Can I Sue After a Car Accident in Florida?

police on the scene of car accident

Car accidents can result in serious injuries, property damage, and death. Each of these consequences can leave victims and their families with stacks of bills they are unable to pay. 

Luckily, car accident victims and their families may be able to pursue financial compensation by filing a lawsuit following a Florida car accident. In this article, we discuss suing following a car accident in Florida.  

You Can Take Legal Action After an Accident

Following a car accident in Florida, you have a number of options, one of which is to take legal action against the person who caused your accident. By filing a lawsuit against the other driver, you can recover compensation from the driver and his or her insurance company for the damages you incurred in the accident. In order to recover in a Florida car accident case, you must prove that the other driver was negligent. Examples of negligent driving behaviors include:

Settling vs. Going to Trial

Most car accident lawsuits settle before trial. Often, an injured party and his or her attorney are able to gather enough compelling evidence to convince the other driver’s insurance company to pay a full and fair settlement out of court. By settling, defendants are able to avoid the time and expense of going to trial. Thus, if you and your car accident attorney are able to demonstrate that the other party is likely to lose the case, you are unlikely to have to go to trial. However, if the defendant declines to provide you with fair compensation, your case will likely proceed to trial. 

Florida Car Accident Damages

Damages are monetary amounts paid to plaintiffs in Florida car accident cases. In Florida, car accident victims can collect economic and noneconomic damages for car accident injuries. The state of Florida does not place a cap on the amount of noneconomic damages you may collect. Damages that may be available to you in your Florida car accident lawsuit include: 

  • Medical expenses
  • Pain and suffering 
  • Lost wages
  • Reduced earning capacity
  • Loss of enjoyment of life

Contact a Pensacola Car Accident Lawyer 

If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a car accident in Pensacola, Florida, you need an experienced Pensacola car accident lawyer on your side. At Staples, Ellis + Associates, P.A., we have nearly a century of combined experience representing the victims of car accidents in Pensacola and throughout Northwest Florida. If you or a loved one have been hurt in a car accident in Pensacola, Florida, or elsewhere in Northwest Florida, we will aggressively pursue financial compensation on your behalf. Please contact us as soon as possible to schedule a consultation with one of our talented attorneys. 

Posted in: Auto Accidents