What Is the Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Claims in Palm Beach County, Broward County, and Across South Florida?
After you’ve been involved in a car accident in South Florida, your first priority is obviously to obtain medical treatment for your injuries and arrange to repair damage to your vehicle. Once the immediate steps for recovery after a car accident have been taken care of, you can begin to focus on pursuing financial compensation for your injuries and losses from the driver or party at fault for the accident. However, the law limits the time you have to file a lawsuit to pursue your car accident claim, if necessary. How long do I have to file a lawsuit after a car accident in Florida? Under Florida’s statute of limitations, you generally have four years from the date of a car accident in which to file a lawsuit to pursue compensation from the driver or party responsible for the accident and your injuries. Filing a lawsuit after the statute of limitations has run on your claim may mean that you permanently lose the right to seek compensation from those at fault for your injuries and losses. That makes it critical to start your car accident claim as soon as possible.
Call or contact Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A. today for a free case evaluation to discuss how long you may have to file a lawsuit to pursue your car accident claim and to get our dedicated legal team started on pursuing fair and full compensation for your injuries and losses.
Benefits of Starting Your Car Accident Claim Early
Although you may have up to four years from the date of a car accident to file a lawsuit against those responsible for the crash, it is always best to start your claim as soon as possible. The more quickly you initiate your claim, the more options you will have available to you to recover compensation for your injuries and vehicle damage. Some of the benefits of beginning a car accident claim as soon as possible include:
- The accident is still fresh in your mind, so you’ll be able to accurately describe your recollection from the crash.
- Evidence from the accident may still be recoverable, including accident scene photos, vehicle damage, and eyewitness statements.
- You’ll be able to completely document your recovery process, including keeping copies of bills, invoices, and receipts, along with keeping a diary or journal about how your injuries impact your personal and professional life.
- You can timely notify your insurer of the accident, which may entitle you to file claims under the personal injury protection coverage or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in your own auto policy.
- You’ll give your car accident attorney as much time as possible to work on building your case, including having the opportunity to consult with expert witnesses in accident reconstruction, medicine, and finance to persuasively argue why the other party was at fault for the accident and the extent of losses you’ve incurred that you deserve to be compensated for.
How Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A. Can Help You with Pursuing Your Car Accident Claim
When you turn to Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A. for help with your car accident claim, our firm can ensure you remain aware of important deadlines on your claim, including the statute of limitations to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. Even if you wish to pursue the route of negotiating for a settlement with the insurance company, in the event settlement negotiations take a long time, you may need to file a lawsuit to preserve your legal rights to compensation from the at-fault party. Once the statute of limitations expires on your claim without you having filed a lawsuit, the at-fault driver or their insurance company no longer has any legal liability to you for the accident.
The car accident lawyers at Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A. can advise you throughout the claims process, including reviewing settlement offers from the insurance company to determine whether they provide you with the fair compensation you deserve and negotiating with the insurance adjusters on your behalf for a better settlement. We will also help you document your losses throughout your recovery, including medical expenses, vehicle repair or replacement costs, lost wages and earning potential, and pain and suffering, so that you can be confident that you are receiving fair value in your case.
Contact Our Firm for a Free Case Review to Discuss Your Rights for Pursuing a Car Accident Lawsuit and the Statute of Limitations in South Florida
By acting quickly, you can give yourself the best chance at recovering maximum compensation in your car accident case. Contact Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A. today for a free, no-obligation consultation to have our experienced attorneys quickly get started on investigating your case and prepare a strong, effective legal strategy to help you recover the financial compensation you deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions about How Long You Have to File a Lawsuit After a Car Accident in South Florida
If you file a lawsuit for compensation after a car accident when the statute of limitations has expired on your claim, you run the risk that the at-fault driver or their insurance company will file a motion to permanently dismiss your lawsuit from the court, meaning you could lose your right to seek compensation for your injuries. Our knowledgeable car accident attorneys can review your case and advise you as to how long you have to file a lawsuit to pursue your claim.
If you’re injured in a hit and run accident where you do not immediately know the identity of the at-fault driver that fled the accident scene, a court may choose to “toll”, or pause, the running o the statute of limitations for the period of time that it took you to discover the identity of the hit and run driver. Our attorneys can advise you as to whether unique circumstances in your case may entitle you to toll the statute of limitations on your car accident claim.
