Unfortunately, Florida has some of the worst car accident statistics in the United States. For years, the Sunshine State has had the highest rate of bicycle and pedestrian crashes in the country — and most of them are caused by motor vehicle drivers.

Though Florida is not the top state for accidents involving two or more vehicles, the statistics are still dismal. The national average of fatal car accidents is 1.34 per 100 million miles traveled, but Florida’s is 1.6. For every 100,000 residents, the Sunshine State has 15.4 people die in car crashes. However, the national average is 11.7.

How Much Can I Expect to Collect After a Florida Car Accident?

Putting aside the physical and emotional devastation of car accidents, Florida is a no-fault insurance state. That means even if a drunk driver plows into you, there are legal limits to the damages you can collect.

In a no-fault insurance state, you initially go to your insurance company to receive compensation for your property damage, medical bills, lost work time, and pain and suffering. Only when your financial losses exceed the limits of your insurance policy can you ask the other driver’s insurance company to step in.

Most Florida car insurance policies have $10,000 of personal injury protection and $10,000 of property damage liability insurance. That means you could collect $20,000 to $40,000, depending on whether the other driver had insurance.

Negotiating with any insurance company is challenging even for attorneys, so going about it on your own may not be the best idea. Even your own insurance company will try to pay you as little as they think they can get away with.

What If My Losses Are Extensive?

Some car accidents permanently destroy and even end lives. So, what happens in the no-fault state of Florida in this situation?

A car accident attorney and their team can step in and investigate the entire situation, including the circumstances of the accident. If the person who caused the accident has assets such as a house and the victim is deceased, paralyzed, or suffered another serious injury, then it is possible to receive more money than the insurance limits.

Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Florida

A lot of people harm their cases because of things they don’t do (or do) after a car accident in Florida. Here are a few tips.

1. Be careful what you say about the accident, whether in person or on social media.
2. Get medical attention right away because some injuries take time to show up.
3. Gather any witness information.
4. Take pictures and video of the location of the accident.
5. Don’t let any insurance company rush you into accepting their financial offer.