Getting into a car accident can be a life-changing experience. It can leave you with an injury, and it can be costly. From paying for car repairs to medical bills and utility bills that can be difficult to pay when you can’t return to work right away, costs can really add up.
Stress can too
If you have been in an accident in Florida, you may be entitled to compensation. When you follow these tips, you can make sure you get all the money you deserve.
Seek Medical Care Within 14 Days of the Accident
Getting into a car accident can be scary, but it isn’t always painful. Not right at first, anyway. You may be able to walk away from an accident feeling relatively unscathed, only to develop uncomfortable symptoms days or weeks after the crash.
That’s why it’s so important to get medical attention right away. If you live in Florida, you must seek medical care within 14 days of your accident. This increases the chance of a payout from your insurer because it’s easy to demonstrate that the medical provider’s findings are the result of your accident. If you wait any longer, they may claim that the injury could be due to something else, which means they don’t have to pay.
File a Claim or a Lawsuit
Going to the doctor right away can also help clarify whether or not you should file a lawsuit. You may think you’re okay, or you may just wish for the accident to go away. After going to the doctor, you might realize that the crash is going to leave you with some serious long-term consequences.
Although you can file a claim with your insurance or file a lawsuit to get compensated on your own, it really is better to hire an attorney to help. From gathering evidence to determining the extent of your damages and dealing with the legal jargon in paperwork, the process goes much more smoothly, and you’re more likely to get more money in a settlement, if you hire a lawyer.
Keep Medical Appointments
The recovery process after an accident can take a long time. It can get really old really fast to go to the doctor, visit the physical therapist, and schedule appointments with a mental health professional.
Even if you’re tempted to take a break, it’s much better if you keep your medical appointments. In order to prove that you’re truly injured and that your injuries have long-term consequences, you have to continue going to the doctor. If you don’t go to those appointments, the insurance company may have a case to say that you aren’t as injured as you claim.
Make Sure Your Claim is Fully Valued
It’s relatively easy to figure out how much money you’re owed when you consider the accident and the immediate aftermath. You can tally up the cost of your car, how much in lost wages you have experienced since the accident, and how much medical care has cost so far.
That’s not all you have to consider when you file your claim. You also have to calculate future losses.
A few future costs you’ll want to consider include:
- How much time off of work you’ll need, or if you can even return?
- What level of pain and suffering are you dealing with and will you have to deal with?
- How has the accident affected your relationship with your partner?
- Will the accident prevent you from advancing in your career?
- Will you require continuing medical care?
- Will you need to take medications in the future?
- Is it possible that you could develop additional medical problems as a result of your initial injuries?
Document Your Experiences Throughout the Process
As the days and weeks pass after your accident, it can be difficult to remember the specifics of your daily experience. You can better catalog your daily discomforts and challenges with a journal.
Document your experiences throughout the claims process. Write down which symptoms you experienced, how it impacted your day, and whether or not you made an appointment, went to an appointment, or took medication. Your case is harder to dispute if you have a daily record of the challenges you face due to injuries from the accident.
Lay Low
We all know the dangers of social media, but spending too much time on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok can also be dangerous if you have filed a claim with your insurance.
Social media is notorious for showing the best, most exciting aspects of people’s lives. If you’re posting a delicious night out at a local restaurant, pictures of you rooting for your child at a game, or images of a quick weekend getaway, the insurance company may make the case that you aren’t as injured as you claim.
Avoid posting on social media while your claim or lawsuit is in progress to increase your chances of getting a payout.
Be Patient
The settlement process can take a long time. Even the fastest settlements take a few months, with some taking a year or longer. If you want to get the most money for your injuries, you have to be patient.
It’s especially important to be patient as you receive offers. The first, second, or even third offer may seem like a lot of money to you, but insurers always try to pay out the least amount of money possible. With help from an attorney, you can submit counter offers that get you closer to your target amount. It just requires you to be patient.
There are a lot of things to worry about after a car accident, but you’ll worry a lot less if you have the money you need to pay your bills now and into the future. When you follow the tips on this list, you can not only increase your chances of receiving a settlement, but you can also maximize the settlement you receive.
