Car accidents can negatively impact your life with expensive medical bills, car damages, and the inability to work. But you can recover some of these damages if a negligent driver caused your accident.

If you were involved in a car accident and want help recovering compensation for your losses, a Boca Raton car accident lawyer at Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers can help.

Florida’s Car Accident Laws

Understanding Florida’s car accident laws can help you decide the best legal approach to take.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Florida is a no-fault state. This means that regardless of fault, you may submit a compensation claim with your insurance provider. Under Florida law, all drivers are required to carry personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage liability (PDL) insurance.

PIP coverage covers any medical costs you may have suffered from the car accident up to $10,000. PDL insurance covers damages that you may have caused to the other driver. Additionally, if the other driver was at fault, we may seek compensation from the other insurance provider.

Working with a car accident lawyer that is familiar with Florida’s laws can help you take the necessary legal steps to earn the compensation that you deserve.

Personal Injury Claims

The medical costs often associated with car accident injuries can quickly exceed the $10,000 maximum. If another driver was at fault, we can then file an injury claim to seek compensation for the additional costs.

Determining Fault

We must determine fault in order to file a car accident claim. Florida is a pure comparative fault state, so determining fault is also necessary to establish how much compensation you deserve.

Pure comparative negligence means that your compensatory amount can be reduced by the percentage you are deemed at fault. We may assist you in determining fault by gathering some or all of the following documents:

A police report
Witness statements
Driver statements
Photographs of the accident
Expert witnesses
Claims adjustor report
Mechanic statements

Find a Boca Raton Car Accidents Lawyer
Near Me (561) 826-4000

Florida Car Accident Statute of Limitations

A statute of limitations is the set period of time in which victims must file a lawsuit. Additionally, many insurance providers have specific time restrictions for filing a claim.

While the time limits for filing an insurance claim will vary depending on the insurance provider, Florida does require you to file personal injury lawsuits within two years from the date of the car accident, according to Florida Statutes § 95.11(3)(a). There are also additional factors of a car accident that may also change the statute of limitations:

Government/state liability: If the government or state of Florida is deemed at fault, the lawsuit must be filed within three years in most cases.
Uninsured driver: A lawsuit against an uninsured driver must be filed within five years from the accident date.
Wrongful death: A wrongful death lawsuit must be filed within two years from the date of the death.

Florida’s strict statute of limitation requirements makes it important to discuss your car accident case with a lawyer as soon as possible. In addition to staying within Florida’s time restrictions, it may be easier to gather important evidence earlier in the case. For example, it is better to talk to witnesses who have a car accident fresh in their minds.

Chalik & Chalik Car Accidents Lawyer Near Me (561) 826-4000

How We Can Assist You With Your Boca Raton, FL, Car Accident Case

The Boca Raton personal injury attorneys at our firm will put the weight of their legal experience and resources behind your case. Our work is a collaborative effort with your needs and best interests guiding the process. Some of the benefits of working with our law firm to seek compensation are:

Complimentary Consultation

Every car accident case is different. The specific events and causes that led to the accident differ. Additionally, the injuries and damages sustained are unique to the individual. A complimentary consultation allows us to get to know you and the specific details of your case. It also gives you the opportunity to discuss any concerns you might have about the legal process.

Your Case Handled Directly by Our Firm’s Partners

The founding partners of our firm handle each case directly. There’s no dealing with associates or middlemen. Jason and Debi Chalik prioritize building trust and transparency with every client. They give your case the attention it deserves, and that means tending to your legal needs personally.

Explaining Your Rights

We understand that legal jargon and legal procedures can be difficult to make sense of. When you’re coming off of an accident, you don’t want to do research. You want results. Our Boca Raton car accident attorneys are well-versed in Florida law. We will break down your rights, legal options for pursuing compensation, and the necessary steps to take in order to achieve your desired outcome. It’s our duty to make sure you are able to make informed decisions about your case. You simply cannot do that if you do not understand the law.

Assisting You in Navigating the Legal Process

Car accidents are never convenient. Neither is navigating the legal process. We will assist you in navigating the legal process by filing the necessary documentation, thoroughly investigating the accident, and handling all negotiations and communication with insurance providers. This allows you to focus on your recovery.

Handling All Communication With Insurance Companies

A lot of car accident compensation is dealt with through insurance providers. Many car insurance providers also have unique protocols that must be followed like seeing an approved physician within a specific period of time, taking your car to an approved mechanic, and submitting all income documents. We will work with the insurance companies to get you the compensation that you deserve.

It is important that we cooperate with the insurance provider while also keeping your best interest in mind. We will also assist you in navigating a denied claim and in collecting compensation.

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Recoverable Damages in Car Accident Claim

If your damages are not appropriately covered by your insurance provider, we can assist you in filing a personal injury claim against the responsible party. We will collect the necessary documentation to further support your claim.

Recoverable damages in a car accident may fall into different categories. Here are just a few examples:

Medical Costs

We may be able to recover past and future medical bills, including doctor visits, hospital stays, ambulance rides, and rehabilitation expenses.

Lost Income

Additionally, you may also be able to recover the time you missed at work. If you are unable to return to work, you may be able to recover the projected lost income you would have made.

Property Damage

You can recoup the cost of your vehicle or the cost of repairs in a car accident claim. Additional property damage may also be claimed for other items destroyed or damaged in a car crash.

Pain and Suffering Damages

Certain injuries which are permanent, life-threatening, or result in scarring and disfigurement may result in receiving compensation for pain and suffering. Pain and suffering can be physical, emotional, or psychological. It can be chronic or severe pain, spinal injuries, nerve damage, organ damage, fractured bones, lost quality of life, depression, post-traumatic stress, or other things that impact your quality of life and ability to function.

Other damages you may be able to recover in a Florida car accident include punitive damages, which punish willful or wanton misconduct and deter similar actions from others in the future.

Damages in a Boca Raton Car Accident Wrongful Death Claim

The family of a deceased car accident victim may be able to file a claim for compensation if the death was the result of negligence. Recoverable damages in a wrongful death claim could include funeral and burial expenses, lost financial support, loss of companionship, loss of services, loss of guidance (if there are surviving children), and emotional distress, amongst other things.

For a free legal consultation with a Chalik & Chalik lawyer serving Boca Raton, call (561) 826-4000

Bringing Justice and Compensation to Clients Since 1995

Our law firm serving Boca Raton has fought and won for personal injury victims since 1995. We have obtained numerous multi-million dollar settlements and jury verdicts for families and individuals in Florida in multiple practice areas that include product liability, medical malpractice, and auto accidents. Some of our case results include:

$5 million in a defective tire accident settlement
$2.2 million settlement for a pedestrian client left with a pelvic injury after a car crash
$1 million for a car accident victim who suffered a brain injury
$475,000 for a client who suffered a back injury requiring surgery after a car accident.

No outcome can be guaranteed in a personal injury case, but we will work diligently to bring you results that we both can be proud of.

Contact a Car Accident Lawyer in Boca Raton, FL

If you need legal help from the ramifications of your car accident and would like assistance recovering compensation, a car accident lawyer in Boca Raton, FL, can help.

Call us today.

Call or text Chalik & Chalik (561) 826-4000