There are a large number of drivers who take to the roads every day in St. Petersburg without insurance, and when these drivers cause an accident, they also cause a host of problems. If you suffered injuries in an accident caused by an uninsured motorist, you may have several different options for pursuing economic recovery to compensate for the harm.
While your first priority should be to see to your health, it is generally wise not to wait too long before consulting an accomplished car accident attorney. An experienced St. Petersburg uninsured car accident lawyer could evaluate your case, explain your options, and help you pursue the course of action best calculated to lead to recovery.
No-Fault Insurance Laws Do Not Bar Lawsuits Involving Uninsured Motorists
In many car accident situations in St. Petersburg, the driver who is at fault may not be sued by the other driver because of Florida’s no-fault rules. However, if the driver at fault is not carrying the legally required insurance, the law allows injured parties to sue them.
The common problem with this, though, is that uninsured motorists often do not have much money, which is typically why they failed to purchase insurance. So, even if an injured driver files a lawsuit and wins a judgment against the driver who caused the accident, it can be difficult to collect.
Fortunately, it may be possible to have a judge order payments to be made from the uninsured driver’s wages, or to have the driver sell an asset in order to satisfy the judgment. In this respect, a St. Petersburg uninsured car accident lawyer could be helpful in seeking alternative means of compensation for an injured plaintiff.
It May Be Possible to Recover Damages from a Third Party
Sometimes it is possible to establish liability against a third party as well as an uninsured driver. For instance, if the driver was operating as part of their job when the accident occurred, that driver’s employer may be held vicariously liable for the employee’s actions. In this way, it may be feasible to recover damages from that employer.
In addition, there could have been more than one cause of the accident, which would mean another party may bear a portion of the responsibility. For instance, if the road was slippery due to an oil leak from another vehicle, the owner of that vehicle may be held liable. In the same vein, if there was debris in the road left by a nearby property owner, that property owner may be held liable.
An experienced uninsured car accident lawyer in St. Petersburg could examine each individual situation and explore the available options for third-party recovery in a lawsuit. Whether damages are sought from the driver, a third party, or both, it would still be necessary to prove that there was negligence involved and that the negligence caused the harm complained of. So, it is important to collect and preserve evidence as close to the time of the accident as possible.
The Best Option May Involve Insurance
In certain situations, the best option for recovery when a driver is involved in a car accident with an uninsured motorist may be through the driver’s own insurance. Florida drivers are required to carry at least $10,000 of personal injury protection (PIP) insurance, which pays the medical expenses of the vehicle’s driver regardless of who is determined to be at fault in the accident.
Lost wages and death benefits may also be payable through the driver’s PIP insurance, but other consequences, such as future medical needs, are generally not available. So, in the case of a serious accident, it is helpful to have uninsured motorist coverage to cover additional expenses beyond what PIP insurance covers.
Letting a St. Petersburg Uninsured Car Accident Attorney Help
Evaluating the best option based on your unique circumstances may be complicated. A knowledgeable St. Petersburg uninsured car accident lawyer could not only help evaluate options and devise the best strategy but also advocate on your behalf. To learn how an experienced attorney could help you pursue the full amount of compensation available so you can move forward after your car accident, call today to schedule a case evaluation.
