What Should I NEVER Do After a Florida Car Accident?

The aftermath of a car accident can be extremely chaotic. Amidst this chaos, you may be unsure of what steps to take to protect yourself and your right to compensation for the injuries and damages you suffered.

However, just as important as what you choose to do is what you don’t do after a crash. As such, the following article will provide a list of 10 things you should never do after you are injured in a car, truck, or other motor vehicle accident.

1. Never underestimate your injuries. Many car accident victims tend to underestimate the extent of their injuries and as a result, fail to seek proper medical care. Doing this can be harmful both to your health and your case. As such, you should always let first responders know about any and all symptoms you may be feeling, regardless of how minor these symptoms may seem to you. Many injuries may not seem severe at first, especially when you’re in shock. However, that initial pain could turn out to be something much more serious in the hours or days that follow an accident.
2. Never wait too long to act. Florida Statute § 95.11(3)(a) requires a plaintiff to bring a personal injury claim within 4 years of the date that the accident occurred. As such, if you wait too long to act on your claim, you will lose the chance to bring a personal injury lawsuit based on that claim.
3. Never provide too much information to the insurance company. It is important to understand that insurance adjusters are not on your side, regardless of how friendly they may seem. The insurance company is a business and the job of its employees is to save the insurance company money; as such, the insurance company works to determine any way to pay you less. Insurance adjusters know that accident victims are under a lot of stress, often unfamiliar with the process of filing a claim, and likely to trust the adjuster’s tactics. As such, you may be tempted to accept a much smaller settlement than you deserve. When speaking any insurance company representative, do not give more information than needed to open a claim (i.e., details of your injuries, details of how the accident happened, etc.), do not admit fault, and do not provide a recorded statement.
4. Never fail to call the police. Never allow the other driver to talk you out of calling 911. Contacting law enforcement is important to ensure that your injuries are properly addressed the details of the accident are recorded, and the other driver is properly identified.
5. Never admit personal fault. After a car crash, you’ll talk to a lot of people: the police, EMS, the other driver, witnesses, and your insurance company. If you rush to apologize for the accident because you think you may have done something that contributed to the crash, and an investigation later reveals action or inactions of the other driver, your admission of fault can make it more difficult to obtain financial compensation which you would otherwise be entitled to.
6. Never neglect to gather evidence. After a car crash, there can be a lot going on, and the accident scene can disassemble or change quickly. Make sure that you obtain evidence at the scene, such as the other driver’s contact and insurance information, pictures or video recordings of the scene, pictures of all vehicles involved, and statements from potential witnesses.
7. Never agree to a quick settlement. A quick settlement may seem tempting. However, you should not accept the first settlement offer provided, because once you accept a settlement offer, you cannot reopen your case or recover further compensation. It is best to consult a personal injury attorney prior to discussing or accepting any settlement offers.
8. Never sign anything from the insurance company. You should always make sure that you talk to an attorney before you sign any forms from any insurance company. Otherwise, you could end up signing away your legal rights. The documents the insurance company asks you to sign are legally binding contracts, and if you sign without fully understanding the terms of the agreement, you might still have to abide by those terms. Instead, following an accident, it is important to have an experienced personal injury lawyer attorney review any document from the insurance company before you sign it.
9. Never talk about your claim on social media. Any information you choose to share on social media could be helping insurance companies build a case against you. This is because insurance adjusters regularly use social media to spy on claimants. They specifically look for updates and photographs which contradict or disprove your claims.
10. Never handle a car accident claim on your own. Though it is not required, it is recommended that you hire an experienced personal injury attorney to help you navigate the personal injury claims process involved in car, truck, and other motor vehicle accidents.

Were You Recently Injured in a Car Accident? Speak to a Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Attorney

If you were recently injured in a car accident and you are having issues getting compensation from the liable driver, please contact the Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys at Rosen Injury Law, P.A. We can reach out to the liable party’s insurance carrier to ensure that you receive compensation for your injuries and any damages your car has sustained.

Resource:

flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2012/95.11