Who’s at fault in a car accident? In some states it doesn’t matter, but you should get our Florida Auto Insurance anyway!
1/6/2012 10:00:40 AM
Do you know the difference between no-fault car insurance and traditional car insurance? Car insurance claims in most states are settled on the basis of which party is at fault - but in twelve other states including New York, Hawaii and Florida, no-fault auto insurance laws apply and the issue of fault does not come into play unless one of the parties is severely injured.
The twelve states have introduced no-fault laws aimed at reducing the time taken to process auto insurance claims and discouraging lawsuits for smaller claims. Regardless of which party is at fault in an auto accident, the cost of medical expenses and lost wages is usually met by each party’s own insurance company.
Motorists who are involved in car accidents in states that have traditional auto insurance laws either file claims with their own carriers and have the matter pursued by them, or file claims against the other drivers’ carriers. Claims in states with no-fault auto insurance laws are still investigated by insurers, but the purpose of the investigations is to determine how deductibles are to be recovered. It will also determine how the auto insurance premiums of the at-fault driver may be affected.
What do Florida no-fault auto insurance laws mean for you as a motorist in Florida? You use your own insurance, and unless you can have been severely injured and your case meets thresholds set by Florida’s auto insurance laws, you cannot sue the other party involved in the auto accident and the other party cannot sue you.