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Scooters, golf carts, electric skateboards, e-bikes, and other alternate modes of transportation are all extremely popular in Florida. Unfortunately, another thing they have in common is that they all have the potential to be dangerous. From defects and a lack of adequate safety equipment to limited visibility to motorists on the road, various issues can leave riders suffering from severe and expensive injuries. If you have been injured in an accident, what are your rights? Fort Myers accident attorney Randall L. Spivey explains.

All Accident Victims in Florida Have Certain Legal Rights

Regardless of whether you were using a scooter, golf cart, or any other alternate mode of transportation, you have clear rights under Florida law. These rights include:

1. The Right to See a Doctor of Your Choosing

When you have a claim for injuries you sustained in an accident, you have the right to see a doctor of your choosing. While it may make sense for you to choose an in-network provider if you have health insurance, you should not let the at-fault party’s insurance company tell you where to go for medical care.

2. The Right to Hold the At-Fault Party Accountable

Speaking of the at-fault party, regardless of who (or what company) is responsible for your injuries, you have the right to hold them fully accountable. As discussed below, the costs of a serious accident can add up very quickly, and you should not have to bear these costs on your own if the accident was someone else’s fault. When you hire an experienced Fort Myers accident attorney to represent you, you can rely on your attorney to fight for proper compensation on your behalf.

3. The Right to Find Out What Happened and Why

After an accident in Florida, you have the right to find out what happened and why. Importantly, not only do you have the right to do so, but you also need to do so in order to seek the financial compensation you deserve.

Filing a successful personal injury claim requires proof of liability. In other words, you need to be able to demonstrate why the at-fault party deserves to be held accountable. This may require evidence from various sources, and collecting the evidence you need requires experienced legal representation.

4. The Right to File an Insurance Claim

As a practical matter, seeking compensation after an accident in Florida usually means filing an insurance claim. For example, if a negligent driver hit you, you may have a claim under the driver’s auto insurance policy. Or, if the driver was working at the time of the accident, his or her employer’s insurance company may have to pay. Sometimes, the other driver’s homeowners' insurance company may have to pay. Alternatively, if you crashed or were injured because your scooter, golf cart, or other alternate mode of transportation was defective, you may need to file a product liability claim to seek coverage from the manufacturer’s insurer.

These are just a few examples. Once you hire a Fort Myers accident attorney to represent you, your attorney will be able to examine the available evidence and determine what type of claim (or claims) you are entitled to file.

5. The Right to Be Treated Fairly by Insurance Companies

Throughout your claim, you have the right to be treated fairly by the insurance companies. Florida law prohibits insurance companies from using bad-faith practices to delay or deny compensation to accident victims for their injuries.

With that said, you cannot simply expect the insurance companies to pay what they owe. It is up to you to prove that the insurance companies are liable—and it is also up to you to prove how much you are entitled to recover.

6. The Right to Full Compensation for Your Out-of-Pocket Costs

When you have a personal injury or product liability claim in Florida, you have the right to full compensation for all of your out-of-pocket costs resulting from the accident. This includes the cost of repairing or replacing your scooter, golf cart, or other alternate mode of transportation, and it also covers the cost of diagnosing and treating your injuries. If your injuries prevent you from working, it covers your loss of income and benefits as well.

7. The Right to Compensation for Your Non-Financial Losses

Along with your out-of-pocket costs, you also have the right to seek compensation for your non-financial losses resulting from the accident. This includes your pain and suffering, emotional trauma, physical scarring, loss of consortium and companionship, and loss of enjoyment of life. These losses can significantly exceed the financial costs of a serious accident, so it is critical to work closely with your attorney to make sure he or she can seek proper compensation for these losses on your behalf.

8. The Right to Go to Court, if Necessary

Most successful personal injury and product liability claims settle, and when you hire an experienced attorney to represent you, your attorney will focus on securing a favorable settlement. However, you also have the right to go to court, if necessary. If you do not receive a settlement offer that you are willing to accept, then you can—and should—fight for proper compensation at trial.

9. The Right to Hire an Attorney to Represent You

Finally, regardless of what happened, you have the right to hire an attorney to represent you. As discussed above, hiring an experienced attorney is important for several reasons. At Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., we handle all types of accident cases on a contingency-fee basis, which means it costs nothing out-of-pocket to put one of our experienced attorneys on your side.

Request a Free Consultation with a Skilled Fort Myers Accident Attorney  

Do you need help after an accident in Florida? If so, we encourage you to contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. promptly. At Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, you pay no upfront expenses and receive no monthly bills. With Spivey Law Firm, clients pay no attorneys’ fees or costs unless our firm obtains a monetary recovery for the client. To request a free consultation with Fort Myers accident attorney Randall L. Spivey, please call (239) 337-7483 or toll-free 888-477-4839, or tell us how we can help online at Spiveylaw.com today.