I Haven’t Been Able To Return To Work Since My Car Accident. How Can I Afford A Lawyer?

Don’t let a lack of initial funds turn you off from hiring a Tampa personal automobile accident attorney. You have two options for seeking repayment without having to pay anything upfront.

Your options are:

– Filing under your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance plan
– Filing under an at-fault party’s third-party Bodily Injury Liability (BIL) policy with the help of a Tampa car accident lawyer under a contingency arrangement

These two options allow you to seek legal help for a lawsuit and pay your representation only if that case results in a successful recovery. Florida makes your right to seek compensation straightforward, and we at Steinger, Greene & Feiner don’t see our fee unless you win your claim.

From a resources and fees perspective, filing a personal injury lawsuit isn’t cheap. The costs acquired can pile up quickly. Common personal injury claim costs can include:

– Filing fees and court fees
– Labor costs and documentation costs associated with Discovery
– Document fees, for procuring medical documents, legal documents, etc.
– Time spent handling insurance denials or negotiating settlement offers
– Compensating fact witnesses, such as medical witnesses or accident reconstruction witnesses
– Miscellaneous expenses, such as document production, transportation, etc.

Fortunately for those in need of representation, Florida Statute §16.0155 limits the amount a lawyer can charge you. Also, most personal injury attorneys only charge if they are able to successfully recover money for you through a settlement agreement or court award.

At Steinger, Greene & Feiner, our staff of over 30 experienced attorneys will do everything we can to give your case the highest chances of success. Furthermore, we only get paid if you win. Our extensive experience and legal resources will be at your disposal without having to pay anything down. 

This is called “operating on a contingency agreement,” which means you won’t have to pay us for legal representation unless we win your case.

The arrangement also acts as a reassurance to you that we’re doing the very best to bring you the most compensation possible. Because we don’t get our money until you get yours, it motivates us to seek every available legal avenue to get your money.

The state of Florida mandates that all vehicle owners carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP), or “No-Fault” car insurance.

Personal Injury Protection will pay 80% of medical expenses for injuries, up to $10,000, regardless of who was at fault in the accident. Eligible claims include:

– Medical services and medication
– Surgical services and hospital expenses
– Rehab costs
– Diagnostic services
– Ambulatory services

If your medical bills total $10,000, PIP will pay only $8,000, presuming the medical event was considered an emergency under the language of the policy. If the injury isn’t considered an emergency, you will only be eligible for $2,500 in coverage. 

Furthermore, PIP will pay 60% of lost wages, subject to a $10,000 limit. This coverage can include recovery of fees for certain services like mowing the yard, home repair, and more that the injuries from the accident prevent. 

Finally, PIP will pay for burial and funeral services if the policyholder is killed, with the next-of-kin getting $5,000 in compensation.

Just like with any other type of insurance, PIP claims are filed either online or through the phone with your preferred auto insurance provider. PIP will help pay for medical expenses that are necessary immediately after the accident. 

However, for ongoing, non-urgent claims, a review or pre-approval of a treatment plan with a medical expert of your insurer’s choice or an outsourced medical claims processor is required.

Your auto insurance provider can also approve partial reimbursements, or have you examined by a medical provider of their choice. The money awarded to you depends on what the insurance company decides based on the language of its policy and the nature of the claimed expenses.

Just like other no-fault states, Florida has its own set of special laws and regulations. To reduce the number of people suing each other over damages, Florida only allows drivers to file a claim under a third-party Bodily Injury Liability (BIL) policy when the injuries are considered severely disfiguring, debilitating, permanent, and/or resulted in death. 

In many cases, Florida law allows drivers to make a BIL even if the injury is not so severe, so long as the medical costs exceed $10,000. What this means is if you’re involved in an accident and the injuries cost you $20,000, you are allowed to sue the other driver for the remaining $10,000 not covered by PIP. That comes in addition to the uncovered medical costs and lost wages that the eligible policy does cover. You may also claim for any emotional pain and suffering you think the injuries have caused you. 

It’s recommended by risk management professionals for all Florida drivers to carry a good amount of bodily injury liability coverage, but Florida doesn’t make that coverage mandatory for most drivers.