Things You Can Do to Maximize Your Recovery after an Orlando Auto Accident
You may be wondering how someone maximizes their potential recovery after a Florida auto accident. This post is not about faking injuries or running up unnecessary medical bills to get more money. Instead, the steps you take after an auto accident can either help or hurt your chances at the most compensation possible. In fact, some of the most crucial events happen before you even decide to present a claim to the negligent party’s insurance company. This is why it’s so important to retain an Orlando auto accident attorney as soon as possible.
Don’t take chances by saying or doing things that could hurt your chances at full compensation for your injuries, property damage, lost time from work, and your pain and suffering. Here’s a look at some things you can do to help maximize your potential compensation.
Don’t Admit Fault at the Scene
Have you ever said you’re sorry for something and you didn’t do anything wrong? There’s something almost instinctual about saying I’m sorry even in situations where you don’t intend to admit fault for a problem, but rather are saying you feel bad that the situation happened at all in the first place. The same can be said about auto accidents.
People often jump out of their cars and blurt out I’m sorry before realizing the ramifications of that statement. The other party might try to use that against you to confirm you admitted liability at the scene. Refrain from saying anything, especially in front of the other party, police officers, and any witnesses who are present.
Preserve Evidence
If you are not badly injured, and it’s safe to do so, take photos of the scene to preserve evidence. Did the other party rear end you so hard that it pushed you into oncoming traffic? You want scene photos of the vehicles, your injuries, and any important factors (wet road, missing stop sign, etc.) if possible. These can often help in situations involving disputed liability.
Seek Medical Treatment
Even accidents where you seem fine the next day can turn into something more serious. You may think resting at home for a week before seeing the doctor doesn’t matter, but it does to the insurance company or attorney who is reviewing your case. The other party’s carrier will say you must not have been injured from the accident because you waited so long before seeing a doctor. Or, they might claim that since it took you one or two weeks to see a doctor, there is no way to prove the injuries in question actually resulted from the car accident.
Don’t Accept the First Offer
When you are injured and bills are piling up, you are off work for an undetermined amount of time, and your car is not repaired, you may feel like your life is totally out of control. This is where some plaintiffs make mistakes and take the first offer the insurance company gives just to pay off medical bills and other expenses while off work.
It’s understandable that you’re eager to resolve the case, but accepting the first offer can keep you from getting the full value of your case. Insurance companies never start off with their best offer. They almost always have authority to raise the initial offer after you counter back with a new demand.
Contact an Orlando Auto Accident Attorney Today
When you hire a Florida personal injury attorney, he or she is the one who will handle the negotiations with the at fault party’s insurance carrier. All you need to do is concentrate on healing and getting back to work, rather than dealing with the added stress of lowball negotiations. Contact the Payer Law today for assistance with all your Florida personal injury legal needs.
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