Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog
Many survivors of traffic collisions in Coral Springs and South Florida are shocked to find out how much their car accident costs. Whether a survivor has sustained head trauma, fractures, amputation, facial injuries, spinal cord trauma, or other injuries, there are often three main expenses which arise almost instantly:
- Medical expenses: The cost of emergency medical treatment, visits to specialists, and follow-up appointments with doctors are quite common after a serious injury. These expenses can be substantial if you need surgery, a longer hospital stay, or if some of your treatment is not covered by your medical insurance.
- Car repairs or replacement: If your car has sustained damage, it may need to be replaced or repaired, which can add up to hundreds or even tens of thousands of dollars.
- Lost income: If your injuries are severe enough, you may have to miss work, which means you will miss out on some earnings. In some cases, you may need to miss work for weeks or months, if your injuries do not allow you to resume your work duties.
In addition to these large factors, you may also face incidental expenses, which can include:
- Crutches, wheelchairs, and other medical expenses
- Follow-up medical care, including rehabilitation and on-going care
- Medications
- Personal support at home, including child care or help cleaning and running errands
- Grab bars or other accessibility features while you recover
- Taxis, car rentals, and other transportation
- Legal costs, if you are accused of causing the accident
- Replacement or repair of cell phones, laptops, and any personal items damaged in the incident
If your injuries are long-term or permanent, you can expect to pay even more. In some cases, your new expenses will be permanent. For example, if you have lost a limb in an accident, you will need to have your prosthetics updated for the rest of your life and you may not be able to return to your work at all if your injuries prevent you from working. This can easily add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars lost. Even losing a tooth in a car accident can mean you need to have your new crown replaced regularly for the rest of your life.
How About My Car Insurance?
If you have car insurance, you may assume you’re covered. However, insurance companies want to resolve claims quickly and for low amounts. They may not take into consideration incidental costs, such as the costs of making your home accessible to you if you have suffered a serious injury. They may not consider the long-term or permanent costs of your injury—or the fact that your ongoing treatment will become more costly with inflation.
It’s important to get an accurate picture of your ongoing expenses after an accident or injury, so you can tell whether your insurance is offering a fair amount for your injuries. If your insurance will only cover a small portion or if some expenses are not covered, you may want to explore whether you have a legal claim to seek fair compensation for your losses.
If you would like a free, no obligation case evaluation to find out how much your injuries may be worth, contact Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-352-9626 (1-866-FLAXMAN) for a free accident consultation with a Coral Springs car collision attorney. Our legal team has more than six decades of experience helping injured drivers like you across South Florida.