5 Terms You’re Likely to Hear After a Car Accident
Posted by: DFX on Jun 30, 2017
No one wants to be involved in a car accident but if you are it’s important to get the legal help you need. Read on to get information about five of the terms you’ll need to understand and then contact the Florida Accident Lawyers for a free case evaluation.
1. Actual Case Value
When you hear the term Actual Case Value, or ACV, just think of it as “market value.” Essentially it just means how much your vehicle would have sold for if you’d sold it right before the accident. This is a term that’s usually only used if the insurance company deems your vehicle a total loss.
2. Total Loss
If it would cost more to repair your car than it is worth, then it will be considered a total loss. This term also applies if your vehicle can’t be repaired at all. There are many types of car accidents that can lead to your vehicle being claimed a total loss.
3. Negligence
If a person doesn’t meet their legal duty of care then they can be considered legally negligent. In the event that there was damage or an injury caused by the negligence, the person who was negligent can be legally and financially responsible for the damage. As it applies to drivers, negligence essentially means that a person wasn’t operating their car, motorcycle, or other vehicle in a safe and reasonable manner.
4. Negligence Per Se
In this case, the term is in reference to an act that’s careless in and of itself. Once it’s been proven that this act has been commissioned, then you don’t have to show additional proof of fault. For example, if a car drove the wrong way on a one-way street, or was driven at double the speed limit, and an accident occurred, then this is all the evidence that’s needed to prove it was their fault. This doesn’t mean that the guilty party will automatically be held liable for the accident but it does make it very difficult for them not to be.
5. Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Insurance
Also known as UIM, uninsured / underinsured motorist insurance covers you if you’re hit by a driver that either doesn’t have insurance or has coverage that’s not adequate to cover the damages. If you have this type of coverage, you likely still need an attorney to ensure you’re getting the full benefits you’re entitled to. Contact the Florida Accident Lawyers today to learn more.