If you settle your car accident case, you can receive compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, future medical expenses, lost future wages, and non-economic damages, including pain and suffering, mental distress, loss of attachment to your spouse, or any other non-economic loss affecting you. You may be able to settle your personal injury claim in an out-of-court settlement if a fair settlement offer is presented. If the insurance company or the other party involved in the case presents you with a settlement offer at any time, you can evaluate it and return a counteroffer to you. If the accident caused an injury or if your vehicle was damaged, a lawsuit can be filed up to four years after the date of the accident.
However, Florida laws allow plaintiffs who have suffered serious injuries, from permanent injuries and significant disfigurement or scarring to permanent loss of bodily function, to file a personal injury lawsuit. While most car accident injuries don't require an overnight hospital stay, some injuries require extended observation. The deadline (or statute of limitations) for filing a personal injury or property damage complaint is four years from the date of the car accident (sec. Since Florida is a no-fault state, you can only file a personal injury lawsuit against an at-fault driver in the event of a serious accident.
The first step in the settlement process is to file a personal injury claim with the at-fault driver's insurance company. Therefore, it is important to consult with a personal injury attorney to discuss the settlement process involving residual pain and medical care, to ensure that you don't give up your options related to future medical treatment. Your Florida personal injury lawyer can help you manage these settlement negotiations and present you with offers, as well as provide you with information on whether a particular offer is truly in line with your interests. Most personal injury settlements are paid in a lump sum, meaning that the injured party is paid in full amount of their damages.