Is Hitting an Object After a Car Accident Covered by Insurance?
Insurance may cover hitting an object after a car accident, depending on the limits of your policy and the insurance requirements in your state. In Florida, for example, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles states that you must carry at least $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage liability (PDL) coverage. This would offer compensation if you struck an object––regardless of fault.
Still, filing a claim after a car accident can get complicated, even if you’re filing with your own insurer. If you suffered injuries in a car collision, our car accident attorney wants to help. We offer free case reviews when you dial (954) 633-8270.
Your Car Accident Insurance Could Offer Compensation After Hitting an Object
If you have insurance, a successful claim could yield damages for:
- Your medical bills. Striking an object with your car can result in serious injuries, from whiplash to broken bones. Your coverage could pay for medications, hospitalization, and doctors’ visits.
- Lost income. Compensation through an insurance claim could account for your lost tips, bonuses, and employee benefits.
- Property damage costs. Your insurance company could offer reimbursement for the cost of replacing or repairing your vehicle. Your PDL coverage would offer financial recovery to the owner of the object you hit.
These are just some damages you could pursue through an insurance claim. The specific amount you can recover ultimately depends on the insurance you have, the details of the accident, and the severity of your condition.
You Have a Limited Amount of Time To File Your Case and Seek Damages
You should begin filing an insurance claim as soon as you can, because you may have a limited amount of time after an accident to file. The sooner you notify your insurer of the accident, the sooner it can start processing your claim. You also don’t want to miss your claim’s filing deadline as this could hurt your chances of recovering compensation.
Matters change if you want to file a lawsuit against another party. In that instance, the state sets the statute of limitations at four years, per Florida Statutes § 95.11(3)(a). Your filing period would start from the date of the collision. When you partner with an attorney from our firm, we can handle your case’s deadlines and file your documents on time.
Not All Insurance Companies Act in Good Faith After Car Accidents
At first glance, your case may seem open and shut. You collided with an object, suffered injuries, and want financial recovery. Although this may seem straightforward, your insurance company could use tricky tactics to delay or underpay your claim.
Even if you’ve faithfully paid your premiums for years, the insurance company may deny your request for compensation. It may allege that:
- You’re not as seriously injured as you claim
- You acted with egregious negligence and don’t deserve compensation
- Your policy has lapsed because you failed to make payments
- Your coverage doesn’t apply to this situation
- You missed the deadline for filing your claim
The insurance company may offer entirely baseless reasons for denying your case. However, with a Florida car accident lawyer’s help, you have options. They can refute any allegations that threaten your right to damages. Your legal team can also manage the claims process as a whole.
Can You Sue After Hitting an Object With Your Car?
You could sue after hitting an object with your car. Yet, to have a lawsuit, you must have an allegedly negligent party. Consider this example. The city installed a roundabout at the end of your street. Yet, the construction workers didn’t add reflective paint or lights. So, you hit a roundabout with your car and flipped over, suffering serious injuries.
In that scenario, because the city improperly installed the roundabout, you could sue. Your Miami car accident lawyer can explain whether a lawsuit could benefit your situation and what goes into pursuing litigation.
A Lawsuit Could Yield Damages for Uncovered Losses
Our law firm resolves many car accident cases through negotiations with insurers. So, more often than not, we can secure compensation via insurance claims. This means you might not have to file a lawsuit to recover damages. Yet, you may do so if:
- Insurance doesn’t fully cover your losses. For example, if your medical bills cost $25,000, but you only have $10,000 in insurance coverage, you could sue the liable party for the remaining amount.
- The insurance company denies your claim. In this situation, if the insurer won’t budge, filing a lawsuit against the at-fault party could offer another avenue for seeking compensation.
Call the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato To Learn More About Insurance Coverage After an Accident
If you have coverage in accordance with the state’s requirements, you should have coverage to pay for your car accident damages. Still, pursuing damages can quickly get complicated—especially if the insurer refuses to cooperate. Our Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers at Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato can file your claim, negotiate a settlement, and pursue the coverage you deserve.
Contact us to begin a free case review with our legal team, dial (954) 633-8270. There is no obligation.
