The Hidden Costs of Car Accidents in Florida

Image by Anthony Maw / Unsplash

Florida is full of high-performance luxury vehicles, but with fast cars, there’s a faster pace, which increases the chances of crashes while driving. After a crash, the involved parties can use their Personal Injury Protection (PIP) since Florida is a no-fault state. In cases where victims sue the at-fault parties, they focus on vehicle repair costs, leaving out other damages.

However, you can get full compensation from the at-fault party for severe injuries, economic damages, and emotional distress. To file a claim after a car accident, you must understand all the types of damages you’re entitled to recover. Keep reading to discover the hidden costs of damages you might miss when filing a car accident claim. 

Concealed Property Damage and Losses

Cars involved in an accident sustain visible damage. Large damages like dents, shattered or broken parts, and bent frames are easily noticeable. However, hidden mechanical issues may manifest later. 

Even if there are no concealed issues, the effect of major wrecks reduces your vehicle’s resale value. You can also lose valuable property that was in the car, like smartphones and laptops. PIP insurance doesn’t cover vehicle and property damage, so with proper legal representation, you may file a claim against the at-fault driver's property damage liability insurance. 

Long-Term Medical Bills

Insurance companies in Florida pay up to $10,000 for personal injuries. If this amount cannot cover your medical bills, you can sue the at-fault driver for serious injuries. You can also get compensation for ongoing medical expenses like surgery, follow-up care, therapy, and long-term prescriptions. Getting a settlement for this eases your financial strain as you recover.

Emotional and Psychological Effects 

A car collision causes emotional distress, mental anguish, pain, and suffering, and affects your lifestyle. Many car collision victims experience anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), inability to sleep, and depression. These issues negatively affect your quality of life and daily activities. While they’re non-economic damages, you are entitled to a good payout after determining liability. If you qualify for Florida’s serious injury threshold, you can file a civil lawsuit. 

Loss of Current and Future Income 

Severe injuries prevent victims from working, temporarily cutting off their source of income. Accidents can also cause permanent disability, which may result in reduced hours, job retraining, or job loss.  

These setbacks create high financial pressure. Therefore, you can request your settlement to cover your recovery time, missed job opportunities, and inability to work. Your PIP covers  60% of the cost of lost wages, so whoever is responsible for the accident pays the balance.

Unexpected Out-of-Pocket Costs

You must calculate all extra costs to determine the true value of your case. If you don’t, you may receive undervalued settlement offers that barely cover your needs. Examples of out-of-pocket expenses include:

• Towing cost

• Rental fees

• Over-the-counter medications

• Domestic caregiver support

• Home modifications

Considering Florida’s no-fault rules, it may be difficult to determine the right value of each hidden cost. If you’re in the city, you’ll need the help of a Boca Raton car accident lawyer to prepare your case and help you seek fair compensation. 

Endnote 

Life-threatening car accidents happen frequently in Florida. If you’re a surviving victim, you need to know the common hidden costs you can recover. They include property loss, hidden car damage, health expenses, and non-economic damages. You can also file a car crash claim for lost income and out-of-pocket expenses.

By ML Staff. Image courtesy of Unsplash