Florida car accidents mean many worries: will you be able to get your car repaired? Will you be able to return to work? While you are in this state of worry, you will need to make many choices. Making the right choices can make it easier for you to start on the road to recovery, while the wrong choices can follow you for years.
After a car accident, one of the first choices you will need to make is whether or not to get medical help. Many people who feel fine after a car accident never bother to see a doctor. In some cases, this can be a fatal mistake. If you have been in a serious car accident or have hit your head or lost consciousness (for even a few seconds) you need to get immediate medical attention. Many Florida brain injury patients do not experience symptoms right away and only find out too late that they have a serious injury. Some brain injuries – not to mention whiplash – do not always present symptoms right away, so if there is any possibility that you may have sustained an injury, play it safe and get immediate medical attention.
Another choice you will need to make is who to trust with your accident claim. Florida, unfortunately, is one of the nation’s leaders when it comes to insurance fraud. A number of companies have been raided for trying to target victims of car accidents. These companies will call car accident victims – in some cases claiming to be an insurance representatives – and will ask the victim to visit specific doctors and attorneys. The company will then bill insurers for fake injuries or will over-bill for medical services. When a company calls you, make sure that you understand who they are and who they represent. If the call sounds suspicious, hang up. You do not want to become involved in this type of illegal activity.
Another choice that car accident victims will need to make is whether to contact a personal injury attorney. Many Florida car accident victims believe that as long as they can get a claim from an insurance provider, there is no need to get an attorney involved. However, insurance companies do not pay out the maximum possible for a claim. If you have been in a serious Florida car accident or in an accident that involves commercial vehicles or multiple vehicles, you may need a qualified Florida personal injury attorney to help you get the maximum recovery for your claim.
Finally, all accident victims will need to make a decision about the claim amount they accept for their injuries. Whether you decide to pursue the case in court or rely on your insurance company to pay you for medical costs, lost income, car repairs, and related costs of your accident, you need to make sure that the amount you receive covers all your expenses. If you do not, you could end up paying thousands out of pocket. With longer-term injuries, especially, it can be hard to determine the total costs of an accident. An experienced Florida attorney can often help you determine the true costs of your accident.
If you have been in a Florida car accident and are unsure how to make the choices you need to make, contact the Hollywood, Homestead, or Miami offices of the Flaxman Law Group. In a free initial consultation, the experienced legal team can help you discuss your choices, options, and rights so that you can make your choices from a position of strength.