There are a lot of mistakes made after a car accident. Failing to call the police, get medical attention, or take pictures of the accident scene. Below are steps you should take immediately after the accident to avoid being held liable.
Some people make some common mistakes after a car accident, and if you’re one of those people, read this article to learn more about the most common mistakes made.
Avoiding apologizing for the accident is essential for your recovery. The last thing you want to do is apologize for the accident and avoid involving insurance in the aftermath. You may also want to avoid signing any documents except for the police. Instead, take photos of the accident scene and note down details. Remain calm and try to exchange information. Small talk may be a good idea, but remain calm and collect evidence.
Some of the Top 15 Mistakes People Make After a Car Accident in Florida is: Not getting all the pictures. Failing to recognize that an insurance company is incompetent. Signing a release and so on.
These are all common mistakes that people make after a car accident. Listed below are fifteen of the most common mistakes made after a car accident in Florida. Avoid these mistakes by following these tips.
Not calling the police after the accident.
Do you think you should call the police after a Florida car accident? There are a few reasons why you should.
Not calling the police is a crime in Florida, and you could face criminal charges. Also, calling the police is unnecessary if the incident was reported verbally. But you should never hesitate to contact the police after a car accident. Even if you were to leave the accident scene and never call the police, you could pay a hefty fine for not reporting the accident.
- First, not calling the police after a Florida car accident is legal. In Florida, car accidents must be reported to the police within 24 hours, so you can expect to receive a fine if you are at fault.
- If there are any injuries, you should call the police right away. However, don’t call the police if the accident is minor because that could mean that you were responsible for the accident.
Failing to take pictures of the accident scene.
There are many ways to collect photographic evidence of a car accident, but the most effective way is to begin immediately. It is essential to take pictures of the entire accident scene, including road markings, skid marks, and other relevant objects. Failure to do so could leave you without any evidence. In Florida, for example, failing to take pictures of the accident scene could have disastrous effects on your case.
- Taking pictures of the scene of the accident is crucial to establishing liability. Without photos, insurance companies can dispute liability and argue over causation. They can say that you will have little evidence to back your claim up until one party caves. If the insurance company has no documentation, they can deny your claim or make a case based on the adjuster’s interpretation of the accident.
- Photos are also critical to proving liability. Taking pictures of the scene after a car accident in Florida will help prove your case if the other driver is found to be at fault. Pictures can tell the story of the calamity better than words and will also disprove any false witness statements.
In addition, photos can help prove that the other driver was intoxicated at the time of the accident, which will help you receive proper compensation.
Underestimating injuries
Underestimating injuries after a car accident in the Sunshine State are common and can make it challenging to get the financial compensation you deserve. It can also delay your recovery, lead to disputes with insurance companies, and prolong the time you miss work and pain.
The following are some common mistakes that can hurt your claim:
- You may think you’re not hurt after a car accident, but you’ll have minor injuries that may not require medical attention in many cases.
- While minor injuries might not seem severe, they can result in lasting symptoms and complications.
- Remember, injuries never get better on their own. So, visit your primary care provider as soon as possible.
- While some injuries are immediately noticeable, others can take hours or days to manifest themselves.
Waiting to get medical treatment.
Many people wonder how long they should wait after a Florida car accident to seek medical attention. While it’s possible to see a doctor as soon as the accident occurs, experts recommend seeking medical attention within one to three days of the car accident. You can also seek the assistance of a chiropractor or massage therapist. In any case, the sooner you get medical attention, the better.
Regardless of whether you’re waiting to see a doctor, substantial legal and medical issues are to consider.
Florida law requires residents to seek medical attention for car-related injuries within 14 days. Failure to see a physician within this time may negatively impact your compensation for lost wages and lost earning capacity.
In addition, it may be harder to establish a link between the accident and your injuries, so seeing a doctor sooner can help you protect your legal rights. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to claim PIP insurance benefits after 14 days.
Failing to report ALL injuries to the doctors
In Florida, failing to report all injuries to the doctors is an effective defense against an insurance company’s attempt to deny your claim.
- Delay in reporting your injuries is an easy target for the insurance company, which argues that you are “gaming the system.”
- In reality, this is a major mistake that can raise the value of your claim. It’s best to report all of your injuries as soon as possible and take notes to show your doctor how you were injured.
