They said would try to recover the money by going after the person who rearended me, but there is no guarantee of success. The good news is theres a way to be proactive about your protection in the event you were to be hit by someone without auto insurance. The other driver involved in the accident and the drivers insurance company. Not everyone knows exactly what to do after getting into a car accident, especially after it had just happened.
Which driver is at fault when someone is rear ended. You were just in a bad car accident with another car. The dhsmv will suspend your drivers license if you have an. Melbourne fl i was rear ended at a crosswalk, i was stopped waiting for a pedestrian to cross when i was rear ended at aprx 35 mph. If a drivers vehicle is struck from behind by another vehicle, the resulting accident is nearly always the striking drivers fault. If you have been involved in a rearend collision in florida its best to contact a injury attorney to examine your case and help you determine if you have a valid claim. Follow a few simple steps after youre rear ended to help ensure everyones safety. In florida, can you sue an uninsured driver if they caused a car accident. What happens if you get into a car accident without insurance.
What can i do if i was rearended by uninsured motorist. Dec 18, 2018 if the other driver leaves the scene, write down important information and give it to the police. You could be stopped at a stop sign, red light, or crosswalk, when the driver behind you doesnt stop or they take their foot off the brake pedal a little too soon. Tips for handling an accident with an uninsured driver. I was rearended by an uninsured driver she has full coverage by state standards but no uninsured motorist and i am not i was driving my girlfriends car from the store, to the house within 2 miles. Which driver is liable for a rearend collision in florida. Exchange drivers license and insurance card information with the other driver and find a witness or two who saw the accident. What to do if youve been rearended in tampa, florida.
Being rear ended in a car accident can be shocking and frightening. I was rearended by an uninsured driver she has full coverage by state standards but no uninsured motorist and i am not on her policy. The rearended driver may experience serious whiplash and significant vehicle damage. If you live in a nofault insurance state, you can file a claim with the atfault drivers insurance company to get your car fixed, but you may be limited to your auto policys medpay or personal injury protection pip coverage to pay for your injuries. As the car slams into your vehicle, you turn slowly to the side to avoid hitting the car in front of you. That means that you do not have to prove negligence, as long as you prove the driver rearended you. However, these drivers are not the only ones who suffer the consequences of not having required insurance, as victims injured in accidents caused by uninsured or underinsured drivers. The law requires every driver to maintain a safe following distance from the driver in front of them, so a driver usually only has to prove that they were rear ended for the other driver to be found at fault. He claimed a herniated disc, shoulder labrum tear, finger and knee injury. Their car was forced into the back of a tractortrailer.
Rear end collisions are one of the most prevalent auto accident types. Florida has the highest rate of uninsured drivers 26. Youre at a stop light and rearended by a driver who doesnt have insurance. Dealing with uninsured vehicle drivers can be extremely frustrating, as not only is it florida law to carry both property damage liability insurance pdl and personal injury protection pip, but also, uninsured drivers make it difficult to file a personal injury claim and collect the damages you rightly deserve in the event of an. Rearend collisions could happen any number of ways, in any number of places. Generally speaking, you will want the drivers insurance to pay.
Being rearended in a car accident can be shocking and frightening. Given that florida has one of the highest rates of uninsured and underinsured motorists in the nation plus a hitandrun rate that exceeds 25% according to some recent statistics, carrying um insurance is particularly important if you are a florida driver. One client suffered a facial injury that healed well and was flown to shock trauma. By violating the financial responsibility laws in florida, drivers can face serious consequences including suspension of their driver s license, fines, and more. This holds true regardless of the reason for the first drivers stop or slow down.
You can end up in court trying to prove liability on the other driver. This applies for a rearend collision as much as any other type of car crash in florida. Heres what it taught me by holly johnson september 5th, 2017. Options for recovering against an uninsured driver after a florida car accident. Understanding the potential impact of a florida rear end car accident. Heres a common scenario on florida roadsone driver patiently waits at a stoplight or comes to a full stop at a stop sign, while another driver is distracted or in a hurry and hits the stopped vehicle from behind. May 07, 2015 home blog car accidents accidents with unlicensed and uninsured drivers driver, insurance, accident, uninsured, fault, states, lawsuit, unlicensed, cover, compensation theres no such thing as a good car accident, but getting into an accident with an unlicensed or uninsured driver makes a bad situation worse for a variety of reasons. Client was rearended with great force by an employee of mercedes benz of melbourne on a rural highway in south florida.
