Auto accidents involving one car crashing front-first into the back bumper of another tend not to cause especially serious injuries compared to other collisions. However, just because severe physical trauma is not likely to happen in a rear-end car accident in Pace does not mean that it never happens at all. Either way, you may have multiple options for seeking financial recovery after this sort of incident.
No matter how your crash happened or who is to blame for it, you will want help from a seasoned auto accident attorney from start to finish of your legal proceedings. Our team of legal professionals at Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon understands how devastating an unexpected traffic collision can be. We also know how to get people like you paid what they deserve for the harm they should never have sustained. Call today to discuss your options.
How Fault Works in Rear-End Car Wreck Cases
Regardless of what injuries you have suffered from a rear-end car crash in Pace, you will almost always need to start the financial recovery process by filing a claim against your own “personal injury protection” (PIP) coverage within your auto insurance policy. This is because Florida follows a “no-fault” approach to car accident litigation, which prioritizes recovery through insurance instead of recovery through civil litigation in situations that do not involve “serious injuries.”
If you suffered a serious injury after being rear-ended, you may have a right to file suit against the person who struck you after you have exhausted all available coverage. Instead of being able to seek compensation on a “no-fault” basis, though, you will need to prove the accident happened because of a specific reckless, careless, or illegal act by the defendant you are suing. A seasoned lawyer at Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon can provide irreplaceable assistance throughout this process.
How Comparative Fault Might Affect Recovery Efforts
If you want to step outside Florida’s “no-fault” rules and file a lawsuit over a Pace rear-end auto accident, you may also need to contend with Florida’s modified comparative fault system. Florida Statutes § 768.81 allows courts to reduce the total compensation available to a car crash victim in proportion to the percentage of fault they hold for causing their injuries through their own negligence.
Notably, this statute also prohibits civil recovery altogether by anyone found to hold a majority—more than 50 percent—of the total fault for an accident.
A Pace Attorney Can Help File Suit After a Rear-End Car Accident
Whether it happens at a stoplight, in bumper-to-bumper highway traffic, or anyplace else, being rear-ended at high speed can be both emotionally traumatic and physically debilitating. While money alone cannot completely erase all the pain and suffering this sort of incident can cause, it can still do a lot to lessen the financial and personal harm it does to you and your family.
If you want to handle your rear-end car accident in Pace as proactively and effectively as possible, you should reach out to our dedicated team of attorneys at Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon. Call today for a consultation.
