Have you recently been hurt in a car accident? You need to educate yourself about your rights as soon as possible because you can’t count on anyone else to put them front and center. All too often, victims with legitimate claims against their insurance carrier or another party make critical mistakes in the process that could jeopardize their ability to recover compensation. Make sure you find a personal injury lawyer in Florida who is there to help answer your questions and give you the support needed during this challenging time.
To avoid making costly mistakes after your car accident, you need to know the ones you’re most likely to encounter. Read on to learn more about the five biggest mistakes Floridians make after a car accident.
1-They Do Not Call the Police After the Accident
You might assume that the damage doesn’t look so bad or that it’s not worth trying to get the police on the scene. It might also be the case that the other driver discourages you from reaching out to the authorities.
However, it’s always good to have a police record of what happened so that you can refer to it later. A police record might even become a piece of evidence in your personal injury case with a lawyer. Having an officer on the scene gives you the peace of mind that you have obtained the information you need before leaving the accident site.
2-They Fail to Take Photos of the Scene
Don’t count on your ability to remember what things looked like in the wake of the accident. Even if you were able to remember, your insurance company or a personal injury lawyer might need better evidence. Get photos of the crash site so that you can use it later, if needed, to recover the compensation you deserve.
You can use your phone to grab pictures or videos of the accident scene. In connection with other evidence like reconstructing the scene of the wreck or statements from witnesses, this can build a strong case about the severity of your injuries and how best to move forward from that point with the support of a personal injury lawyer in Florida.
3-They Delay Medical Treatment
Right after the accident, you might not feel any severe pain. The shock of going through the accident and the time it takes your body to register the crash’s impact means that you might not realize the extent of your injuries. Whether you start to experience pain immediately after the accident or not, don’t delay. Get medical attention so that you can receive a diagnosis and treatment plan as soon as possible because adrenalin can override your body’s pain response. A doctor can give you the tests and use other diagnostic tools to determine how your life might change because of the accident. In these cases, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. If you need to submit a personal injury claim, a medical evaluation performed in the accident’s immediate aftermath will be invaluable.
4-They Don’t Use Their PIP Car Insurance Benefits
All drivers in Florida must carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. PIP pays out for medical benefits when you’ve been hurt in an accident regardless of who was at fault. You can get medical costs and up to 60% of your lost wages covered through PIP, so we recommend that you file for these as soon as possible.
To access these critical benefits, you must seek medical treatment as soon as possible, within two weeks of the Florida car accident. After the two-week period has passed, your PIP claim will be denied.
If you’re not sure if you’re hurt, get medical attention just in case so that a doctor can decide if you need additional treatment. The PIP company also has the right to investigate the claim that you file if they believe fraud has occurred, which is yet another reason to have an experienced injury lawyer at your side.
5-They Talk to Adjusters Before Consulting a Personal Injury Attorney
An adjuster is not someone on your side in an accident. Their primary job is to minimize the insurance carrier’s responsibility to pay out in a crash. As such, the adjuster might want you to make a formal statement or sign paperwork related to the accident. Don’t do this until you’ve had a chance to speak directly with your personal injury attorney.
Car Accident Lawyer Josh Jones Can Help
Have you already been hurt and want to know you have a personal injury lawyer taking your case seriously from day one? Josh Jones Law, P.A. wants to be your lawyer for life. At Josh Jones Law, P.A., we not only care about your case, we care about the community. With a service-oriented philosophy, we take a personable approach and make it our mission to serve underserved communities and help everyday people understand their rights.
Want to learn more? Download Your Free Personal Injury Toolkit.
Are you incapable of going back to work due to the pain and severity of your injuries? Are you coping with financial stress due to lost wages and wondering how to move forward with your life? Experienced personal injury lawyer Josh Jones and his dedicated team will listen to you, focus on what’s most important for your future, and stand by you every step of the way
If you’ve suffered an injury due to a car accident in Fort Lauderdale, Lauderhill, Hollywood, Miramar, North Miami, Miami Gardens, Miami, or Homestead, contact us today at (305) 239-4878 for a free case evaluation.
Copyright © 2021. Josh Jones Law, P.A. All rights reserved.
Disclaimer: The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only, and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information contained in this post should be construed as legal advice from the individual author or the law firm, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information included in, or accessible through, this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.
Josh Jones Law, P.A.
15715 South Dixie
Highway Suite 214
Miami, FL 33157
(305) 239-4878
https://www.joshjoneslaw.com