- By law, you have 14 days from the accident to seek medical care for any injuries you sustain. However, many injuries don’t show up immediately, and you could be overlooking a potentially serious condition. Regardless of your pain level, it’s always best to see a doctor to ensure that you’re not suffering from too subtle injuries to be felt.
Getting care from a doctor without experience
When you are in a car accident, you should get checked out by a physician. Even if you think you’re okay after the accident, you need to see a doctor anyway. Your body is likely to react with adrenaline, masking symptoms. You need a professional to determine the exact cause of your pain and the best way to treat it. A qualified doctor will be able to give you the best care.
Despite Florida’s low no-fault health insurance minimum, it can still act as medical insurance. Emergency room treatment can exhaust most of your health insurance benefits.
For minor injuries, you may be able to receive care clinically. Getting care from a doctor with no experience after a car accident is not advisable since you may not qualify for insurance benefits. If you need medical care after a car accident, you should go to an emergency room or an authorized doctor’s office.
- In Florida, residents have 14 days from the accident to see a medical professional.
- Failure to see a doctor within this time can negatively affect your legal rights. Remember, not all injuries that result from a car accident are immediately apparent.
- They may appear days or even weeks later. Taking care of your injuries can help you receive the compensation you deserve as soon as possible.
Not using your car insurance for medical treatment
If you’ve been involved in a Florida car accident, you may have been denied benefits due to insufficient medical coverage. The good news is that your PIP insurance covers 80% of medical bills up to a maximum of $10,000 per person. As long as you have been injured in an accident and you seek immediate medical attention, your PIP will pay for the costs. It will also pay up to $2,500 for each person injured in a Florida car accident.
A negligent driver can cause a life-changing accident. Frequently, victims of a Florida car accident need medical care to recover from their injuries. These expenses can add up quickly – ambulance services, diagnostic tests, surgery, physical therapy, and more. Your Florida PIP coverage can cover all of these costs – and you may even be able to receive a free or discounted hospital stay!
Not reviewing the police report.
After a Florida car accident, it is essential to review the police report. This report is a record of the details of the crash, including the identities of all witnesses and any injuries sustained. Although this report is a valuable piece of information, its mistakes can hinder your insurance claim later on. Your attorney in Navarre can try to obtain this information on his own, but this will cost you time and money, and you may want to use that time for something else.
Not reviewing the police report after a car crash in Florida is a mistake that could cost you a significant amount of money. Often, insurance adjusters rely heavily on these reports to determine fault and damages.
However, if you feel that the information in the police report is inaccurate, you should contact the police department. The police officer who wrote the report will likely be willing to correct any errors. Remember to be polite when contacting the police department. Be sure to note any issues and ask for assistance if necessary.
Failing to take enough pictures of the damage to cars
Taking photos of the accident scene is important, but failing to do so can hurt your insurance claim. While taking pictures may not seem important at the time, failing to document the entire accident can confuse and hurt your insurance claim. Even if you were not involved in the accident, the police report may contain mistakes that could hurt your insurance claim.
Although these errors can be quickly corrected, not taking enough pictures can make your claim harder to win.
In addition to photos of the damage to your car, make sure to get witnesses’ statements. Many drivers will deny fault in an accident and don’t want the legal repercussions that could follow. Nonetheless, obtaining a witness’s statement is critical, and it will be helpful for your case if the other driver is found guilty. Remember to get their names and phone numbers so you can use these statements later if necessary.
Losing the pictures.
If you take pictures of the accident scene, you should always back them up. Before submitting them to your attorney, you should transfer them to your computer or email account. Do not risk losing the only photos of the accident. Make sure you back them up with a separate copy of the file. It is crucial to provide a copy of the file to your attorney. After all, if you lose a copy, it could mean the end of your case.
Giving an insurance company a recorded statement.
It’s essential to know the law when giving an insurance company a recorded statement after causing a vehicle accident. Florida requires all insured drivers to cooperate with insurance company investigations in first-party car accident claims. However, if you’re involved in a car accident and have been injured, you should not be pressured to give a recorded statement. In many cases, insurance companies require you to cooperate to avoid paying out a claim.
A recorded statement contains questions the insurance company expects to hear. The questions may range from identifying your car to possible passengers. Then, they may ask about the location and cause of the accident, including who was at fault, what types of damage were done to your car, and whether or not there were witnesses or police responses. The insurance claim company will ask if you consent to record or share the information with others.
