Florida is a comparative fault state. This means that the percentage of fault assigned to each driver in a motor vehicle accident or other personal injury case is an important factor in determining how much compensation you may recover for your damages.
At the Hancock Law Firm, P.A., in Tampa, our lawyers represent people who are injured in all types of accidents. Our goal is to help our clients obtain the maximum compensation for everything they have lost due to another person's negligence. Contact us today for a free consultation with our Tampa lawyers.
What Does Comparative Fault Mean to My Car Crash Case?
Comparative fault means that your financial recovery in a personal injury accident can be reduced by any percentage of fault that is assigned to you. It also means that even if you were primarily at fault, you can still recover compensation for any percentage of fault that can be assigned to the other driver.
Example: Suppose an accident results in $100,000 in damages. If the other driver was 90 percent at fault and you were 10 percent at fault, you could recover $90,000 from the other driver. If the other driver was 10 percent at fault and you were 90 percent at fault, you could still recover $10,000 from the other driver.
After an accident, anything you say to the insurance company of the other driver could be used to assign comparative fault to you — and potentially reduce your compensation from a personal injury lawsuit. Therefore, you should not say anything to the insurance company of the other driver without a lawyer's advice.
From our office in Tampa, we represent personal injury victims in the Tampa Bay area, including St. Petersburg and Clearwater, and throughout Florida.
Contact Our Hillsborough County Personal Injury Lawyers
For more information about comparative fault and Florida auto accidents, call 888-975-1110 (toll free) or 813-915-1110 to schedule a free initial consultation. You can also reach attorney Mike Hancock or Claire Hancock by e-mail.
