Florida has a no-fault insurance system that requires car accident victims to file claims against their own insurance company for compensation under their mandatory personal injury protection plan (PIP). Only in cases of serious injuries with permanent consequences can they file a lawsuit against a negligent party like a careless driver to recover damages over the $10,000 limit on Florida PIP insurance.
If you’ve been in a car accident in Florida, whether you’re filing a claim against your own insurance or that of a negligent party, there are some important tips you can follow beginning right at the scene of the accident to help maximize the compensation you claim for damages like medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and lowered future earning capacity if you’ve suffered a disability. At Shapiro | Delgado | Hofmann, our car accident lawyers in Sarasota and Bradenton will help you through the process of an injury claim to ensure your receive maximum compensation for your injuries. Contact us today online or call (941) 954-4000
To successfully recover compensation for damages after a car accident in Florida, you have to prove that your injuries occurred in the car accident. If you’re filing a lawsuit due to serious injuries, you also have to prove that someone else was at fault for the accident, such as a careless or reckless driver or a negligent road maintenance crew.
The scene of a car accident is traumatic, but if you can keep your cool and use your phone—or hand it to an uninjured person to use for you—you can document critical evidence before law enforcement cleans up the scene to restore traffic flow. Do the following to collect evidence at the scene to maximize compensation after a car accident:
Eyewitnesses are often the key evidence in an accident claim unless there was video captured of the crash. Very often, these important witnesses disappear without leaving a name.
Never admit to fault at the accident or say anything that may later be construed as admitting fault. Many people immediately blame themselves in an instinctive reaction after a crash only to find out later that someone else was at fault.
Go to the hospital with the paramedics who arrive at the scene or arrange transportation immediately after you’re cleared by police to leave. At the hospital, have a complete physical evaluation as well as treatment for obvious injuries. Always be mindful of minor symptoms and tell the doctor about every symptom, especially any that develop in the hours or days after the injury. During the initial weeks after the accident, you can take steps to protect yourself financially while you recover physically by doing the following:
By keeping careful documentation of the consequences of the accident on your life, you can obtain the maximum possible compensation for your damages after a car accident in Florida. Never accept a fast settlement from an insurance company. This is often a way to minimize what they have to pay you and they take advantage by offering a low amount before you know the true extent of the damages you can claim. A skilled personal injury attorney will carefully calculate your damages to ensure you miss no avenue for compensation available to you.