If you are rearended in a car accident, it is important that you exchange car insurance information with the person who rearended you even if you dont notice any immediate damage to your vehicle. Rear ended by insured driver while uninsured after much digging around, we were able to successfully locate the home address of the man who rear ended us. Rear end collisions could happen any number of ways, in any number of places. There are many reasons for this, such as the other driver being from out of state, or not being able to afford basic insurance, or neglecting to buy insurance because they dont see. Florida umuim claims uninsured motorist attorney in clearwater. When he contacted the other driver s insurer, it turned out that his policy had expired. This happened when i was stopped at a red light, the fault was entirely on the other driver.
See real examples of claims and settlements for uninsured motorist. Many people think that because rearend accidents presume automatic fault on the part of the other driver, they dont need a lawyer. District court for the middle district of florida explains two important concepts in florida car accident cases. How to sue an uninsured driver florida car accident lawyers. Rear ended for second time in 4 months, need some advice. There are a few exceptions to this, but they are rare. Rear end collision accident lawyer west palm beach, fl. Rear end presumption, comparative negligence in florida car. The team of traffic accident professionals at our west palm beach law firm understands what youre going through and the complexities of rear end traffic accidents under florida law. Rearend collisions are often caused by distracted driving, tailgating, and weather conditions.
What are my rights as a passenger in a car that has been in. Rearend accidents are the worst accidents you dont even see coming. Insurance claims if you are driving your car and are rearended, the driver behind you is almost certainly at fault. Every rearend collision is unique, but in most cases florida law finds that the driver who hits the other vehicle is liable for the crash.
As required before lawsuit, i sent him a stern letter informing him of our intent to file suit against him, granting him a maximum of ten 10 days for response. What if am i rearended by a driver who flees the scene of. Are we basically screwed and have to pay ourselves for. A south florida insurance company insured the drunk driver. Got rear ended by someone without insurance coverage.
Finally, a word of advice when it comes to determining which driver is at fault in a rearend collision. You get out of your car and find the other driver is looking sheepishly at you before he admits that he has no auto insurance coverage. You had no insurance and you rear ended someone likely what you meant or you rear ended someone who has no insurance how your question reads. My 350z was rear ended by a driver who my insurance company discovered had false insurance documents.
Who is liable for a rearend collision under florida law. This is why underinsurance, or insurance that plans for being hit by uninsured drivers, is so imperative. Options for recovering against an uninsured driver after a. Florida i was rear ended by a taxi at a crosswalk waiting. The collision was so powerful that three cars were totally destroyed and the client was rendered unconscious. How do i handle the auto insurance claim when i was rear. Whether you are the responsible driver, the victim, or if both drivers are responsible for a rearend collision, a simple accident may easily become extremely expensive. It is important to understand who is at fault and what your options are for financial recovery from a rearend collision incident in florida.
The client sustained multiple fractures to her arm and ribs, damage to her shoulder and she sustained brain damage. In fact, according to the insurance research councils uninsured motorists estimates by state, 1526 percent of drivers in florida were uninsured in 2012. Apr 25, 2020 the accident happened in miami, florida. Learn how florida nofault law handles rearend collision car accidents. He is uninsured, what makes you think he has the assets or income to seize or garnish to pay the damages. What to do after a rearend collision auto insurance center. The other driver provided me with insurance information. So whether you got rearended or you did the rearending, you may still be entitled to compensation. If the driver did not own the car, you could also file a claim against the vehicle owner. Certain laws are critical to follow, or there can be some serious consequences. The atfault driver looks panicked and when you ask him for his insurance information he tells you that he doesnt have any. Florida law presumes the fault of the driver who causes the rearend collision, so absent additional circumstances e. Insurance claim after being rearended rear end collisions. Tips for handling an accident with an uninsured driver american.
Rearended by insured driver while uninsured after much digging around, we were able to successfully locate the home address of the man who rearended us. I received a call from my insurance company today notifying me that the driver didnt have insurance even though he had documents they were fake. I was rear ended while stopped waiting to turn left. Yesterday my wife and kids got rear ended in our ms by an uninsured driver, as usual. Rearend collision lawsuit 10 key things to know about fault. Florida law forbids drivers from following other vehicles too closely.
