It’s not uncommon to turn on the news and see that a car accident has occurred at some point during the day. Car accidents are an everyday occurrence and can, unfortunately, cause fatalities or life-altering bodily functions.

Florida is a busy state which is no stranger to seeing accidents. If you’re a long-running resident of Florida, then you know about the no-fault rule and how every party involved needs to turn to their insurance company for help.

But what about the cases that involve those fatalities or severe injuries? Is it possible to file a claim? Yes, it is. With the KABCO scale in place to establish the severity of your crash, you could come out with a claim to compensate you for your incurred damages.

Here is everything you need to know about the KABCO scale and how it can impact your claim.

What Is the KABCO Injury Scale?

The KABCO scale was created by the Federal Highway Administration to evaluate the severity of a car crash and determine how much you should receive out of a settlement depending on the severity.

Car accidents that are eligible to step out of the no-fault system are all worth a lot of money, and the accident settlements are worth even more when there are deaths that occur as a result of the crash.

The KABCO scale is set up in Florida as follows:

K = a fatality resulting from the crash
A = Incapacitating injuries such as disabling, amputation, and more
B = the victim has a few injuries such as cuts and scrapes but are not incapacitating
C = there is possible injury, but on a lesser scale
O = there were no apparent injuries at the scene

How Does the KABCO Scale Work in Florida?

Now that you know what the KABCO scale is, you might be wondering how it works in a car accident case in Boynton Beach, Florida. When you are in an accident and call the police to the scene, they are responsible for assessing the damage and assigning the KABCO scale on the report.

When the police file a report of the accident and assign your case a letter, it will be officially documented, and your lawyer can use it later in your case as evidence. Once the severity of your injuries has been noted, your case will be worth a certain amount in your personal injury case.

What To Do After an Accident in Florida?

To optimize your KABCO scale score, there are things you should always do after being involved in a car accident in Florida. The first, as we have mentioned before, is to notify law enforcement and call them out to the scene.

Not only will your KABCO score be used as evidence later, but the entire police report can be used as evidence if your case is eligible to step out of the no-fault system. Police reports are unbiased and give detailed information of the accident, how things transpired, and who was at-fault.

After speaking to law enforcement, it’s important that you get yourself checked out by medical professionals. Since injuries are a big factor in the KABCO scale, you need to be observed by medical professionals to see where you fall on the scale unless it’s painfully obvious.

Medical records can also be used as evidence in your case. While it’s very helpful for evidence purposes, it’s also important for your own health to ensure you’re healthy and not suffering from an unknown internal injury.

You should also collect the contact information of the other party in case you need to file a lawsuit against them later. The best thing to obtain is their name, phone number, and insurance information that your lawyer can use later on. It is also a smart idea to find a lawyer as soon as you can to help understand your legal rights and give you advice on what to do next.

When To File a Personal Injury Lawsuit

Florida has specific laws in place to limit the number of lawsuits that are filed from car accidents. Because of this, it is a requirement that you seek assistance from your financial company first. However, there are two scenarios that allow you to step out of the no-fault system and able to file a lawsuit:

Medical bills resulting in several thousand dollars
Sustaining a severe injury

If you sustain an injury from the accident that fits the first two, possibly three, letters of the KABCO score, you are considered able to file a lawsuit.

If you find out that your case is eligible for a lawsuit, understand you have two years from the date of the crash to file your claim. It is highly recommended you start the process as soon as possible to give your case validity in terms of seriousness and if your case takes a while to settle.

Why You Need a Lawyer To Help

It is possible to file a lawsuit against someone else yourself, but if you want the greatest chance at a successful outcome, it is in your best interest to obtain the help of a legal professional.

A Boynton Beach Serious Injury lawyer can help you for a variety of reasons. They can help you negotiate with your insurance company and build a case against the other driver. Hiring a lawyer should be one of the first steps you take after receiving medical attention. It should also be the first thing you do before speaking to your insurance representative.

If you are dealing with a serious accident and are still healing from a serious injury, a lawyer can take the reins on your case and do all of the work for you. All you need to do with the help of a lawyer is answer their questions and take their advice every step of your case.

Your lawyer will review all evidence and obtain your medical records, take witness statements, serve the papers to the defendant, and speak on your behalf in court. With a lawyer’s in-depth knowledge of Florida’s statute of limitations and legal proceedings, they can help you seek the extra compensation and justice you deserve.

Understand Your KABCO Scale Today

Car accidents can be very difficult to understand in Florida. We are here to help.

The team at Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers is eager to hear from you and tell you how we can best help your claim. We are a firm that has been in practice for nearly 40 years and has handled countless car accident personal injury cases.

We can help you seek compensation you deserve and better understand the KABCO scale, as well as where you fall in this diagram. To get started, call us at (561) 800-8000 or fill out our free case evaluation to leave your contact information and a summary of your battle.

Once we have your contact information, someone will reach out to schedule you for an appointment where you will come in and sit down with one of our trusted attorneys.

Florida’s two-year clock to file a personal injury lawsuit is ticking. Don’t let any more time pass you by before calling us.