There is a significant amount of social stigma attached to personal injury litigation. People often rush to judge those who file a lawsuit after getting hurt. Exaggerated stories, including misrepresentations of real circumstances shared by lawsuit defendants, often dominate discussions of personal injury lawsuits.
Therefore, many personal injury victims worry that people will judge them if they take a matter to civil court. Someone involved in a car crash in Florida may, for example, feel averse to suing an at-fault party. Instead, they may expect to rely on insurance for all of their costs. However, many people with significant losses stemming from a car crash in Florida will learn that a lawsuit can be one of the only ways to obtain full compensation for the financial harm inspired by a wreck.
Insurance coverage often isn’t enough
Florida law requires a combination of liability coverage and no-fault insurance. Every driver should have at least $10,000 in no-fault personal injury protection (PIP) coverage that will pay for their medical expenses or the costs incurred by other people in their vehicle if a crash occurs. Such coverage is available regardless of fault. The state also requires $10,000 in property damage liability coverage.
Anything beyond that is voluntary. Some drivers invest in far more insurance so that they have adequate protection if a crash occurs. Many others accept the risk that there could be major costs not eligible for insurance coverage if they cause a crash. Collisions that lead to significant bodily injury can leave the person who didn’t cause the wreck worried about recouping hospital bills and lost wages because their policy is the only coverage they can use.
How civil litigation can help
During a personal injury lawsuit, parties affected by the negligence or illegal traffic behavior of someone else can ask for full compensation for their losses. The amount sought in a personal injury lawsuit is not subject to a policy limit like an insurance claim would be. Instead, someone simply needs proof of how long they have been out of work and how expensive their injuries have become. A successful personal injury lawsuit can help someone replace their vehicle, pay off their hospital bills and replace their lost income while they are unable to work.
Setting aside biased ideas about litigation could help those involved in a major car wreck obtain appropriate financial compensation for the losses inspired by someone else’s bad behavior. Seeking greater clarity via legal guidance is always an option.