I was rear ended by an uninsured driver she has full coverage by state standards but no uninsured motorist and i am not on her policy. The car hit my truck so hard that it pushed my truck into the car in front of me and him into the car in front of him. Between the time it usually takes at tesla certified bodyshop and the increased insurance rate from taking it on our own insurance again, i am considering just buying a new bumper, put it on myself and be done with it. Uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance claims and. Jan 08, 2017 whether you are the responsible driver, the victim, or if both drivers are responsible for a rear end collision, a simple accident may easily become extremely expensive. When a driver crashes into the rear end of another vehicle in florida, the rear driver is presumed to be at fault for the accident. Know how to handle accidents with uninsured drivers and the best practices for filing an insurance claim. By violating the financial responsibility laws in florida, drivers can face serious consequences including suspension of their drivers license, fines, and more. Prior to 2012, florida courts applied a presumption that the second driver was negligent in rear end accidents. Oct 20, 2016 in fact, according to the insurance research councils uninsured motorists estimates by state, 1526 percent of drivers in florida were uninsured in 2012.
Oh, you could, but it would be a complete waste of your time. If you cant agree to a settlement, then its not the end of the world. While no fault states typically dont allow drivers to file lawsuits against the other driver, in cases where injuries are severe beyond a certain threshold, such as a rear end accident causing permanent injury, then the injured party can file a lawsuit against the negligent party for any damages that go beyond the policy limits of the negligent driver. What are laws for rearend car accidents in florida. I was rearended while stopped waiting to turn left. Options for recovering against an uninsured driver after a florida. Understanding the potential impact of a florida rear end car. Settlement value of rear end car accidents in maryland. I was driving my girlfriends car from the store, to the house within 2 miles. What happens if youre in an accident with an uninsured driver. People who heard the crash or arrived after the fact dont count. Rearend collisions are one of the most prevalent auto accident types. Worley was injured in a september 2010 accident when a car driven by an uninsured driver rear ended her vehicle.
How to sue an uninsured driver in an orlando car accident. Hit by drunk driver settlement amounts rear end accidents. What you need to know about uninsured motorist coverage. The law requires every driver to maintain a safe following distance from the driver in front of them, so a driver usually only has to prove that they were rearended for the other driver to be found at fault.
May 18, 2017 what can i do if i was rear ended by uninsured motorist. It does not matter whether the driver caused the accident. In florida, there is something called a rebuttable presumption that the rear driver was at fault in a rearend collision. When we contacted her insurance to begin to get our van fixed they said she might not be insured because the vehicle she hit us in was a new purchase and not on her policy. Follow a few simple steps after youre rearended to help ensure everyones safety. Your car is a wreck and youre trying to figure out if youre ok. The best coverage for accidents with uninsured drivers. Accidents with unlicensed and uninsured drivers kryder law. If a driver s vehicle is struck from behind by another vehicle, the resulting accident is nearly always the striking driver s fault. It is important to understand who is at fault and what your options are for financial recovery from a rear end collision incident in florida. Basics of personal injury lawsuits and insurance claims in a rear end collision.
Car accidents are bad enough, but an accident with an uninsured driver could be disastrous. Most of the time, the driver of the last car in a rearend accident is assigned fault. Rear ended but the other insurance says they may not have to pay. When he contacted the other drivers insurer, it turned out that his policy had expired. Because basic traffic laws mandate a driver must be able to. Your car has been knocked sideways by another car one that roared through that stop sign right before it hit you. The driver of the vehicle in which you were riding and the drivers insurance company. The atfault driver s insurance company may try to pressure you into an early settlement just to close the case and keep its payout as low as possible. Regardless of the circumstances, you really want to make sure you fully assess your injuries following a car accident before settling. Thats when the florida nofault law is not going to provide enough help. How bad are your injuries from the rearend collision. Thats unfortunate, but since youre a savvy driver, you know to follow these tips on what to do if you get into an accident with an uninsured driver. A rearend collision, by definition, is a type of automobile accident that occurs when the driver of a vehicle crashes into the vehicle that is driving in front of them.
Our clients were rear ended by rear ended by an offduty police officer with their 2 dogs in the car. See a case where a passenger was rear ended by an uninsured driver. If your injuries from the rearend collision are severe, you may want to consider hiring a lawyer and suing the other driver. This is why drivers who rearend a leading vehicle are usually considered at. What if am i rearended by a driver who flees the scene of the. May 11, 2017 florida law presumes the fault of the driver who causes the rearend collision, so absent additional circumstances e. This holds true regardless of the reason for the first driver s stop or slow down. You never know when or if youll have a runin with an uninsured driver but it could happen to anyone. Conventional wisdom holds that the driver of the car that runs into the car in front of it is at fault in a car accident.
Apr 29, 2020 florida has the highest rate of uninsured drivers 26. Finally, a word of advice when it comes to determining which driver is at fault in a rear end collision. The atfault drivers insurance company may try to pressure you into an early settlement just to. What are the consequences for uninsured drivers with the florida dmv following an accident.
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