If you were in a car accident with a foreign driver, you would do many of the same things you would do with an American driver: file a police report, notify your insurance company, and consider hiring a lawyer who can investigate the at-fault driver’s license and insurance information. Your Car Accident Lawyer Fort Lauderdale will delve into your crash and manage all the details of a comprehensive insurance claim or lawsuit.
Local law firms will often review your case at no charge or obligation. During your consultation, you can learn more about the insurance claims process, including what to do if you’re in a car accident with a foreign driver. You can also learn more about the benefits of hiring a lawyer to advocate for your financial recovery.
Why You Should Get Legal Support for a Foreign Driver Car Accident
Getting legal support for any car crash allows you to reap the many benefits of a legal team familiar with the claims process. Your car accident lawsuit is subject to the laws of the state where the accident occurred. Florida lawyers who know how to navigate foreign driver car accident claims will:
- Understand the laws that govern your case
- Serve the at-fault driver and insurer locally and abroad
- Assess and document your recoverable damages
- Deal with local and foreign insurers and adjusters
- Collect evidence and build a compelling case file
- Provide ongoing, informative updates on your case
Your lawyer will also handle other dual-language portions of your claim, including depositions and testimony translation. They will also handle the negotiation process for you and maximize your car accident settlement.
A Lawyer Can Bring a Variety of Experts to Your Foreign Driver Accident Case
After a car accident involving a foreign driver, your injury claim could require the services and support of many experts. If a lawyer represents you, they can identify and consult with these experts for you, including the following:
- Foreign language translation services
- Medical experts and specialists
- Accident reconstruction professionals
- Local and foreign auto industry experts
Your lawyer will also cover the upfront costs of expert consultations and only receive compensation if they win your case. You will owe nothing in legal fees if you don’t receive a financial award.
How to File a Foreign Driver Car Accident Insurance Claim and Lawsuit
Filing an insurance claim against an at-fault driver can be complicated. Start by reporting the accident to your insurance company. Your insurer and the foreign driver’s insurance company will require a police report. You will also need to do the following:
- Complete and submit insurance claim forms
- Submit a comprehensive settlement demand letter
- Be prepared to navigate the negotiation process
If a car accident lawyer represents you, they will handle all these details as well as manage all case-related verbal, written, and electronic communication with the insurance providers and adjusters.
File a Police Report and Obtain an Official Copy
Florida Statutes § 316.066 requires you to file a police report after an accident if anyone in either vehicle is injured or either vehicle sustains considerable damage. Filing a police report after an accident is always a good idea because it captures crucial information, including the following:
- Driver contact information
- Driver license details
- Eyewitness contact information
- Vehicle year, make, and model
- Accident date, time, and location
Your lawyer will obtain a copy of the police report for your case file, including police-generated photos, videos, narratives, and diagrams.
Document Your Potential Damages for a Car Accident Involving a Foreign Driver
Accidents with foreign drivers can lead to financial compensation. The types of damages you can recover with an auto insurance claim include:
- Economic damages: Current and future medical bills and lost income, rehab and therapy costs, loss of future earning capacity, and property damage, loss, and diminished value.
- Noneconomic damages: Lasting physical disabilities, scarring and disfiguring, pain and suffering, inconvenience, mental and emotional anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Wrongful death damages: Funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support, loss of domestic services, and losses of consortium, care, and companionship.
Car accident claims rarely go to trial. If yours does, your lawyer will represent you in court and keep fighting for the compensation you need and deserve.
Act Quickly to Protect Your Right to File Your Car Accident Lawsuit in Florida
The statute of limitations is a mandatory part of your potential lawsuit. If you don’t file your lawsuit on time, the court could bar you from filing. Accordingly, Florida Statutes § 95.11 generally gives you two years to file your personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.
Your car accident attorney can manage this deadline for you, interpreting precisely when it expires, identifying potential exceptions, and filing your lawsuit within the allotted time and in the correct venue.
Get Legal Support for Your Car Accident With a Foreign Driver
Getting compensation after an accident can be challenging. Navigating the process involving an at-fault foreign driver can be even more so. The car accident team at the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato can handle it for you.
Learn more about what to do if you’re in a car accident with a foreign driver by calling (954) 633-8270. One of our consultation team members will review your case at no cost or obligation.
