsuits may be appropriate when insurance falls short
Those who need to buy a brand-new vehicle because theirs is no longer safe to drive or who will miss months of work during their recovery after a crash may need to look into their options for a civil lawsuit after a wreck. A claim against a driver who caused a crash and did not have adequate insurance coverage could lead to full compensation for someone’s lost wages, medical expenses and other costs.
Understanding how much help insurance will (and won’t) provide in the wake of a crash can help people respond appropriately with the assistance of an experienced legal professional after a major motor vehicle collision occurs in Florida.