If you or a loved one was involved in a car accident in Fort Lauderdale yesterday, you may find yourself searching for answers to a number of questions. Who is the insurance adjuster that keeps calling you? Who is going to pay for the damage to your car? Who will pay for your medical bills for injuries you suffered in the car accident? Can you recover for lost wages that result from a car accident? And, are lawyers allowed to solicit me for my claim? We could write page after page of information and Florida car accident laws about each topic, but here are answers to some of the most common questions that will arise if you were in a car accident yesterday.
Which Insurance Agents Should You Speak To?
You are required to speak to the adjusters calling you from your own insurance company. You are not required to speak to the insurance adjusters calling from the other driver’s insurance company, but it may help you to get your car fixed quicker if you speak with the other driver’s property damage insurance adjuster.
The other driver’s insurance company will call you for two reasons – one is to determine who is at fault for the accident, and which insurance company is responsible for paying for the car damage. The second reason the other driver’s insurance company will call you is to find out if you are injured, the extent of your injuries, and if you are treating with a doctor for your injuries.
Who Will Pay for the Damage to Your Car?
It seems a simple question – the at fault driver’s car insurance company should pay for all property damage. But unfortunately, actually getting your car damage fixed is not that simple. The quickest route is to have your own insurance company authorize and pay for the repairs. If there is another driver at fault then your insurance company will collect any money it paid out from the other insurance company.
If you choose to go through the at fault driver’s insurance, expect delays. That insurance company will not pay until it has verified its driver is at fault for the accident, that the policy allows for coverage for the damage, and that your vehicle has sustained damage. You should know that you can take your car anywhere you choose to have the damage fixed. You do not have to use a repair facility the insurance company wants you to use.
Who Pays for Your Medical Bills and Lost Wages?
Every car insurance policy in Florida comes with personal injury protection coverage (PIP). PIP covers 80% of your medical bills from your car accident, and 60% of lost wages up to the policy cap which is usually $10,000. If you were injured in a Fort Lauderdale car accident yesterday, your medical bills will be covered by your PIP coverage.
There were dozens of serious car accidents in Fort Lauderdale yesterday. The questions above arise in almost every car accident. The answers above are very simplified and there are many factors that can affect the answers, so if you have more questions about a car accident in Fort Lauderdale yesterday, contact the Maus Law Firm.
Can a Lawyer Call You After You Have a Car Accident?
A lawyer can only initiate contact with you if 30 days has passed since your accident. If anyone – a lawyer, towing company, repair facility, “investigator”, is calling you without you first contacting them, they are committing a felony. If it is a lawyer contacting you directly, they can be disbarred by the Florida Bar. Do not speak to the “attorney offices” that start calling you after the accident. They are committing a crime, and will not do a good job on your claim.