Questions after a Car Accident?

I was just in a fender bender, what should I do?

• First, move your vehicle to a safe location.
• Check and make sure if anyone needs medical attention.
• Call 911 and report the crash to the police.
• Exchange insurance information, especially the insurance company name and policy number, and driver and owner names while waiting for 911 responders.
• Take photos of all cars involved.
• Ask witnesses for their names and numbers.
• Report the crash to your insurance company even for a fender bender.
• Remember, you might feel fine at the scene, but pain symptoms can appear later so seek medical care for yourself and your passengers as soon as possible.  You only have 14 days to see a doctor to preserve your right to have your insurance pay bills.
• Call us so we can go over your rights with you. The call is free.

I reported the claim for my car, and didn’t think I was hurt, but now I am, what should I do?

Call your insurance company and ask for a claim number or call us and we will call for you.  Remember, you only have 14 days to see a medical provider to keep your rights to personal injury protection, which will pay up to $10,000 of your medical bills.  Do not delay, seek medical care.  We teach our children to avoid seeing the doctor.  However, because of the insurance company rules, you do not have time to wait 30 days for your symptoms to go away.

The bad driver’s insurance company tells me that the bad driver has no coverage for my injuries, what does that mean?

It means that they may have purchased only property damage to fix or total your car, and to provide medical care for the people in their vehicle but if you call us, we can go over the different types of insurance and help you through the insurance questions.  The coverage that pays for medical bills of another person is bodily injury liability coverage.  Demand that the insurer for the driver at fault give you a certified copy of the declaration page for the other driver to ensure they do not have this coverage.

When the crash happened, I was in a friend’s car, and I don’t have a car, how are my medical bills paid?

Personal injury protection coverage can cover up to $10,000 in medical bills.  If you have personal automobile insurance, your coverage will apply without raising your rates if you did not cause the crash.  If you do not have car insurance, then the insurance of your relative with whom you live applies.  If you do not live with a relative with car insurance, then the insurance of the vehicle in which you were a passenger applies.  Many of our clients are upset that their insurance, their family’s insurance, or the owner’s insurance would apply.  We agree.  This concept of “personal injury protection” was implemented by the insurance industry.  It basically, in our opinion, is a mandatory health insurance that every driver in Florida must purchase.  Hopefully, this law will change soon.  However, we as Floridians must follow it until it is changed.

I was hurt in a crash, and my primary doctor won’t see me, what should I do?

Many doctors will see you under your personal injury protection insurance, and you don’t have to pay co-pays or deductibles.  However, many don’t treat for car crashes even if you have health insurance. Ask your friends and neighbors for the name of a reputable doctor that will treat a car accident injury.  You may need a lawyer to help you find a reputable doctor.

I have had previous injuries or trauma, but having been in an accident, I feel worse, what should I do?

The driver at fault is responsible if they “kicked the sleeping dog” and made your injuries worse.  Just because you are not 10 years old with perfect health, Florida law does not let them escape responsibility.

Do I have to file a claim with my own insurance company?

You have to tell your insurance company you were involved in a car crash. They may tell you not to open a claim, but if you are hurt you have to use your personal injury protection insurance with your insurance company.

I was hurt by a drunk driver but they have no insurance, what can I do?

Depending on the facts of what happened, you may have a claim for uninsured motorist coverage or against the bar or event that provided alcohol, (called a dram shop claim).

A semi-truck has hit me, what should I do?

• First, move your vehicle to a safe location.
• Check and make sure if anyone needs medical attention.
• Call 911 and report the crash.
• Exchange insurance company name and policy number as well as the names of the owner, driver, and commercial carrier while waiting for 911 responders.
• Call 911 and report the crash.
• Take photos of your car and the semi.
• Ask witnesses for their names and numbers.
• Report the crash to your insurance company.
• Remember, you might feel fine at the scene, but pain symptoms can appear later so seek medical care for yourself and your passengers as soon as possible.  Remember you only have 14 days to see a medical provider to keep your right to personal injury protection coverage which pays $10,000 for medical care.
• The insurance companies for semi-trucks will often ignore your call about your calls about injuries, and about your vehicle, so call us, so we can go over your rights with you if they will keep ignoring you.  The call to us is free.

I was in an Uber/Lyft and it was in an accident, what can I do?

If you were a passenger in a ride share, take pictures, call 9-1-1, insist on the police being called, seek medical attention if you are hurt.  Keep all receipts or take screen shots to prove you were in an active ride share at the time of the crash.

I just moved to Florida. What kind of insurance should I have?

Welcome to Florida! First of all, Florida has the highest percentage of uninsured motorists. This means that you could be hurt by someone without bodily injury coverage. This will result in having high unpaid bills from your hospital visit. Talk to your insurance agent about bodily injury coverage and why you should purchase uninsured motorist coverage.