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Florida Property Damage
REQUIRED INSURANCE
Every Florida driver must carry Property Damage Liability (PDL) insurance (minimum $10,000), which covers damage the insured driver causes to others’ property.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CRASH
Immediately after a crash, it is important that you call law enforcement, and exchange information with the other driver, including names, contact information, and insurance coverage details. You should also take photos of the damage to both vehicles, and of the accident scene. Appropriate medical care should also be sought, including emergency services where warranted.

FILE A PROPERTY DAMAGE CLAIM
You may file a claim with:
The at-fault driver’s insurance
  • Their property damage liability coverage should pay to repair or replace your vehicle and other damaged property.
  • It will be based upon the adverse insurance company accepting fault or liability for the crash.
  • Their coverage may be insufficient to pay the full amount of damage to your property.
Your own insurance
  • If the other driver’s insurance company is denying liability, or their liability coverage is insufficient, and you have collision coverage, your insurer can pay for damage to your vehicle.
  • Your insurer may then pursue the at-fault insurer for reimbursement, otherwise known as “subrogation”.
  • A vehicle is usually a total loss if repair costs exceeds 80% of its pre-accident value.
  • If you use your own collision coverage, you pay your deductible up front.
  • If your insurer successfully recovers from the at-fault driver’s insurer, you may get your deductible reimbursed.

REPAIR VS. TOTAL LOSS
If your car is repairable, the insurer pays for the repair cost. If it’s a total loss, you receive the actual cash value of the vehicle, plus compensation for sales tax, and the cost to re-register a replacement vehicle.

RENTAL CAR
If your vehicle is not drivable, you may be entitled to a rental car under:
Your own coverage (if you purchased rental reimbursement).
The at-fault driver’s PDL in some cases.
If you don’t rent a car, you may sometimes claim “loss of use” for transportation costs.

DIMINISHED VALUE
Even after repairs, your car may be worth less than before. You can often seek diminished value compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurer, typically requiring an independent appraisal.
It is important to note that we are exclusively a personal injury law firm and as such, we do not accept employment to handle property damage lawsuits. However, as an added value to our personally injury clients, we are available to provide guidance and assistance to assure that your property damage claim is handled smoothly and that you receive just compensation for your property damage claim.

While our firm focuses exclusively on personal injury cases and does not take on property damage lawsuits, we believe in supporting our clients every step of the way. As a courtesy to our personal injury clients, we are happy to provide guidance and assistance throughout the property damage claims process to help ensure it goes smoothly and that you receive fair compensation for your vehicle or other damaged property.

PROPERTY DAMAGE CHECKLIST
To help you successfully navigate the property damage claims process, we’ve created a helpful checklist you can download and use as a guide. If you have questions about your property damage claim or need assistance along the way, contact our office—we’re here to help.

9 things to do after a motor vehicle accident:

There are many critical steps to take after being in an accident. Here are our suggestions on what to do following a crash:

01

Exchange insurance

Exchange insurance information with all of the other vehicles involved in the crash including their name, address, phone number and insurance policy information.

02

Call law enforcement

Call law enforcement immediately. Even if you think you may not be badly injured, the police report will help identify the parties and who is at fault for causing the crash.

03

Never admit fault

Never admit fault. Your lawyer will investigate the details of your crash and help figure that out with you.

04

Do not move your vehicle

Do not move your vehicle until you have taken photos of the location of impact, the accident scene, and the damage to your vehicle and all others involved in the crash.

05

Accept transportation

Accept transportation to the hospital ER or be seen at a local Hospital or Urgent Care.

06

Report the accident

Report the accident to your insurance company right away and take note of the claim number assigned to your claim.

07

Do not provide a recorded statement

Do not provide a recorded statement to any insurance company without first speaking with a lawyer.

08

Do not post on social media

Do not post about the accident or your injuries on social media.

09

Contact Us

Contact an experienced personal injury attorney.

Auto Accident information Center:

Right after an accident, the insurance company is investigating the claim and taking steps to assure that you recover as little compensation as possible for your injuries. It is critically important to contact a qualified auto accident attorney as soon as possible to protect yourself from the insurance company and make sure the proper steps are taken to investigate the accident and secure the evidence necessary to prove responsibility for the crash.

Auto Accident cases are accepted on a contingency fee basis. This means that you are not charged any out of pocket expenses in connection with hiring a lawyer. After the lawyer resolves your case either by settlement or jury verdict, then the applicable attorney fee is paid from the proceeds of the settlement.

You are not required to provide a statement to the at fault driver’s insurance company. If one is requested, you should decline and defer to your attorney. You may be required to provide a statement to your own insurance company as most policies of auto insurance obligate you to provide “reasonable cooperation” which can include a statement. Do not provide a statement to any insurance company without first speaking to your attorney.

The at fault driver’s at fault driver’s insurance company is responsible for the repairs to your vehicle. If there is a dispute regarding who is responsible for causing the crash, you can arrange to have the repairs handled through your own insurance company, provided you have collision coverage on your policy.

The at fault driver’s insurance company is responsible for getting you into a rental vehicle. If there is a dispute regarding who is responsible for causing the crash, you can arrange for a rental through your own insurance company, provided you have rental coverage on your policy.

Florida law requires auto insurance policies to include Personal Injury Protection (PIP). Following a motor vehicle crash, your own insurance would cover 80% of your medical bills and a portion of your lost wages up to $10,000.00. This is the case regardless of who was at fault for the accident. You only have fourteen days to receive medical treatment following a crash in order to qualify for PIP. This means that even if your symptoms are mild, but you suspect you may be injured as a result of a crash, you should get medical treatment as soon as possible.

Initially, your medical expenses are covered in part by your own insurance policy under the PIP (“Personal Injury Protection”) coverage. Uncovered medical expenses are recovered by your attorney from the responsible party’s insurance company as part of your personal injury case. Typically, you should not incur any out of pocket medical expenses in connection with accident related treatment.

There is a wide variety of damages that can be recovered from a motor vehicle accident. The at fault driver’s insurance company is responsible for your past a future medical expenses. If you were unable to work due to your injuries, you can recover your lost wages. If your capacity to work in the future is diminished, you can recover compensation. Subject to proof that your injuries caused from a motor vehicle crash are permanent, you can recover compensation for pain and suffering both in the past and in the future. This is a very generalized overview of the types of compensation you can recover. Your attorney will counsel you in greater detail.

Types of Auto Accidents:

Our team handles all types of auto accidents causing serious injuries and death. The most common include:

Car Accidents

Motorcycle Accidents

Trucking Accidents

Bicycle Accidents

Pedestrian Accidents

Ride Share Accidents

Drunk Driving Accidents

Distracted Driving Accidents

Self Driving Car Accidents

Delivery Vehicle Accidents

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury in an automobile collision and are seeking an exceptional team of auto accident attorneys in the Tampa Bay area, please contact Spinner Law Firm, P.A. for a free and immediate consultation. Take your first step toward protecting your legal rights and pursuing a successful verdict or settlement with the help of our dedicated attorneys. Call now: 813-991-5099. We are standing by 24/7 to help.