Florida Car Accident Settlement
The success of your personal injury case is very much under your control and depends on how you conduct yourself. The actions you take within the first few days, and the first few weeks following your car accident, have the largest impact on your final settlement offer. Here are five steps you can take to increase your chances of getting a fair settlement after your car accident. Remember, no one gets rich off of an accident, but it is the at-fault party’s responsibility to make you as whole as possible.
First: Report the accident immediately to the nearest police department. A police officer will arrive at the scene and write up a report that says how the accident happened, who the witnesses are, and the insurance details of everyone involved. This document comes in very useful later.
Second: Take pictures of your car and the other driver’s car at the scene, including photos of all damage and any parts that have fallen off. Make a note of the color, make and model of the vehicle.
Third: If your injuries are severe, wait for the paramedics to examine you on the scene. If your injuries aren’t immediately apparent, you should still get examined by a doctor as soon as possible. Then, follow your doctor’s orders for any medication or physical therapy he or she recommends.
Fourth: Hire a Tampa car accident lawyer very soon after your accident. A personal injury lawyer’s expertise will ensure that your case is handled correctly from the beginning. We only collect a fee if we recover compensation for you. And, consultation calls are free and very informative.
Fifth: Don’t sign anything until you’ve spoken with a lawyer. One of insurance adjusters’ top tactics is to get you to make a recorded statement, or worse, sign off on paperwork, that says you weren’t injured. Some will even give you a low settlement offer right away, hoping you’ll take it and eliminate your chance to ask for more compensation if you need it later.
Sixth: Take down your social media sites until your case is over. Insurance adjusters and their attorneys often gain access to your Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace sites to obtain information against you. It is in your best interest to not post anything on there, including photos and comments, until your case is over.
If you follow these six steps, you’ll be in good shape when the settlement negotiations come around. Essentially, you need to get as much information at the scene of the accident as possible, see a doctor as soon as possible, and hire a lawyer to protect your interests. Car accidents get complicated fast, but protecting your case to get fair compensation for your injuries is relatively simple if you know what to do from the beginning.
If you have a case where you feel that you, a family member or friend, have been harmed due to the negligence of another driver, please call Christopher Ligori & Associates at 877-444-2929 or call us on one of our local numbers for a for a free consultation.
