3 Mistakes That Can Derail Your Florida Car Accident Injury Claim?
After a car accident, things will start to happen pretty quickly. Shortly after the crash, you will likely start getting calls from the other driver’s insurance company, and you will need to call your own insurance company if they haven’t already been put on notice. In addition, if you suffered any injuries, you will have to also seek medical treatment. All of this can be overwhelming, and can make it very easy to make mistakes that can negatively affect your claim. Here are 3 of the most common mistakes that can derail your Florida injury claim.
1. Failing to Promptly Seek Medical Treatment
After any accident, when you present your claim to the insurance company the first thing it will look for in your medical records is when you first complained of your injury. This is because insurance companies believe that if you are hurt, you will go and see a doctor immediately. So the longer you wait to go to the doctor, you can bet that the insurance company will use this as a reason why they are making an offer to you that is less than what your claim is really worth.
Unfortunately, insurance companies are not the only ones that think this way. Many jurors, who will ultimately decide your case if you are unable to resolve it, think the same way. So it is important, at the very least, that you go to an urgent care facility as soon as possible to at least document your injuries even if you are unable to start actual treatment right away.
2. Providing a Recorded Statement to the Insurance Company
After an accident, you will be contacted at some point by all of the insurance companies for each of the vehicles involved in the crash. People often mistakenly believe that since an insurance company is calling, that they have an obligation to talk to them and answer any questions that they have. This is not true, and doing so can hurt your case! It is important to know that after your accident, the insurance company for the driver that hit you will immediately start gathering evidence to defend against your claim. In doing so, they will often call all drivers and ask for a recorded statement. You do not have to do this!
The only obligation that you have after an accident is to cooperate with your own insurance company. The reason you have to cooperate with them is that you are contractual obligated to do so, and if you fail to comply you may lose coverage under your policy. With that said, even if your insurance company asks for a recorded statement, it is still recommended that you only do so with an attorney.
3. Accepting an Early Settlement Offer
The biggest mistake anyone can make after a Florida car accident is accepting an early settlement offer from an insurance company. Insurance companies love to do this. Within the first week or so after an accident, you may receive a phone call from the insurance company offering you a settlement. This offer is almost always far less than what your claim is worth. This is because there is virtually no way you can know within such a short period of time what the extent of your injuries even are at that point. Worse yet, if you accept the offer, your claim will be over forever, and you won’t be able to go back and ask for more money when you actually realize or learn the true extent of your injury.
If you are offered an early settlement after a car accident, the best thing you can do is to consult with an attorney. An experienced Florida accident attorney can help you accurately determine the value of your case and negotiate with the insurance company to ensure that you receive fair compensation.
Call Jim The Lawyer, Accident and Injury Attorney, After a Florida Car Accident
If you’ve been injured in a Ruskin, Florida car accident, Jim The Lawyer is here to help you fight to get the maximum compensation you deserve for your injury. If you’ve been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, contact Jim The Lawyer, Accident and Injury Attorney, at
(813)937-9907 for a FREE Consultation and Case Evaluation.

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