If you are asked to give a recorded statement by an insurance company representative, you must first explain that you’ve hired an attorney. If your lawyer is not available, you should provide your name and contact number. The insurance company representative will contact your attorney to arrange a time for the recording to be done. If you don’t want to give a recorded statement, don’t say anything you’re not comfortable sharing, and make sure to include only the facts you know. In a legal dispute, the insurance company may use your statement against you.
Signing a release
When you are in a car accident, you may be tempted to sign a release form, but it is essential to understand the implications. You may be surprised to learn that a release form is not always the same for each party.
Florida has a standard release form developed by the Trial Lawyers Section of the Florida Bar. This group includes plaintiff and defense attorneys. Its purpose is to avoid favoring one reliable party over another.
You might want to consult with an attorney before signing a release form because it can put you in legal trouble with your own insurance company. Imagine you are 100% at fault in a car accident, and you sustain $20,000 in losses. The other driver has just $12,500 state minimum coverage on their policy. If you sign a release form, you may be releasing the other party from further liability and will be unable to sue for future medical bills or lost income.
Buying improper insurance coverage
If you are involved in a car accident in Florida, you may need to buy a good insurance policy to protect yourself and your car. Even if you did not cause the accident, you still might be liable for the other driver’s medical bills. If you are responsible for the other drunk driver‘s damages, you can file a lawsuit against them to get compensation.
You will also be responsible for the other driver’s lost wages, future medical expenses, and pain and suffering. If you are the driver at fault, you could lose your license for three years.
You may also need to buy uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorists are a common problem in Florida. If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist, you might be able to recover a portion of your losses from their insurance.
Additionally, you can investigate whether you can claim other liable third parties. For this reason, you may want to purchase sufficient insurance coverage to protect your interests.
Trying to settle the dispute personally
Think again if you can settle the dispute personally after a car accident. In Florida, lawsuits are common, and car accidents can lead to massive settlements in some cases. If the other car driver had a low insurance policy, you might want to consider filing a lawsuit against them to recover more money. If this sounds like the case, consider the risk of losing your assets. Planning for your financial future ahead of time will help you negotiate a better settlement.
Not calling a personal injury lawyer
Though Florida is a no-fault state, if the injuries sustained in the crash were severe enough, you can file a lawsuit against the other driver.
- The first step in pursuing a lawsuit after a car accident is not calling a personal injury lawyer. It is important to remember that it is difficult to prove that you were injured unless you received medical attention immediately after the accident.
- A car crash lawyer can help you gather evidence and determine a fair amount of compensation.
Although Florida does not require you to consult a personal injury lawyer immediately after a car accident, it is still best to retain the services of a qualified attorney to help you with your case. Although filing a claim on your own can be a viable option, the process can be complicated and time-consuming. An experienced Florida car accident attorney can help you navigate the complex legal system and get the best settlement possible.
Contact Ovadia Law Group TODAY!
The Ovadia Law Group, PA, serves the needs of victims of automobile accidents in Fort Myers, FL. The firm represents victims in various cases, including auto body shop claims, homeowners’ insurance claims, and personal injury protection lawsuits. Founded by attorney Abraham S. Ovadia in 2010, Ovadia Law Group is a trusted name in the South Florida legal community and donates to legal aid organizations.
Web searching and hiring a qualified ‘personal injury attorney near me’ can mean the difference between a successful settlement and a difficult recovery. If you are involved in a car accident, contact your insurance company and follow their instructions. Give your insurance agent information about the other drivers and the crash. Don’t admit fault or speculate about who caused the accident. Never agree to make a recorded statement, and always consult with an attorney before accepting any settlement offer. Fortunately, Florida insurance claims are relatively simple. An experienced Florida insurance attorney can assist you in maximizing your compensation for automobile insurance claims.
Without evidence of insurance coverage, you would not be able to win your case. Insurance companies often lower these restrictions to avoid paying out the total damages. Call Ovadia Law Group at 1-800-674-9396 to get the compensation you’re owed for medical costs and lost wages. Each day of the year, Ovadia Law Group is here for you. With offices in Miami, Boca Raton, Fort Myers, and Orlando, your incentives may exceed your expectations!
