Injured in a Car Accident on Vacation in Florida? Here’s What You Need to Know

As a car accident victim in Florida, you have clear legal rights. This is true regardless of whether you are a Florida resident or you are visiting from out of town. But protecting your legal rights after a car accident on vacation can be challenging, and this makes it important to have an experienced Florida car accident attorney on your side.

Learn more about protecting your legal rights after a car accident in Florida from the attorneys at Searcy Denney:

Understanding Your Legal Rights After a Car Accident on Vacation in Florida

If you were seriously injured in a car accident on vacation in Florida and the accident was someone else’s fault, you are entitled to just compensation under Florida law. For example, car accident victims can seek to recover their losses from at-fault parties, including:

• Car, pickup truck, and SUV drivers
• Rideshare drivers
• Commercial truck drivers
• Repair shops and dealerships
• Government agencies that are responsible for maintaining the roads

In most cases, seeking financial compensation after a car accident in Florida involves filing an insurance claim. With that said, the specific insurance claim (or claims) you can file will depend on the circumstances of your case. If you have a fault-based insurance claim, you are entitled to just compensation for your current and future losses, and it will be important for you to work closely with an experienced Florida car accident attorney who can work to recover full compensation on your behalf.

Here are some important facts to know about your legal rights after a car accident in Florida:

1. You Can (and Should) Hire an In-State Attorney to Represent You

Protecting your legal rights after a car accident is never easy, but it can be especially challenging when you live in a different state from where the accident happened. In this scenario, you can (and should) hire an attorney in the state where your injuries occurred.

2. You Have the Right to Hold Any and All At-Fault Parties Accountable

Car accident victims who have suffered significant or permanent injuries in a car accident are entitled to hold any and all at-fault parties accountable for their losses. Once you hire an attorney to represent you, your attorney will be able to assess your legal rights and take appropriate action on your behalf.

3. You Can File a Claim with Your Auto Insurance Company if Necessary

If a negligent driver was at fault in your car accident, this driver may or may not have liability insurance coverage available. Unlike many other states, Florida does not require liability insurance for most drivers. If you have coverage under your auto insurance policy that protects you in the event of an accident, your attorney can deal with your insurance company on your behalf.

4. You Can (and Should) Seek Compensation for Your Financial and Non-Financial Losses

If you suffered significant or permanent injuries in your car accident, you are entitled to compensation for your financial and non-financial losses resulting from the accident. This is true regardless of whose insurance coverage applies. To manage the effects of the accident long-term, it will be important to ensure that you are seeking the full coverage to which you are legally entitled.

5. It Is Up to You to Seek the Compensation You Deserve

While it may be tempting to try to salvage the rest of your vacation, it is important to understand that you are responsible for taking action. If you are not proactive about protecting your legal rights, you could lose the opportunity to seek the financial compensation you deserve.

Protecting Your Legal Rights After a Car Accident on Vacation in Florida

Protecting your legal rights after a car accident on vacation in Florida starts with seeking the help you need. This means that you should seek treatment for your injuries right away, and you should talk to a Florida car accident attorney as soon as possible. Here are some more facts that will be important for you to know as you move forward:

1. Proving Liability Requires a Thorough Investigation

Proving who was at fault in your car accident will require a thorough investigation. The sooner this investigation can take place, the better. Once you hire an attorney in Florida to represent you, your attorney will be able to send an investigator to the scene and begin taking the other steps that are necessary to establish your right to just compensation.

2. Proving Your Losses Requires Thorough Documentation

Along with proving that you are entitled to just compensation, protecting your legal rights will also involve proving how much you deserve to recover. With this in mind, you should do your best to keep copies of your medical records, medical bills, receipts, employment records, and any other documents that relate to the financial or non-financial consequences of the accident.

3. Your Attorney Can Deal with the Insurance Companies on Your Behalf

Gathering the evidence you need is just the start of the process. When it comes to proving your legal rights and convincing the insurance companies to offer a settlement that reflects your current and future losses, you will want to rely on your attorney to deal with the insurance companies on your behalf.  

4. Your Attorney Can Help You Decide When (and If) to Settle

If a settlement offer is on the table, you will need to make an informed decision about whether to accept or keep fighting for more. As your case progresses, you can expect to stay in close contact with your attorney, and if a settlement offer is on the table, your attorney will call you to discuss whether you should accept.

5. It Is Important that You Do Not Settle Too Soon

While it may be tempting to focus on resolving your case as quickly as possible, it is important that you do not settle too soon. If you let the insurance companies convince you to settle for less than you deserve, you could be forced to bear the costs of someone else’s mistake for years (if not decades) to come.

Discuss Your Legal Rights with a Florida Car Accident Attorney for Free

Were you injured in a car accident while on vacation in Florida? If so, we can help. To discuss your legal rights with an experienced Florida car accident attorney at Searcy Denney, call 800-780-8607 or request a free consultation online now.