After a Florida car accident, if you or a loved one were injured by another party’s negligence, you may be wondering what happens next. Car accidents can bring about many changes including property damage, injury, or even death. It is common for victims who sustain injuries in an accident that was not their fault to think that the bodily harm they suffered doesn’t meet the threshold to file a Florida personal injury claim. It is often thought that only severe injuries rise to the occasion.
Personal injury litigation happens all the time across the country and in the state of Florida. The vast majority of these cases will not go court. Florida’s personal injury liability law describes which injuries allow a victim to pursue compensation and which do not meet the basic standard. There are many emotions and a heightened level of stress that happens after a Florida car accident. If you are unsure about your legal rights, the Florida personal injury attorneys at Vaughan Law Group would be happy to talk with you about your accident details and discuss the options available to you for proceeding with a claim.
How Serious Must Your Injuries Be to File a Florida Personal Injury Suit?
If your injuries fall below a medical minimum, then you will not be able to sue for damages associated with personal injuries such as pain and suffering, mental distress, or any resulting difficulties you endure. Drivers in the state of Florida must carry at least $10,000 in coverage to pay for costs associated with medical expenses from traffic incidents. However, if you want to sue above and beyond for additional damages such as medical bills or lost wages, your injuries must be severe enough to qualify as a for pain and suffering compensation.
When the following is true about your injuries, you will likely be able to move forward with a claim that could pay you additional compensation above what your no-fault policy pays:
- Permanent or serious loss of bodily function
- Permanent injury
- Major injuries showing disfigurement or scarring
- Death
While there aren’t specific details about an injury that can help better explain what bodily harm meets the requirements, when looking at past cases there are some good takeaways to be had. A broken bone has been shown to meet pain and suffering requirements because it will limit a person in their ability to engage with important body functioning such as walking or even writing. Although a broken bone is not a permanent injury, it is serious enough to impair your ability to work or perform tasks for some period of time. On the other hand, while painful, sprains, bruises, or small cuts aren’t going to render you unable to still operate as you normally would have before you sustained these injuries. For this reason, they would not be considered serious enough to qualify for a personal injury claim.
Should I Speak with a Florida Personal Injury Attorney?
The Florida automobile accident attorneys at Vaughan Law Group offer free consultations to all prospective clients. If you want to have your case reviewed to have your questions answered and to learn more about your legal options, call the Orlando serious injury attorneys at Vaughan Law Group today at (407) 648-1426.
