Driving records can be surprisingly complex, with different types of driving records reporting infractions or offenses at different time intervals (like a three-year, seven-year and complete driving record). This record is separate from traffic violations or points that stay on your driver’s license for similarly varied time intervals, with the least serious violations staying on for a minimum of five years.

Some offenses may be considered severe enough to remain on your record longer, such as DUI/DWIs. The severity of the accident and determinations of fault can also influence how long it stays on your record, with major accidents involving significant damage or injuries staying on your record longer.

If the at-fault driver’s record showcases a repeated history of reckless behavior, it may increase the likelihood they will be found at fault if there’s no clear evidence of what happened. This might also be important for establishing a pattern of behavior if there are competing versions of events. In other words, if each driver blames the other, but one driver has a clean driving record and the other has a history of crashes, driving records could influence which narrative is most readily accepted.

Even something as small as running a red light in the past could potentially influence your claim or the way in which insurance companies treat you. If you are facing challenges due to your driving record and need aggressive representation to bolster your claim, the Boca Raton auto accident attorneys at Kanner & Pintaluga are ready to help.

Why Accident History Is Critical to Your Claim

Florida requires resident drivers to have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. After an accident, you’ll have to initially seek compensation for your medical bills and lost wages through your own PIP insurance instead of through the other driver’s insurance. If your damages exceed the PIP limit or are considered severe, you may be able to pursue the other driver for compensation.

However, your compensation can potentially be impacted by a variety of factors related (and sometimes unrelated) to the collision in question.

The ability to bring a suit or claim against the other driver is important because the compensation that’s offered by your PIP insurance is meager. PIP will only cover up to 60 percent of lost wages and 80 percent of medical bills up to your PIP limit, which is often only $10,000. In most cases, $10,000 hardly scratches the surface of your damages. As a result, pursuing a civil suit is often the best option for victims needing compensation for their recovery.

Having an experienced Boca Raton auto accident attorney on your side may increase your chances of success. Not only can Florida drivers receive compensation for property damage and pain and suffering through a civil lawsuit, but it can also help you make up the remainder of your lost wages and medical bills your PIP insurance won’t cover.