If you’re coping with the aftermath of an accident in Pensacola, you may be wondering, “How much is a personal injury settlement in FL?” While it’s an understandable question, since every case is based on the specific details of that particular accident, there are no “average” personal injury settlement amounts. Instead, a wide range of factors can affect the amount of money you could obtain in a settlement.
Florida’s Personal Injury Landscape
Florida law plays a significant role in determining personal injury settlement values. Florida’s no-fault auto insurance laws affect your case first.
A portion of your medical expenses and lost wages may be covered by your personal injury protection (PIP) policy up to your policy limits. In addition, you cannot sue the at-fault party for compensation for your pain and suffering unless the accident results in a significant, permanent loss of use of a body function, permanent impairment, significant scarring or disfigurement, or death. If you have none of those conditions, you can only pursue compensation from the at-fault party’s insurer for medical expenses and lost wages after your PIP policy limits are spent.
Florida law has caps, or limits, on damages you can recover in some personal injury cases. If a Florida court awards punitive damages in your case, those damages may be capped at the greater of three times the total amount of compensatory damages the judge or jury awarded you or $500,000, whichever is more. However, there are exceptions to this cap on punitive damages in some cases. To learn what cap may apply in your case, talk to an experienced Florida personal injury lawyer.
Finally, Florida’s comparative fault law can affect the amount of your settlement or award. If you were more than 50 percent to blame for the accident, you will be unable to recover any compensation. If you were less than 50 percent responsible, any award you receive will be reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault.
Key Factors That Affect Settlement Value
The value of your settlement comes from more than just your medical bills or lost wages. Because many of the elements that comprise a settlement don’t have specific dollar costs, there is no set value for any case. All these factors could potentially affect how much money you get in your settlement:
- Severity of injuries – The more severe your injuries, the more treatment they will require, and the more recovery time you’ll need to heal. The medical expenses and the duration of your recovery affect the size of your settlement.
- Psychological and emotional state – Factors included in the “pain and suffering” part of your settlement are your psychological and emotional condition post-accident. Greater suffering usually translates to a larger settlement amount.
- Number of liable parties – If more than one entity contributed to causing the accident that injured you, you have a better opportunity to recover money for all your injuries and accident-related losses. When only one party was at fault, their insurance coverage or personal assets might not be enough to cover all your costs.
- Comparative fault – If you shared some of the fault for your accident, you could be left with a reduced settlement or no compensation at all because of Florida’s comparative fault laws.
- Insurance policy limits – If the person who harmed you has no personal assets you could reach through a lawsuit, their insurance policy limits will determine the extent of your personal injury settlement.
- Evidence and documentation – You’ll need strong evidence to prove that the at-fault party caused your injuries, as well as documentation that shows the extent of the harm you suffered. Without these, it will be harder to build a convincing case demonstrating that you deserve compensation.
- Legal representation – The size of your settlement depends in large part on the experience and skills of your lawyer. You need an attorney with years of experience handling personal injury cases.
Tips to Maximize Your Personal Injury Settlement
When you’ve been hurt by someone else, you want the largest possible personal injury settlement amount. Here are ways you can help your case:
- Follow your doctor’s orders and complete all prescribed treatments
- Keep all your medical bills, receipts, and other accident-related documentation
- Maintain a journal describing your daily pain levels and how the accident affects your life
- Don’t give the insurance company a recorded statement without talking with an attorney first
- Stay off social media so the insurer can’t use any of your posts against you
- Contact a skilled personal injury lawyer to handle your case
How Can a Personal Injury Attorney Help You?
When you hire experienced personal injury lawyers in Pensacola, FL, they can get to work on your case right away. Your lawyer can:
- Investigate the accident
- Gather evidence from the scene
- Search for witnesses who saw what happened and take their statements
- Identify the at-fault parties
- Assess the full value of your claim
- Send a demand letter to the at-fault party’s insurer
- File a lawsuit to apply pressure to the insurer to settle your case
- Negotiate with the insurer for a fair settlement
- Take your case to trial if we can’t reach a settlement agreement
Contact Cardoso Law, PLLC, for a Free Consultation
If someone else is responsible for your injuries, you should not have to pay for the harm they caused. You need a personal injury lawyer who can demand that the at-fault party compensate you accordingly.
At Cardoso Law, we’ve been handling cases for injured people since 2009. We’re dedicated to helping our clients seek the money they deserve for the injuries they’ve suffered through someone else’s fault, and we’ve built a reputation for strong and compassionate legal representation. We want to get to know our clients, and we’re honored that they let us help them improve their lives.
Here’s what one client wrote about working with us:
Cardoso law was with me through one of the difficult times of my life. They were supportive informative and cared about my progress. Cheryl worked tirelessly on my behalf with insurance companies. Both Ryan and Cheryl made a tough situation better explaining the process and always communicating updates or changes. I highly recommend this firm for legal help.
– Yvette G. (5-Star Review)
Call our office today for a free consultation about your case and how we can help you.
