It only takes a moment for a car accident to happen. Although today’s cars are equipped with every safety device imaginable, injuries still occur. Factor in how busy everyone is and how many people drive too fast or don’t pay attention, and those injuries can quickly become deadly. After an accident happens, you’ve got a lot of things on your mind. If you’ve been injured, you don’t want to deal with this alone. That’s where your car accident attorney can help.
Your Personal Injury Attorney
As soon as possible, after you’ve had an accident, contact a personal injury attorney. In fact, it’s always a good idea to have an established relationship in place with a personal injury attorney… just in case! Accidents not only involve injuries but property damage as well. One of the biggest losses you will have as an aftermath of an accident is that your vehicle will be damaged to some degree or even a total loss. Your insurance company will determine if your vehicle can be fixed or considered a loss.
But, consider the scenario where you are not at fault for the accident. Things can and will become complicated. Florida is a no-fault state which means you are allowed to seek compensation from your own car insurance company. Often, the initial amount offered for repair or replacement is insufficient. Your personal injury attorney will make sure that you receive fair compensation.
The Ins and Outs of Compensation
The severity of your injuries is a huge factor in determining the amount of compensation you should expect to receive as a result of your accident. Often, people feel “OK” after an accident and are quick to say that they aren’t injured. Without a car accident attorney by your side, you might agree to settle at a low rate. But, then as the days go by, the injuries flare up and it becomes quite a different story. Once you’re settled, you’ve settled and have no further options for receiving additional compensation.
Remember, insurance companies will not automatically settle for the highest amounts and will want you to agree to a settlement as early as possible. They will negotiate and try to reduce the amount of compensation. A personal injury attorney has experience in injuries due to accidents. They know what you can expect to experience as you recover, and more importantly, they have a good idea of how long the recovery will take. The bottom line is that figuring out how much serious injuries are worth is hard and requires experience. You can’t do this on your own.
Dealing With Insurance Companies
We mentioned how insurance companies will often offer as little compensation as is possible. It’s up to your personal injury attorney to negotiate for you. It’s a known fact that those with legal representation will receive larger settlements the majority of the time. A study by the Insurance Research Council found that the average person received a 3.5 times higher settlement than someone who had no legal representation. Why? Claims can be complicated and without someone in the know assisting you, important items and information can be easily overlooked.
Tips
Be as prepared as possible. Have everything at hand that could help your car accident attorney. A good tip to remember is to save every receipt for anything associated with the accident. You will want to be reimbursed for everything you have to pay for.
Remember that there are statutes of limitations in place. In Florida, you only have two weeks to seek medical attention or you may forfeit personal injury protection benefits.
Keep all:
- Receipts for everything associated with the accident
- Record time of missed work
- A log of appointment dates
Stay safe and remember that your personal injury attorney is your new best friend when you have an accident.
Call Carey Leisure Carney for Legal Services in Clearwater, FL
Contact us at (727) 799-3900 for a free no-obligation consultation and case evaluation.