After a car accident in Florida, injuries may inhibit you from going back to work, either permanently or temporarily. In these instances, you can typically recover lost wages as part of your insurance compensation.
In this article, we’ll explore the process of recovering lost wages after an auto accident for Florida drivers.
How to Recover Lost Wages After a Florida Car Accident
To understand how to recover lost wages after a crash, it’s first crucial to know that Florida is a “no-fault” state. This means that all drivers must obtain personal injury protection (PIP) insurance totaling at least $10,000 to cover their own medical bills and other damages related to the crash. The driver uses their own PIP insurance to cover these damages, regardless of who was responsible for the accident.
According to Florida Statute 627.736, you can recover 60% of lost wages after an auto accident from your PIP coverage. This applies to lost wages due to accident-related injuries that kept you from working.
What if Lost Wages Exceed My PIP Insurance?
If your lost wages and other damages (medical expenses, etc.) from an auto accident exceed your $10,000 PIP insurance, or if you want to recover 100% of your lost wages (not just 60%), you can seek these damages from the at-fault driver’s insurance. As with all other damages not covered by PIP, it may become necessary to file a personal injury lawsuit against the other driver. This is an option if the other driver was negligent in the crash.
The other driver may be considered negligent if they failed to drive with reasonable caution and care for others on the road. Examples of negligent driving include:
- Failing to stop
- Improper lane change
- Distracted driving
- Failing to obey right of way
- Ignoring traffic signals
- Violating traffic law
If you recently sustained injuries in a Florida car accident that compromised your ability to work, you may be able to recover lost wages with a personal injury case. Our experienced auto accident attorneys can guide you through every step of the process, helping you obtain your rightful compensation.
Contact us today for a free case evaluation!