Millions of visitors come to enjoy the sunshine and amazing beauty Florida offers, but when they don’t know the roads and are busy sightseeing, they can cause car accidents with locals. Not every state handles auto claims the way we do, and you could be left worrying about how to secure the compensation you need when the snowbird driver was responsible for the crash.
Below, a Florida car accident lawyer from Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath discusses what you should do if you were hit by an out-of-state driver who has since left Florida.
How does auto insurance work in Florida compared to other states?
Longtime Florida residents and natives may not realize that our no-fault auto insurance system is unusual in the U.S. Most states don’t require personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage liability (PDL) policies like ours. In Florida, you carry your own insurance to pay for your damages and injuries, which makes it no-fault.
In at-fault states, drivers must carry liability insurance to pay for the harm they cause to others. You may be unfamiliar with negotiating a claim for losses against this kind of insurance, adding to your stress and worry after a car crash. If the at-fault party isn’t insured, it can bring even more headaches to your case.
If your PIP and PDL insurance aren’t sufficient to cover all your losses, you may need help from a qualified car accident attorney to seek full compensation from the out-of-state driver’s insurance. You may also have the option to file a claim against the company they rented a car from if the driver chose PIP insurance.
What should I do after I am hit by an out-of-state driver?
Just like any accident, you should follow these recommendations for what to do after a car accident.
Call 911
In Florida, you are required to report an accident any time someone is hurt or killed, someone leaves the scene, a driver is driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, a commercial vehicle is involved, or a vehicle in the crash is inoperable and needs to be towed. Call 911 so police can investigate the accident and produce a report you can request from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
You can also get medical attention from first responders, establishing a record of your injuries.
Exchange information
Under Florida law, you must exchange your personal contact information and insurance company details with each driver involved in the accident. You can compare this to the police report to ensure they provided valid information.
Take photos and videos of everything
Photograph your injuries, the property damage, the out-of-state driver’s license and insurance card, the road and weather conditions, and anything else that might tell the story of what happened.
See your doctor within 72 hours
Even if you were evaluated at the scene after you were hit by an out-of-state driver, you should always see your doctor after a crash. Your physician could discover “silent” injuries, such as brain injury, fractures, internal bleeding, or organ damage.
If you delay getting medical care, the out-of-state driver’s insurance company may say your injuries aren’t due to the accident. They could use this to try to deny or reduce your compensation.
Call a Florida car accident attorney for a free consultation
When you speak with a car accident lawyer at Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath, we take your concerns seriously and provide solid legal advice on your options. We answer your questions and begin helping you build your claim against the at-fault parties.
Best of all, we offer contingency fee plans, so if we don’t secure a settlement for you, you don’t pay our fees. Use our online form or call us at (561) 655-1990 to schedule your free case review today.
