Bagen Law Blog

In Florida, all car accident cases come under Florida's PIP or no-fault law. Dealing with medical expenses after being injured in a car accident can be stressful. When you are suffering from potentially serious or even life-threatening injuries, the last thing you want to worry about is the financial burden that follows a car accident. Even if your injuries are minor, they may still require expensive treatments that you can’t afford.

In these situations, it’s helpful to understand your rights and what will or will not be covered by insurance. In some states, if you are the victim, you can file a claim against the at-fault party’s insurance company for compensation to help cover costs related to the accident. However, in other states, like Florida, they have “no-fault” laws that require you to seek compensation through your own insurance company’s no-fault coverage, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. 

When car accidents happen, adrenaline, stress, and shock can keep you from thinking clearly in the immediate aftermath. That’s why accepting cash from an at-fault drive might seem like a good idea at that moment. After all, you need your car, you’ll need to pay for repairs as quickly as possible to get it back on the road, and insurance claims and settlements can take forever and feel like a giant hassle. 

However, if you’re ever faced with this - a driver who hits you and offers you cash on the spot to pay for damages instead of filing a claim with insurance - it’s best to go through the red tape to make sure you are getting all the compensation you are entitled to.

The complexities of insurance policies could confuse anyone. While some policies cover certain types of damage, other policies will not touch a particular type of damage. Worse, the names of some policies might lead you tobelieve you are covered when, in fact, you are not covered.

This is particularly frustrating when you want reimbursement for car repairs in case of an accident. You may need to involve a personal injury lawyer when you need to collect your due from a property damage claim. An experienced property damage attorney can make all the difference when it comes to receiving fair compensation.

Learning to drive is a rite of passage for young people. By the same token, worrying while their teens venture out on their own is a rite of passage for every parent. A less joyful, but arguably as memorable, moment in every young driver’s life is their first car accident. Car accidents involving teen drivers can bring up a lot of questions, the most common for parents (after “Are you okay?”) being: Am I liable for this? Read on to learn more about if and when parents are liable for their children's accidents.

If you have experienced a vehicle accident, whether by your design or by that of the other party involved in the crash, you may find yourself involved in a court case. Once your case is filed in court, you will be required to answer questions under oath for the insurance company’s lawyers.

Distracted driving has become a real danger on the roads, especially as cell phone use has increased. One glance at a text or one turn to secure an unrestrained pet could have disastrous consequences. Avoid distracted driving, and know your rights if you are involved in an accident with a driver whose attention was not on the road.

It is a tragic fact that road accidents represent the leading cause of preventable injuries and deaths of children in our country. The numbers behind this preventability are sobering: When correctly used, a car seat or booster seat can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71%. One simple, yet essential piece of equipment can prolong the lives of children who have just begun to explore the world around us.

Six million car accidents happen in the United States every year. In 2019, roughly 198,000 crashes happened in Florida alone. That adds up to 542 crashes per day across the state! 

While some accidents have a clear-cut view of who was at fault in the accident, many do not.

Hundreds of thousands of crashes happen because of debris in the road, however, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk of a debris-related crash. Take a look at these driving tips for dealing with objects in the road. How you react to these unexpected obstacles can make the difference between a simple swerve and serious injury.

Auto insurance is the best way to protect yourself from potentially drastic financial burdens in the wake of an accident. The laws in the state of Florida mandate all vehicles registered in the state to carry an insurance policy with certain coverages to operate within the state. If you do not have car insurance, you could be subject to fees and the suspension of your vehicle or driving license.