{"id":30703,"date":"2023-12-27T08:00:17","date_gmt":"2023-12-27T13:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rhinolawyers.com\/?p=30703"},"modified":"2026-05-27T16:37:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T16:37:00","slug":"what-to-do-if-a-car-accident-causes-a-permanent-disability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.rhinolawyers.com\/es\/what-to-do-if-a-car-accident-causes-a-permanent-disability\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Do if a Car Accident Causes a Permanent Disability"},"content":{"rendered":"

Did you know that about\u00a027% of the adult population<\/a> in the United States has a disability? Of these individuals, nearly 13% have cognition issues. Another 12% have mobility issues.\u00a0Some of those people have become permanently disabled after an accident on the road. After all, as many as\u00a0six million motor vehicle accidents<\/a> occur in the U.S. yearly.\u00a0If you now have a permanent disability after a car accident yourself, you may be able to get compensation. However, you must first take steps to recover damages.<\/p>\n

To that end, we created this guide on filing a permanent injury claim for a car accident. Read on to discover what you must do to get the compensation you deserve.<\/p>\n

File a First-Party Insurance Claim<\/h2>\n

Some states,\u00a0including Florida, require all motorists to carry personal injury protection (PIP). It’s also known as no-fault insurance.<\/p>\n

PIP coverage helps pay 80% of the policyholder’s crash-related medical costs. This must kick in regardless of who caused or was at fault for the incident.<\/p>\n

The above means you must first file a claim with your PIP provider to receive medical benefits. For your claim to be valid, you must have had initial care within 14 days of the incident.<\/p>\n

Support Your permanent disability Claim With Medical Documentation<\/h2>\n

To receive PIP benefits, you must support your claim with medical evidence. This includes doctors’ diagnoses, treatment records, and professional outlook. Please keep and organize all these documents, as you’ll need them when you file a lawsuit.<\/p>\n

As a crash victim, you can still file a lawsuit against at-fault parties, even\u00a0in a no-fault state like Florida. You can do so if the cost of your treatment exceeds your PIP’s limits. Likewise, you can sue if your injuries meet the definition of a permanent disability.<\/p>\n

Under Florida statutes<\/a>, permanent disabilities result from significant and permanent bodily function loss. They can also be due to scarring, disfigurement, or permanent injury.<\/p>\n

But just like with PIP, you must have medical evidence that warrants filing a lawsuit. For this reason, you must obtain confirmation from your doctors about your disability. They must explain in writing not only their diagnosis but also their prognosis.<\/p>\n

Prognosis refers to a doctor’s judgment of a condition’s likely or expected development. It also states\u00a0the potential future health situation of a patient.<\/p>\n

Suppose a doctor diagnoses a crash victim with moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI).<\/p>\n

Moderate TBIs\u00a0can\u00a0lead to lifelong physical<\/a>, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional impacts. They can even be fatal in some cases.<\/p>\n

In that case, the prognosis could be that the patient’s TBI may affect their cognition. This could affect how they work and their\u00a0chances of gainful employment. It could also affect their ability to enjoy life.<\/p>\n

Hire an Auto Accident Lawyer<\/h2>\n

Filing a compensation claim or suing outside of PIP would require you to prove fault. This means you must establish the negligence of the other driver. You must also show that your permanent disability\u00a0resulted from their doing.<\/p>\n

Those tasks are complex\u00a0enough for an average person but more so for someone with a disability. Fortunately, you don’t have to do them yourself; you can rely on an auto accident lawyer.<\/p>\n

Here’s what an experienced lawyer can do to help you\u00a0get\u00a0your deserved compensation.<\/p>\n

Assess the Worth of Your Case<\/h3>\n

El\u00a0worth of your permanent injury<\/a>\u00a0case should\u00a0cover past and future expenses. These include (but are not limited to) the following economic damages:<\/p>\n