According to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), hundreds of thousands of car crashes happen across the state each year. In 2023, Hillsborough County alone had over 27,000. While many of these accidents are severe, many are also minor.
If you were in a minor car accident in Tampa, Florida, you might ask yourself, “Is it worth getting a lawyer for a minor car accident?” The answer depends on the circumstances surrounding the accident and your losses.
What to Do After a Minor Car Accident
After a minor car accident, there are a few steps you should take to protect your right to recover compensation, either through an insurance claim or an injury lawsuit. You should:
- Seek Treatment for Any Injuries – One of the most important things to do is to seek treatment for any injuries and continue to follow up with that treatment. To file a personal injury protection (PIP) claim with your insurance provider, you typically need to seek treatment within 14 days of the accident. Additionally, seeking treatment is vital if you’re going to file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver responsible for your injuries.
- Record Your Memory of the Accident – While the accident details are fresh in your mind, you should write them down. You may need to recall these details later on as part of your insurance claim or lawsuit, and these notes will help you keep everything straight.
- File an Insurance Claim – After seeking treatment for injuries and writing down what you remember, it’s time to file your insurance claim(s). In Florida, you file personal injury claims with your own PIP insurance and property damage claims with the other driver’s property damage liability (PDL) insurance. If you don’t have any injuries, you may only need to file a PDL claim to seek compensation for the damage to your vehicle.
- Contact a Car Accident Attorney – If you have any questions about filing these claims or if you suffered injuries, contact a car accident attorney. Even a minor rear-end collision can result in serious injuries, such as whiplash, leading to chronic neck pain. If the accident involves an injury, it’s often best to speak to an attorney to protect your right to compensation.
How an Attorney Can Help After a Minor Car Accident
An attorney can assist after a minor car accident in a few ways:
- Investigating the Accident – Depending on the circumstances of the accident, an investigation may be necessary. For example, the other driver’s insurance company may deny your PDL claim if they think you were responsible for the crash. An attorney can help gather evidence showing that’s not the case.
- Filing Your Insurance Claims – An attorney can assist you with navigating the process of filing your PIP and PDL claims.
- Negotiating with the Insurance Companies – In some cases, the amount of compensation initially offered by the insurance companies isn’t enough to cover your losses. An attorney can negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf for a fair settlement.
- Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit – Depending on how much money the insurance companies are willing to pay, filing a personal injury lawsuit may be necessary. In Florida, drivers must have at least $10,000 in PIP and PDL coverage, but that may not be enough to cover your medical bills or vehicle repairs. A lawsuit is one way to seek the additional compensation you need.
When Do You Need a Car Accident Lawyer?
Not every minor accident requires legal representation. If you only suffered minor injuries that didn’t require medical attention or didn’t suffer injuries at all, you may not need a lawyer. However, if you suffered injuries that required medical treatment, your case may get more complicated.
Reasons to seek the assistance of a car accident attorney are:
- Your PIP insurance denies your claim
- The other driver’s PDL insurance denies your claim
- There is a dispute over your medical bills
- There is a dispute over your vehicle repair bills
- The accident involved a government vehicle
- The accident involved a company vehicle (like a delivery truck)
- The other driver doesn’t have insurance
- You are unsure of your legal rights and would like guidance
Even if your case isn’t very complex, having an attorney who you can ask questions can provide peace of mind and make sure the insurance companies don’t take advantage of you by offering low settlements.
What Is the Average Settlement for a Minor Car Accident?
The average settlement for a minor car accident can vary significantly depending on several factors. The most important factors are the severity of injuries sustained and the extent of your vehicle damage. Typically, accidents only involving vehicle damage settle for a few thousand dollars, while accidents involving injuries requiring limited medical treatment may settle for up to $10,000 to $20,000.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that settlements beyond $10,000 aren’t possible with a PIP limit of $10,000. If the value of your losses exceeds the insurance policy limits, a car accident attorney can assist you with filing a lawsuit against the at-fault party to seek further compensation from the driver who caused the accident. Personal injury lawsuits are often necessary if you suffered a long-term or permanent injury, as your PIP insurance is unlikely to cover all your future medical bills.
Contact a Tampa, Florida, Car Accident Attorney
Were you involved in a minor car accident in Tampa, Florida? If you suffered injuries in the accident or there are any disputes with the insurance companies, you may need the help of an experienced car accident lawyer.
Call Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers at (619) 233-5020 or contact us online for a free consultation with a Tampa car accident lawyer. We’ll review your case, help you file your insurance claims, assist you in settlement negotiations, and file a personal injury lawsuit if necessary.
